Exclusive Interview: Kheon Clarke Talks SkyMed, Stepping into a Role Unlike Any He’s Done Before, and More

Kheon Clarke is a gifted storyteller who is quickly making a name for himself with his commanding presence on screen. His past credits include projects like Van Helsing, Gabby Duran & The Unsittables, and Riverdale. This summer, he stars as one of the leads of SkyMed.

The must-see medical drama follows the intense personal lives of young nurses and pilots flying air ambulances in remote Northern Canada. Kheon shines as the lovable Tristan Green, a career-driven flight medic and team player who takes his career seriously and his relationships casually.

Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to speak with Kheon about his career, SkyMed, and how he prepared to step into a role unlike any he’s played before.

PC: How did you discover your passion for the arts and storytelling?
Kheon: I feel like I’ve been running away from it for the longest time because I was a person that didn’t believe that I could ever do what I’m doing right now. After a big breakup with a long-term ex, I said, “You know what? Forget this. I’m going to go for what I want.” Luckily it all worked out. But I’ve always had a passion for acting, theater, and all things to do with entertainment since I was a small kid.

When I brought up that I wanted to be an actor when I was a little kid, they shrugged it off as, “You don’t know what you’re talking about. Just focus on this. That’s not a real thing.” But it is now…

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career either personally or professionally?
Kheon: The biggest influence would be one of my best friends. Her name is Pamela. She was always pushing me to do it even when I didn’t believe I could. Shout out to Pamela! Also, one of my other best friends named Teon.

Professionally, I’ve never met these gentlemen, but I would say Will Smith, Denzel Washington, Idris Elba, and the Rock. I really gravitate towards these guys because they’re so focused on their craft. It’s motivation. They talk about the sacrifices that it takes and the rewards that will come if you stay positive and keep working hard. It may sound cliché and corny, but if you believe in yourself and you try really hard and have a positive attitude, things will happen. I’m a testament to that.

PC: You’ve had so much success throughout your career. When you look back, is there a particular moment that stands out to you?
Kheon: I was recurring on this Disney series called Gabby Duran and the Unsittables for two seasons. It was supposed to be a day-player role. I didn’t even have a name! I went in there and I did my thing. I guess they loved my performance and decided to write me into the show. They gave me a character. That was a big moment for me because it showed me that if I trust myself and just play and have fun, good things can happen. It was also on Disney, and I grew up watching a lot of Disney shows like That’s So Raven, Lizzie McGuire, and Kim Possible. It was a great feeling to know that I was able to accomplish something like that and move forward with my career. Another highlight was Riverdale, even though I was only on for a couple of episodes.

PC: Tell us about SkyMed and your character in the series.
Kheon: SkyMed has such a diverse cast of characters and complex storylines. It’s Grey’s Anatomy meets Top Gun.

My character is Tristan Green. He’s a gay man, but the show doesn’t focus on that. It’s more like, ”This is who he is. He’s living his life.” This is how society should be. It should be normalized. You love how you love, and it’s not an issue. It’s just part of being a human. I love the way that the writers incorporated that and weren’t trying to make it a big point like, “Hey, everyone! These guys are gay.” He’s also a nurse. The show is filled with pilots, nurses, and doctors. Tristan’s very work-oriented. When it’s time to really get in there and save people, he’s very much about his job, almost militaristic in style. But he also knows how to have fun and let loose and is the sunshine and the glue that holds the group together when everyone is going through their own personal things.

PC: The series is so grounded in the relationships amongst all the characters, and there’s such great chemistry that comes off the screen. How did you and the rest of the cast build that bond?
Kheon: It was quite simple. The story takes place in the north. The main cast all live in this crew house together. They’re interacting with each other daily, which is funny because while we were shooting in Winnipeg, we all stayed in the same condo building. It was very similar. Because of COVID, we had to make sure everyone was safe and healthy so we could continue to film every day.

We were closed off a bit from the outside world. We only had each other. We would go to each other’s apartments and play board games, watch movies together, things like that. We became a big family and I hope that translates onto the screen.

PC: Which of Tristan’s relationships was your favorite to explore in Season 1 and why?
Kheon: Well, he develops a relationship/situationship with one of the pilots who is also gay. His name is Nowak. You’ll see as the season unfolds. They have this slow burn. One of them is ready for love and one isn’t. I don’t want to give too much away, so you’ll have to see.

It was a challenge for me because I’m heterosexual, but I chose to take this role on because it’s something different that I’ve never done. It was something for me to challenge myself with, and it helped me understand more about some of the things that people in the LGBTQIA+ community go through.

I’m grateful and humbled that I got to experience this. I’m not going to lie. I was a little nervous before our first kiss. But after a while, it got easier. Thomas Elms, the actor who plays Nowak, is an amazing human being. Our connection and friendship made it a lot easier. I’m hoping that we’re everyone’s favorite couple.

PC: Representation has been such a driving force throughout your career, and you’ve brought these really dynamic characters and stories that are not often depicted in mainstream media to the screen. What has it meant to you to be a part of projects that are pushing these inclusive storylines forward?
Kheon: It means a lot because it’s important. There have been LGBTQIA+ people for as long as history has been history. To leave that society out of our storytelling is a disservice. We’re all human beings. We all need to be seen and represented. There might be people that are against it, but they’re living in the past. This is real life. These are real people that do real work and are in different fields. They need to be represented and seen on screen. I truly believe that. It’s so important.

PC: There are so many moments that are going to stay with audiences after the series drops. Is there a scene in particular that you’re really excited for your fans to see?
Kheon: There’s a big emotional scene for me that happens at the end of the season. It’s either Episode 7 or 8, but Tristan finally breaks down. That’s something that I’ve been working on in my acting classes. I’ve always been able to access those emotions, but to make it come out realistic on screen, you have to feel something. I wanted to convey it through the lines and my performance. It was a beautiful breakthrough moment for me because I thought I needed to really get myself in a serious head space, but from the days and days of shooting, it came naturally. I went out and I delivered. Hopefully, the audience will enjoy it. That was probably my favorite scene. I’m very proud of it.

PC: This is such an exciting time in your career. As you look ahead to the next five to ten years, is there a dream role that you would love to bring to life on the screen?
Kheon: There are so many things that I want to do. I want to do romantic comedies. I want to do action. I want to do more dramas. The sky is the limit. But I think every little boy growing up wants to be a hero—not necessarily a superhero, though I’d love to do that—and I did get to be a hero on this show. But I’d like to do something like Mission: Impossible or Tenet. But things are just getting started. The world is my oyster. We’ll see what happens in the future.

To keep up with Kheon, follow him on Instagram. Watch SkyMed on Paramount+ today.