Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Green Book’s David Kallaway

Life as an actor has its ebbs and flows. The highs are high and the lows are low. But when it’s what you love to do, you push through, continue to work hard, and always remind yourself to stay patient. That’s been the key to success for David Kallaway, who’s wide range of credits include Sneaky Pete, 13 Reasons Why, and The Big Short. Currently, he can be seen opposite Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali in a film that’s generating tons of Oscar buzz: Green Book. It’s one of his most rewarding projects to date and we had the opportunity to chat with him about it.

Green Book Questions

PC: Tell us about Green Book, your character, and what drew you to this project?
David: Green Book is the story of two men who have very different backgrounds that come together. They don’t share the same views on life, but by the end, they embrace each other’s differences. It’s a beautiful story, especially in a time where race relations are still not what they should be in this country.

I was offered to do an audition for the role of Officer Stewart. During my callback, I met with Peter [Farrelly], the director, two of the producers, and the casting director, Megan Lewis, and I read for the of the patrolman. I felt great about the audition. The next day, they offered me the role of Ray, the redneck.

It was an amazing experience to simply be in the room with two superior actors like Viggo and Mahershala. There is a racially charged scene that I had with Mahershala, and he pulled me aside and was like, “Hey man, I just want to tell you, everything we’re about to do right now is in bounds. Don’t feel bad. Go for it. Let’s tell this truth.” When you see it in theaters, that scene is cut down, but it was an intense day. It’s was probably the best day on a movie set that I’ve ever had.

PC: What is the preparation like when you’re working on a project that’s based on a true story, but also really socially relevant to the time that we’re living in right now?
David: I was born in Memphis, Tennessee, which is a very historic place in the world of racism and all that terribleness. Being from there, along with previous projects I had done that had similar tones and themes, I was able to draw upon those experiences for this role. My mom, dad, brother, and sister are all from Brooklyn, New York, so I was raised in Memphis with this Northern mentality. Growing up in the South, I still dealt with racism at school, though. At home, my parents never allowed it. They didn’t think about it. We didn’t talk about it because it just wasn’t part of our lives.

When I play a role like this, I allow myself to do so by making fun of people who share these terrible beliefs. I’m making fun of the people that I saw when I grew up who treated people wrongfully because they didn’t share the same personal persuasion.

PC: How challenging is it for you to play a character who’s belief and views are different from your own?
David: It’s very challenging, but the truth has to be told. People who were persecuted in that way deserve to have their stories told. They deserve for the rest of the world to see how they were treated and how people acted towards them in that time and place. I feel a sense of responsibility to do it truthfully and honestly. While my personal views and beliefs differ from my character’s, I’m able to put that aside to tell this truth.

Earlier in my career, I played a very racially disgusting character in the mini series, Roots, named Edward Covey, who captures Kunta Kinte, ties him up, and then chops off his foot. That project was even more intense than Green Book because of the physical violence that I had to portray. As soon as they would yell cut, I would cry. I’d walk off into the woods and I’d cry. It was the same with Green Book, but those tears happened afterwards.

PC: There’s a lot of Oscar buzz surrounding the film, and we’re living in the age of social media. Have you seen the reaction to the film? What do you hope audiences take away?
David: That’s a great question. Social media is such a beast: it can root for you and it can root against you. It can also be misguided, though. I’ve seen that some people felt we should have delved more into the racial divide at the time, whereas I don’t necessarily believe after seeing the film that that’s what this movie is about. I think there are plenty of movies that have done that and done it well.

This film, to me, is more about people from different backgrounds learning from each other. They embrace each other’s differences and learn to love each other. It’s a heartwarming film that shows people coming together as opposed to breaking apart.

PC: Great answer! Besides Green Book, do you have any other upcoming projects that you can chat about at this time?
David: Definitely! I’ve done a couple of things since Green Book. I have a film called Feast of the Seven Fishes, which is a movie that I did with Robert Tinnell in West Virginia. It has a great cast, including amazing actors like Madison Iseman and Joe Pantoliano, and a bunch of really cool characters. I also did a film called Dirt. It’s based on the autobiography about Motley Crue and their lives. It was a really, really crazy movie to be a part of and I can’t wait to see how things turn out.

I had some great scenes with the band and Pete Davidson from Saturday Night Live. He was awesome—so I have that. I just did an episode of Gotham, which will be coming up; that was a lot of fun. I also did a guest spot on MacGyver.

Career Questions

PC: When did your discover your passion for acting?
David: When I was five-years-old, I wanted to be a Hollywood stuntman. I would sit in front of the TV and place cushions from the couch on the floor, and I would emulate what I saw stuntmen doing on TV. I would jump off the top of the couch and land on the pillows like, “I’m going to do this one day!” Then my passion for acting came when I was eleven. I was part of a film in Tennessee called Making the Grade with Judd Nelson and Gordon Jump.

My dad checked me out of school to be an extra in the film. I remember walking up the steps of where we were shooting the movie I looked around and said to myself, this is what I want to do for the rest of my life. I loved it. From that moment on, I knew. The energy, the buzz, everybody running around—it was so exciting. It’s still exciting!

very time I’m on a set of any kind, I’ll sometimes find myself walking out of the trailer with the biggest smile on my face. I’m so lucky that I get to do this.

PC: What’s been the biggest lesson you’ve learned being a part of this industry?
David: These are good questions! The highs are high and the lows are low. One day you can be at the bottom of the barrel, thinking you’re never going to work again as an actor, and then in an hour you’ll get a call. That’s how my career has been. I was in Atlanta, super bummed out and depressed. It was a cold, snowy January day around 11:00 and I was still laying in bed, just feeling sorry for myself, having a pity party. Then, I got a call from my agent, and she was like, “Hey, can you be on a plane at 7:00 to the Keys?” I was like, “For what?” She goes, “For the show, Bloodlines”

The biggest lesson that I’ve learned, although I don’t really enforce it in my personal life [laughs], is that you can’t put everything you have into it. If you do, then you live and die by it.

PC: What is your dream role?
David: I actually wrote something that I’m hoping will get into production soon The character (that I wrote with my writing partner Jason White) is who I feel like I truly am. It’s also a role that I don’t necessarily get to play very often. I’m often cast as the tough, mean, scary dudes because of my size, but honestly, I sleep with the light on at night! I’m afraid of the dark and I still think there are monsters under my bed. [laughs] I can’t watch horror films, either. All of my friends laugh at me because I’ve never seen Friday the 13th. I’m such a baby.


This character that we put together is a guy who puts aside his insecurities and everything that he has to overcome in his life in order to help others. It’s a beautiful story about bullying and sexuality. So, as far as dream roles go, this is my dream role. I met and worked with Matt Damon a while ago and he was about to go make Good Will Hunting, and he said to me, “I’m going to make this movie with my best friend. The only way to get things done is to make it yourself.” That’s what I hope to do!

PC: What are some major career goals you hope to accomplish?
David: This is so cheesy and generic to say, but it’s the first thing that came to my head. I just want to make my mom and my family proud. There’s a certain level of confidence that you have in your work, but there’s always something on your shoulder telling you that you’re not good enough. It’s something that I think every actor can attest to. So, when you overcome that and get accolades for your work, it’s like, “Holy crap. I guess I don’t suck.”

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
David: South Park and Family Guy, but my girlfriend recently got me into Real Housewives, which is brutal. I like it in the background because it’s hilarious. Also, Big Mouth, on Netflix!

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
David: I like ’80s movies like The Breakfast Club or Say Anything.

PC: Favorite book?
David: Right now, I’m reading The Psychology of Winning by Denis Waitley. My buddy turned me onto it.

PC: Favorite play or musical?
David: Chicago

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
David: Tupac

Make sure to follow David on Twitter and Instagram, and catch Green Book in theaters now.

Photo Credit: Kelly Mullis