Bruce Nozick, Actor
Bruce Nozick, Actor
AGE: What roles are you best known for?
There are a few roles I might be known from: I did the last two seasons of the Showtime series “Weeds” playing Whit Tillerman, Kevin Nealon’s boss in the Wall Street firm. I did the second season of “The Last Ship” on TNT playing Dr. Milowsky. And most recently I played Laura Dern’s bankruptcy attorney in the 2nd season of HBO’s “Big Little Lies.”
Laura Dern and Bruce Nozick in HBO’s “Big Little Lies”
AGE: How did you get started as an actor?
I grew up in Massachusetts and when I entered my Sophomore year of High School my parents and I moved to Northern Virginia because of my father’s job change. I must have caught the acting bug early because although I had only done a couple of one act plays in Massachusetts, when my father was looking for a high school in Virginia for me he specifically sought one out that had a strong Theatre Department. So grateful to him for that. I quickly got very involved with my High School Theatre and the rest is history.
AGE: When did you think it was something you wanted to do as a career?
In High School I actually didn’t even consider that it was something I could do for a career. Until in my Junior year my friend Eric said he was going to major in acting in college. From that moment on it was all I wanted to pursue. Much to the concern of my parents since I was Valedictorian of my class and could have pursued anything. I auditioned for and got accepted to New York University’s Undergraduate Acting Program and I was on my way.
AGE: Statistically speaking, succeeding as an actor is pretty rare. Did that dissuade you at all?
I was blissfully naïve. I knew so very little about being an actor and the business of acting when I first went to New York that I dove in head first.
AGE: How did you support yourself before you were a paid actor?
I had a series of different jobs while in college and after. Everything from working at an answering service (before cell phones!) to working the switchboard at The Helmsley Palace Hotel. I eventually found my way to working at law firms as a Word Processing operator. Did that for 17 years! Throughout those early years I also was fortunate to land a lot of extra work on movies filming in NYC.
AGE: What are your biggest accomplishments acting-wise?
My biggest accomplishment is actually having made a living as an actor solely for the last 20 years. I have done everything – theatre, tv, film, commercials, voiceover, print, industrials – anything that falls under performance. And I have been so blessed that in piecing all of those different areas of the business together I have been able to build a very comfortable and happy life for me and my family.
Bruce Nozick, Kevin Nealon and Mary-Louise Parker in Showtime’s “Weeds”
AGE: Can you share any behind-the-scenes stories?
Well a good one is how I got the role on “Weeds.” For the only time in my career, an hour after the audition the casting director called my manager and said I’m for sure their guy …. Unless they decide to stunt cast (cast a celebrity). Well, later that day we learned that an offer was made to Dana Carvey (who worked with Kevin Nealon on SNL of course). My manager said let it go – why wouldn’t he take the job, he hasn’t been working. For 2 days I was kept hanging – and I filled those days smoking pot (for good karma since it was called “Weeds”). During those 2 days I also kept hearing the Doors song “Break on Through” – I felt that it was emblematic, that this job would enable me to “break on through to the other side” of my career if it happened. Up until the night before the first day of shooting, they were working on Dana’s “deal” and at 7:30 they called me and said it was mine. Apparently Dana lives in San Fran and doesn’t fly so they were afraid he would not be available enough as the schedule evolved. Thank God!
As a side story, several months later I was in Vegas on an annual trip with a couple of buddies. We were staying at The Hard Rock Hotel and every room has a poster. Our room had the Doors poster for “Break on Through”!
Bruce Nozick and Kevin Nealon in Showtime’s “Weeds”
AGE: Any celebrity stories you can share?
Well to continue with “Weeds,” the first day of shooting I met Kevin Nealon in the makeup trailer. The first thing he said to me was “y’know they wanted Dana for this role.” He then said, “I’m glad you got it … with Dana it would have been a gimmick but you’re a real actor which is better for it.” From that moment on we became really friendly and loved working together. He even invited my wife and I to his home for a couple of Christmas gatherings – at which I met amazing people like Eric Idle and Gary Shandling. Insane. I just have to say that for the most part, every “celebrity” I’ve met has been genuine, lovely and welcoming. Laura Dern was incredibly warm and present in our conversations for example. So cool.
Laura Dern, Bruce Nozick and Jeffrey Nordling in HBO’s “Big Little Lies”
AGE: Did you ever have a low point when you thought about giving up?
There was never a time that I fully considered quitting. Sure there were low points and doubts. But my wife Terry has been incredibly supportive both financially early on and emotionally throughout. She never asked me to quit. I did however struggle to find other sources of money when times were slow. I got my real estate license at one point and then I got a license in securities trading. Both were brutal months of study and I passed the certification exams on the first try in both cases. But when I dipped my foot in both of those businesses I had absolutely no passion or drive for it to keep me going. And there was always some acting job that kept “pulling me back in.” So basically the thing that kept me from quitting is a lack of passion to do anything else!
AGE: What personality trait helped you succeed?
Definitely a sense of optimism – often for no reason. But I always had faith that something would come my way to keep me going. I also have such a deep desire to be liked that I’m genuinely warm and supportive to others which I think has helped me. I’m very easy to work with and always bring my “A game” to the set. So people enjoy working with me and know that I will bring the goods.
AGE: What advice would you give others pursuing an acting career?
I have mentored many young actors and the first thing I always say is if there is ANYTHING else you have a passion for doing – DO IT! The only reason to be in this crazy business is because there is nothing else you can see yourself doing. It has to be a driving passion. Other than that, I would say be patient, do theatre to keep your juices flowing, be kind – you never know where that assistant will be tomorrow – and have a personal life outside of the biz to keep you sane.
AGE: You recently started a business — what it is?
This is actually something I’m most excited about. After years of trying to find something to “do on the side” I finally found a perfect fit. A couple of years ago I went to a guy to get self-taped for an audition. This is happening more and more these days… casting doesn’t want you to come in, they want you to tape yourself at home and send in the audition. So after that experience I thought, “why am I taping with this guy who is basically just a camera operator when I can do this myself?” For me and others. Actor could be reading with a real actor, and I could coach if necessary. Well I discovered I was really good at the coaching part – and the filming part as well. I started having all of these agents and managers sending their clients to me for self-taping… and so Audition Video Services was born. I’m very busy with it (except for now since I’ve stopped seeing clients in person). And I’ve found something that turns me on and keeps my creative juices flowing.
AGE: Is there a contact email or website you’d like to share?
Acting: BruceNozick.com
Audition Video Services: AuditionVideoServices.com
Email: Bnozick@verizon.net
