Pop-Culturalist.com

Named a “Breakout Star” by The Hollywood Reporter, Geno Segers is making big moves in Hollywood. His past credits include hit films and TV shows including Banshee, Pair of Kings, Zeke and Luther, and countless others. Currently, he’s delivering a commanding performance as Dwayne in NBC’s laugh-out-loud comedy Perfect Harmony. We caught up with Geno to chat about his career and what’s ahead for Dwayne.

PC: How did you discover your passion for acting?
Geno: That’s a great question. Honestly, I discovered my passion for acting haphazardly. I was a rugby player in New Zealand. When I retired, I went into business for myself. I studied engineering in college. I gravitated to fluid systems, designing piping systems. I had a few employees who did different things. One of my employees said to me, “You have a cool voice. You should do something with it.” He had a relative in the radio business, so I went and read some copy. It was terrible. I wasn’t very good at it. When I heard myself back and didn’t recognize myself, I was like, “This is really cool!” It sparked my interest in voice-over. That’s when I realized my passion for performing and acting. But if you ask anyone in my family, they’ll tell you that I’ve been a performer my whole life. I would perform at every family gathering. [laughs] I was always being silly and telling jokes and stories.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Geno: I would say that the biggest influences have been my dad and mom. They instilled in me that you could do anything that you want to do. They didn’t emphasize the “anything,” they emphasized the “want.” They said, “If you want to do, then you can do it. If you want to be this, then you can be it.” They never specified the “anything.” When you tell a kid that they can do anything they want, their mind goes to all these endless possibilities. The most important part of that statement is the “want.” In order to do it, you have to want it first. That really affected me and set me down the road of things that I wanted to do.

PC: When you look back, what’s one thing you know now that you wish you knew when you started?
Geno: Wow! I wish that I had been more resourceful. I thought that after taking the first step into the business, the next would be automatic. I thought that if I did this one thing, then this would happen. But the industry doesn’t work like that. Knowing that now has prepared me for the next two-month hiatus. If I had known that when I started, I would have been better positioned for the long haul. It’s a tough industry. There’s always someone better. There’s also something shinier. There’s always a person who has a better connection. As an actor/performer, Hollywood is very cut and dry. You’re either on the menu, or you’re at the table having dinner. I’m literally on the menu. On one day, I’m the “Special of the Day/Week.” The next day, I’m old news. I’m far more seasoned now that I take a long-term approach to this industry.

PC: You’ve had a lot of success already in your career. When you look back, is there a particular moment that stands out to you?
Geno: That’s a hard question. I live so much in the now that it’s hard to look back and say this is the moment. To me, the moment is now. This moment now is a pinnacle moment. If I had to pick a moment that was a turning point, I would say when Tommy Schumacher offered me the role of Mufasa. I almost refused it because I wasn’t sure that I was ready. The statement that was made to me made all the sense in the world. It was about me trusting that they knew their job better than I did. I have to trust that these people know their job better than me. I thought I wasn’t ready, but why would they put me in a position if they didn’t believe in me? That was a turning point for me.

PC: You’re currently starring in Perfect Harmony, and we’re heading into the back half of Season 1. What can you tease about the remainder of the season?
Geno: I’m not one for spilling the beans! [laughs] But I’ll say that there are going to be a lot of unlikely situations that tee us up for Season 2. It’s so unexpected that fans of the show will be shocked.

PC: When you look back at this first season, what will you remember most about the experience?
Geno: I will remember how ridiculously humble this cast is. I don’t think I’ve ever been on a set where the lead character takes the time to be cordial and human with everyone. Bradley [Whitford] is an amazing human, first and foremost. He leads by example. He shows us how to be, how to perform, and how to be a human on set. We have this amazing opportunity to do what we love, but it doesn’t relegate our humanity. We’re still people. We just happen to have a job on television. Bradley represents that, and Anna [Camp] with her sweet Southern nature. I can’t say enough about how kind she is. As a cast, we follow that.

PC: If the series is picked up for a second season, where would you like to see your character’s storyline head?
Geno: I’d love to see Dwayne become more confident in terms of stepping out and voicing his opinion—not as much as a leader but a man of action. He could very well be a kind representation of leadership.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Geno: Game of Thrones

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Geno: Shawshank Redemption. I can watch that every day.

PC: Favorite book?
Geno: Invisible Man

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Geno: The Lion King

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Geno: Led Zeppelin

PC: Who would play you in the story of your life?
Geno: It would have to start out as a movie that looked backwards. The old version of myself would have to be James Earl Jones, and then go way back and it’d probably be one of these Disney guys. [laugh]

To keep up with Geno, follow him on Twitter and Instagram. Catch Perfect Harmony every Thursday at 8:30/7:30c.

Photo Credit: The Riker Brothers