Grayson Thorne Kilpatrick

February 19, 2022November 26, 2022 Rachelle Henry 0 Comments

GRAYSON THORNE KILPATRICK

Up and coming actor Grayson Thorne Kilpatrick has been acting from the time he was little…and he’s just getting started. Recognized for his role as Sheldon in Brat TV’s popular CHICKEN GIRLS: THE MOVIE, Grayson has been booking new projects left and right. Kilpatrick’s recent works include a recurring role on season 2 of the series CHAD, THE BLACK PUMPKIN and FX’s DAVE. We had a great time talking with Grayson about how his career launched, his most recent roles and the dream roles he wants to play.

ILLUMINATE: Welcome Grayson!

You recently got booked as a recurring role on the TV series CHAD for it’s 2nd season. Tell us a bit about CHAD and any other upcoming roles you have coming up!

KILPATRICK: Yes, I am super excited about landing a recurring role on TBS CHAD but I am under an NDA so I cannot say anything about this right now. However, you can watch Season 2 starting April 11, 2022.

ILLUMINATE: You’ve worked on a number of series over the years such as DAVE, AMERICAN HORROR STORY, THIS ISN’T WORKING and more. What is the largest difference you’ve noticed between working on TV series and films? Are there any dream TV shows you’d love to work on?

KILPATRICK: I like working on both TV and Film, but TV seems faster paced when you are filming an episode. It can take two weeks to film one episode and then you are on to the next one. Filming a movie can sometimes take 3 months to film depending on schedules. I love meeting new people and feel as if we are family working together for an extended period. I am always sad when we wrap a film because I miss all the people I get to work with. I just love being on set, the environment of it and the characters I get to play. I don’t do this for fame or popularity, just something I would love to do every day of my life.

I think my dream would be to work on any Marvel or DC movie I love. I love comedy, horror and thrillers, but one of my dreams would have to be a Blumhouse Production and Marvel. I love thrillers like the movie “Split”, or “Get Out” that are psychological horror and mind twisters.

There are still roles I can do in Marvel or DC for a chubby Redhead. I could play Dick Malverne, Woozy Winks, Bubble Boy, and Herbie Popnecker. Not every superhero needs a six-pack. Don’t get me wrong, one day I hope to have one. I have gone up against Julian Dennison in several roles and he is freaking amazing. He played Firefist in Deadpool 2. He gives me great hope that I can play these roles like he does.

ILLUMINATE: You acquired your own fanbase playing Sheldon in CHICKEN GIRLS: THE MOVIE. What was it like being brought into such a popular youth franchise and what is that fandom like?

KILPATRICK: You know I had never heard of the Chicken Girls until I booked this movie. I had no idea about their fan base but I have to say the fans that follow the Chicken Girls are some of the best I have ever had the fortune to meet. They made me feel so good about myself. Sometimes on IG, I would see a few of them doing a live video and would drop in to say hi. Some were so happy they cried. It made me feel so good making someone else feel happy. Currently on YouTube, Chicken Girls: The movie has over 37 Million Views. That blows my mind.

ILLUMINATE: You have natural comedic timing and are a talented dramatic actor. Which roles do you prefer and do you find one more challenging than others?

KILPATRICK: I like playing dramatic, comedy, action or horror. I want to be an actor like Robin Williams, Robert Downey Jr, or James McAvoy. When I think of Robin, the first thing that comes to mind is Mork & Mindy (Comedy). He was unbelievable at the talent he had then. I saw him do Patch Adams (Drama). In Insomnia he played a killer that messed with your mind. He was without a doubt a very versatile actor. I have seen everything he has done, even Shelley Duvall’s Faerie Tale Theatre where he played a Frog. Robert Downey Jr can do Drama (The Judge), Action (Sherlock Holmes, Ironman) and Comedy (Due Date, Tropic Thunder). I don’t think of any of these actors as just one type of role. I do not want to be typecast as the bully or the chubby supporting actor. Don’t get me wrong. I will still take these roles because I love being on set. I want to do more leads. I want Directors and Casting to see past all of that, and see that I can really put in the work to make these characters how they want to see them.

During COVID, I put on some weight like many people sitting at home. I also had some Cyber Bullying by people I thought were my friends. Bullying can happen to anyone. I am currently working on my weight to be healthy. Right before COVID I had gotten sick at a comic con in Ontario, CA and my parents called an ambulance. Come to find out I was passing a kidney stone. That was a wakeup call for sure. I loved drinking Coke Zero but I stopped drinking sodas. Now I drink water and ICE drinks. Don’t get me wrong, I still on occasion get my soda, but not on a daily basis.

ILLUMINATE: One of your recent releases was the horror film BLACK PUMPKIN. Tell us about the film and what drew you to this project?

KILPATRICK: I loved playing Lawrence “Pork Chop” in Black Pumpkin. Ryan McGonagle the Director and writer of Black Pumpkin wanted to give reference to 80’s horror films he loved, so my character in Black Pumpkin was named “Lawrence” from the Goonies. So instead of “Chuck” it is “Pork Chop”. I remember the first time I met Ryan for my audition. He was nice and he hired me that day. Later on, I heard the story of when he saw my headshot for the role of Lawrence and he was like, “that is him! That’s Pork Chop!”. Of course, he added “I sure hope he can act.” I hope he thinks so. I did many of my own stunts and some of them were not easy. But when I am on set, I want to give my 100%. I remember one day on set, I was riding this bicycle. LOL I think we did that take several times and I noticed three kids that stayed to watch the filming. When we had a break, I went over to say hi to them, I said “Thank you” to them for watching me. Ryan called me back a few minutes later to start on the next scene.

ILLUMINATE: You grew up in Huntsville, Alabama and have worked in the Southeast along with Los Angeles. What are some of the biggest differences you’ve noticed about working in Hollywood vs a market like Atlanta for example?

KILPATRICK: I love the South, working in Atlanta, New Orleans, and Dallas. The one thing I see that is different, is when you turn in an audition in the South, they like to make sure the lighting and video is very professional, so no iPhone. In LA it’s fine to use your phone to tape an audition. One time I got an audition while I was at the LA Comic Con. I went to the parking garage and filmed my audition because it was due the same day.

Another difference is the breakdowns in the south are five lines and under. You almost need to book out of LA to film in the South to get bigger roles. However, since COVID, the south has been filming much more than LA and the roles seem to be bigger. I am glad I have dual residences in Huntsville, AL and Los Angeles. I have the best of both worlds.

ILLUMINATE: Your first set experience was on the set of SPACE WARRIORS. What was it about that set that made you catch the acting bug?

KILPATRICK: In 2012, my life completely changed. My dad had read in the local newspaper that Grayson Russell (Diary of a Wimpy Kid) was in town filming his new movie, “Space Warriors” at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center. Grayson Russell was going to be at a local movie theater viewing the latest release in the “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” movie series with fans and would be signing autographs before the movie. My dad got our family and one of my friends, Mason, a ticket to go watch the movie with Grayson. Grayson Russell was great! He took the time to answer my questions and took pictures with me. At the screening, Grayson mentioned they were looking for extras to be in the movie he was filming. I asked my mom if she could take me to see if I could be an extra. She did, and I was able to be an extra on the feature film “Space Warriors” and fell in love with the environment. I loved watching the crew move their equipment around to do the same scene but to get the shot from different angles. The next week, my mom enrolled me in a local acting school called “Hollywood Huntsville”. I still go to this acting school today. Actor Bill Billions and his wife Ayoka Billions run it.

ILLUMINATE: You starred in and directed the award-winning short film JOHN FOLEY: MOTIVATIONALLY SPEAKING, which was inspired by the late Chris Farley’s iconic SNL character Matt Foley. How did you come up with the idea and do you have any plans to direct more in the future?

KILPATRICK: I always admired Chris Farley and loved his work. I just thought it would be fun to make my own story relating to Matt Foley instead of performing his Saturday Night Live skit. I want to make more short films at some point. Right now, I’m trying to come up with a story. The John Foley idea just popped into my head.

Daily Dead wrote, “If the phrase ‘living in a van down by the river’ brings a smile to your face, then you’re likely a fan of the late comedian extraordinaire Chris Farley and his iconic motivational speaker character from Saturday Night Live. A passionate fan of Farley’s work and the Matt Foley character, actor Grayson Kilpatrick imagines what Matt’s son would be like in John Foley: Motivationally Speaking.”

Chris Farley has been a huge part of my comedic acting. I have watched every movie and SNL skit he has done. I didn’t want to take away from his character of Matt Foley, so that is why I wanted to play his son, John. It was so fun becoming what I had envisioned what his son would be like. I wish he was still around to let me know if I honored his skit with this tribute to this great legend.

ILLUMINATE: Both of your parents are engineers (Mom works for SpaceForce and Dad works for NASA) and you want to go to school for engineering. Would you continue acting for a creative balance?

KILPATRICK: Actually, my first love is acting. My parents, being engineers and seeing what COVID did to our country in 2020, want to make sure I have something to fall back on if the industry ever shuts down again. I love cars so I want to go into Automotive Design/Aerospace Engineering. I will be taking my classes virtual online so I can still do my auditions and film. Therefore, I will not be putting my acting career on hold to attend college. I think if it is something I really want to do then I can do both.

ILLUMINATE: Do you have a favorite story from filming? What made that experience so special and memorable?

KILPATRICK: There are several favorite stories from filming that stick out for me. When I filmed Daddy’s Home, Mark Wahlberg would walk by me and fist bump when he saw me on set. He was the nicest person to work with and I have always regretted that after I wrapped, I never got the chance to get a photo with him. I remember riding home, I cried from New Orleans back home. I was only 10 but it meant so much to me that he took time to talk to me on set. I have always thought one day I will meet him again and get the chance to work with him. I think about meeting Shia LeBeouf on the set of Man Down. I was very nervous when I got to set. Shia and Kate Mara came over to welcome me on set. He even gave my mom a hug. He was the nicest person you could ever meet. When we all ate lunch, he did not stay in his trailer. He ate with the cast and crew, and took a selfie with me. I always think about meeting him and I hope one day that is me on set welcoming a kid just starting in this business and giving back to them what Shia did for me.