Today we’d like to introduce you to Ty McLeod.
Hi Ty, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Chris Tucker inspired me to become an actor – when I was in 4th grade. His energy was electric on camera and I wanted to make audiences feel what he made me feel. When I was in sixth grade, my mom uprooted me from my family and home to follow my step-dad to Ft. Leonardwood, MO. He was a soldier and he had his orders. After a year or two, we moved to Springfield MO, which was about an hour away from base. It was here with the Kickapoo Theatre program that really ignited my love for acting. I decided then that I would spend my life pursuing the art of storytelling.
After a brief two years as a Kickapoo Highschooler, I moved back to Texas to live with my Dad. From there I would graduate from Harker Heights High School and relocate to Austin Texas at the age of 19. The goal was to become a real actor. The film scene was booming in 2012, and I was already landing extra work on successful TV shows.
I promised myself from that point forward that I would dedicate myself to at least one acting class per-week, and I kept that promise to myself for fifteen years. Throughout my career I have gone on to work in over 30 films, multiple TV shows, and several plays. The goal to be “ seen “ however was no longer with me, and instead it was the pursuit of mastery that continued to call me. I got busy, produced my own work, learned how to write and tried my hand at everything possible in front of and behind camera.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has never been smooth. The same struggles when I started are very much apart of my life today. A lack of financial stability, the desire to be appreciated by my peers and the dream of contributing something unique to this highly competitive industry.
Over time through my training and work, I began learning more about my own inhibitions: My ability to love myself being one that I still struggle to overcome.
Acting has served as an appropriate anvil in which to fashion my character. For I believe character to be the bottleneck of mastery. Meaning that if I wanted to be a great actor, I would have to have pretty great character to guide me through.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I specialize as an actor, but today that just isn’t enough. Together with likeminded creatives I have come to produce long form stories and develop opportunities outside of what was available for someone like me. It was those projects I’m most proud, like my 55-minute pilot that took my team 45 days of shooting and 2 years of post production, all with $0 budget.
I believe what sets me apart from others is something that I believe everyone else is capable: My resilience to continue on and defy my own doubt whenever It pokes it’s ugly head out.
The relationships that I have developed and the film community that has embraced me here in Texas means everything to me. I would certainly not be the person that I am today without this art being a core pillar in my being. I believe Acting saved me, and through it I found the woman whom I’m soon to marry.
This art form has made me a rich man. Maybe not in a materialistic sense, but certainly in fulfillment.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
What I love about my city are the varying local restaurants and passionate individuals that I’ve come to meet and know. I’m so inspired by anybody who works with heart and devotion towards whatever it is they do. I believe this is a foundational key to developing a fulfilled life.
The things I don’t like about the city are commonly disliked, such as traffic and at times a overbearing local government.
But ultimately, this town raised me and I owe a tremendous debt to this community.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.TyMcLeod.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leightontymcleod/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ActorTyMcLeod/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tymcleod
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/tymcleod
- Other: https://m.imdb.com/name/nm5005180/
