Pop-Culturalist.com

Lou Ferrigno Jr. is a jack-of-all-trades; he’s an actor, producer, model, and one of Hollywood’s fast-rising stars. Whether he’s working in front of or behind the camera or gracing magazine covers around the world, his talent unquestionably shines through. His growing list of credits include projects such as Star Girl, Guest House, S.W.A.T., Days of Our Lives, Teen Wolf, and dozens more.

Currently, he can be seen starring opposite Travis Burns and Niki Koss in the must-see horror-thriller, Dreamcatcher.

Pop Culturalist had the pleasure of speaking with Lou about his career, getting his big break, and all things Dreamcatcher.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Lou: Without a doubt, my family has had the biggest impact on my life and career. My sister Shanna, who was trained at SUNY Purchase, and my parents have been so supportive through all the wild peaks and valleys that accompany the grueling journey of a working actor. Being blessed with a strong support system of people that keep me grounded whenever my ego needs a reality check, reaffirm my professional convictions, and help me avoid mental breakdowns, has been an invaluable pillar of my success.

PC: In addition to acting, you’ve recently started producing. How has your work behind the scenes made you a stronger actor and vice versa?
Lou: Being a producer on Nightshade allowed me to contribute more of my artistic and strategic opinions in making a film, which I thoroughly enjoyed. As a former athlete, I compare a film/TV set to the gridiron of a football field. Everyone bears their specific role or obligation to success, or in this case, to execute together in order to achieve a successful final product. I enjoyed the challenge of doing more than just acting, which, as the film lead, was very demanding already.

PC: You’ve had a lot of success throughout your career. When you look back, is there a particular moment that stands out?
Lou: There are too many to count, but the one that stands out is when I booked my first dramatic TV role on the long-running soap opera, Days of Our Lives. When I decided to pursue acting, I spent the first two years focusing intensely on studying the craft of acting and constructing a range of characters for my creative repertoire. Around my third year of dramatic study, I began auditioning more frequently. After roughly twenty-five unsuccessful auditions, I landed the role of “Drunk Guy” on the long-running soap. I spent a lot of my youth on film and TV sets with my father, so that environment was familiar to me, but only as “what dad did”. The minute I arrived to set ready to shoot, I knew at that moment that I was doing what I was meant to.

PC: You’re known equally for your comedic roles as well as your dramatic ones. As an actor, is one more challenging than the other?
Lou: Drama and comedy both have their own particular benefits and challenges. Both are creative collaborations, so effective execution amongst actors relies heavily on their on-screen chemistry. The laughs received after nailing a joke or an honest comedic reaction are immediately gratifying as an actor. On the contrary, dramatic acting permits me to play with a much broader range of emotions. What I’ve learned is that as long as you fully commit to your artistic choices in either genre, good things will come as a result.

PC: Of all the characters that you’ve played, which has been the easiest and which has been the most challenging?
Lou: As an avid people watcher and lifelong student of the human condition, I can say that there are no “easy” roles. Every working actor has played a character that is closer to their actual self than others, but a great actor is always looking to dig deeper in order to construct a completely fresh character on-screen. My essence on screen could be described as “strong and authoritative”, which has led to my portrayals of superheroes (e.g. Hourman on Stargirl, Super Sammy on Mutt & Stuff), police officers/firefighter (S.W.A.T., Teen Wolf, 9-1-1), and soldiers (RUSH: Inspired by Battlefield, Earthfall). I view every role as a challenge, but nothing that I don’t necessarily fit.

PC: You have a new film out. Tell us about Dreamcatcher, your character, and what drew you to this project.
Lou: Dreamcatcher is a suspense mystery-thriller based in the world of electric dance music (EDM). The script was so energetic and intriguing that I had to be a part of it, and the final project did not disappoint. So often in this category, films unsuccessfully effectuate plot twists intended to build suspense to throw the viewer off the killer’s trail. This film genuinely surprised me when the killer was revealed, and it was so satisfying to watch.

I play Colton, the devious assistant to Travis Burns’ (famous DJ) talent manager, who aids in the attempt to cover up a killing at a music venue in order to protect her famous client.

PC: In addition to Dreamcatcher, you also are starring in Nightshade. Is there anything you can tell us about that project?
Lou: Nightshade is my first dramatic film lead, which I’m so proud to have worked on with writer/director Landon Williams. I’m so thrilled with the final product and how all the pieces fit together in this complicated, yet thrilling, project.

My character, Detective Ben Hays, begins to envision murders in his dreams before he’s assigned to similar crimes that occur in real life. In a passionate pursuit of justice, Ben struggles with insomnia and suspicion of a supernatural force wreaking havoc, while fighting to save his marriage and sanity in the meantime. I’m so excited for the world to check it out!

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Lou: Jersey Shore.

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Lou: Mean Girls and 17 Again.

PC: Favorite book?
Lou: The Autobiography of Malcolm X.

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Lou: Beauty and the Beast.

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Lou: Nina Simone.

PC: Who would play you in the story of your life?
Lou: Nick Lachey.

To keep up with Lou, follow him on Twitter and Instagram. Dreamcatcher is out now On Demand and on Digital.

Photo Credit: Storm Santos