The Hype Magazine Interviews : Actor Darius McCrary
Actor Darius McCrary has had a very successful career in Hollywood with roles from Daytime television drama The Young and The Restless and numerous sit coms and most notably as “Eddie Winslow” from Family Matters. The Hype Magazine was able to catch up with Darius McCrary to discuss a variety of different topics. In addition, make sure you tune into TV One on Sunday June 12 th at 7 pm, as Darius will be portraying The Legendary Gerald Levert in The Bio Pic of R&B singer Miki Howard.
You grew up music royalty with Howard McCrary as your father, who was nominated for a Grammy award in 1986 and worked with the likes of Chaka Khan, Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson, Earth, Wind & Fire and many others. Coming from this particular type of background, why did you decide to go the acting route, instead of following in your father’s footsteps and becoming a musician?
The truth of the matter is I never decided to be an actor. Acting was a wonderful accident that took place in my life. You know sometimes we find ourselves a passenger in our own cars. I was groomed to be a musician and that’s what I wanted to do and it’s something that I haven’t let go of, because it’s in my blood and something very entrenched in my DNA. It’s a timing thing and if you are working all the time because you are in demand, you don’t have the time to focus on the music. And for all of the fans out that are reading this, “being a musician it takes almost as much time as you have to live, that’s the time you have to give.”
You’ve been a regular on several hit shows like Anger Management, but most of our readers know you as Eddie Winslow from Family Matters, the second-longest running sitcom in history with an African-American cast that aired for nine years. What was it like working with Jaleel White, who played Urkel?
It was a pleasure working with the entire cast! Jaleel is buddy, my brother, my friend and we have a very special bond! And watching him create the character and navigate through the waters everything a hit sitcom can bring you…sometimes anchoring all the fame that comes with it can be difficult, but it was a pleasure to watch him do his thing on and off screen and today we are really good friends.
As an actor is there a certain type of technique that you would use on a daytime drama like you did in The Young & the Restless versus a situational comedy like Family Matters?
There is a lot of technique that goes into acting and there are a lot of actors and actresses in today’s world, who are not cognizant of the different techniques for different genres, because it’s not a prerequisite. You find nowadays people are crossing genres so much and it is new territory for them. But when I was involved with the Young & the Restless, I used a lot of film techniques because I wanted to make it as real as possible and nowadays, actors are competing against realty television. I want to give a shout out to Kristoff St. John who plays Neil Winters on the Young & the Restless, for his outstanding work over the last 25 years.
Speaking of Kristoff St. John, what was it like working with Eric Braeden and Kristoff on the Young & the Restless because it seems like you all had great chemistry?
It was a pleasure working with Kristoff St. John, he is a really a good actor and a great guy. We are still really close today even though I have gone on to do other things. And Eric Braeden is a real cool cat. You would be very surprised what some of things Eric Braeden would walk up say before a scene.
You have many fans from the 90s and a new generation of fans today. You work consistently which is hard to achieve in Hollywood. What are some of the TV shows and film projects you’ve worked on recently that some of your Family Matters followers may not know about?
I just recently worked with the great, incredible, legendary director John Singleton for the first time in all of my years of acting, which is surprising! I’ve done a lot of shows, so you would think we would have worked together before, but it hadn’t happened until now, on a project called Snowfalls, that will be airing on FX pretty soon. And it was truly an honor and a pleasure to work with John. In addition, I just recently had the pleasure playing the late great Gerald Levert on TV ones first television movie “The Miki Howard Story.”
What was it like working with Tracee Ellis Ross, Golden Brooks, and Persia White on Girlfriends?
Ultra-Sexy! Those are some beautiful ladies and I had the pleasure of working with Jill Marie Jones as well. I was also able to work with her in the movie 35 and Ticking, along with Kevin Hart, and Mike Epps.
How was it working with a go to A-list star like Kevin Hart on the set of 35 and Ticking when you portrayed the character Nick West?
Kevin was very professional and extremely nervous because at the time, he was a hot comedian, but this was one of his first projects. I’m sure he is a little more laid back now that he is more seasoned in the entertainment business.
Now with all the success of the motion picture Straight out Of Compton, most people don’t know your brother Donovan McCrary was featured in another hit film Boyz N the Hood as the younger Tre. What do you think has changed in regards to storytelling with both these type of urban films being 25 years apart?
I think it’s up to filmmakers and actors to keep the stories very authentic. I think the storytelling nowadays has been based on sensation compared to being authentic like it was back in the 90s. It’s more of a powerful message when things are original. We are in a generation where we are over stimulated, so you have to deal with a generation that has a short attention span and very ADD. They have had to install move theaters as restaurant in order for people to come see some of the year’s blockbuster films. Compared to back in day where it was a special treat to go to the movies because you were experiencing something you couldn’t experience anywhere else.
In addition, to your on camera work, I see you that you have done voice over work in the 2007 motion picture Transformers as the Autobot Jazz. What is the difference between on camera work versus voice over work?
Voice over work is a lot easier because I don’t have to worry about makeup and wardrobe. Even though I don’t wear make up! I can sit in my pajamas and be very comfortable.
I see that you are starting to venture into the music side of the entertainment business with your new single “Seasons” featuring Donovan McCrary & Sarah Deaun. Can you tell us how long it took you to write and record the single?
The focus was basically to remind people that tough times never last, but tough people do and we all go through something. If you haven’t already gone through something and the operative word in the sentence, “going through something” is through. I just survived a couple of deaths in my family, the first was the patriarch of the family my grandfather and the second was my great dear friend and mentor, the legendary Rick James. In addition, I was going through a very un-just custody battle involving my oldest son Zechariah who I raised single handedly for the first six years of his life. It is really sad what the system does to fathers. In addition to dealing with this custody situation I found myself behind child support, even though I was offering to pay, but the courts decided it was enough. So, based on principle I found myself incarcerated. I only spent about 3 hours in jail, because my dear friend Charlie Sheen bailed me out. But to answer your question this all inspired me to write this song “Seasons” to help encourage others. I also helped start this organization called “Father’s Care.”
With all that’s been reported in the media about Charlie Sheen, what was your impression of him after working with him for two seasons on the hit show Anger Management?
Charlie Sheen is one of the most generous individuals I know! People don’t know what all he does. I watched this man pay for the funeral of paparazzi. There were paparazzi that died chasing Justin Bieber’s car and Charlie Sheen paid for the man’s funeral. Charlie Sheen personally took a service dog to an ill and disabled child in Minnesota. I mean, Charlie, took out time, jumped on his jet and spent his own money and fuel just to take this service dog to this disable person’s job. I also saw Charlie Sheen roll around and give cash money to homeless people! He got into the back of the Maybach and rolled down the window and gave money way and I’m not talking a just little bit of change. I’m talking about some big change that can change your life.
What was your most extravagant gift to yourself during your early Family Matters success?
The best gift that I think I ever gave myself was the gift of creative freedom. As I decided to peruse my music talents and ability in order to share them with the world.
What was your biggest adjustment in learning the “business” side of show business?
That’s the biggest word; the word “show business” is business. Especially in today’s world people don’t really care anymore about the art or your talents even. All they really care about is whether you are a viable talent or how they can capitalize off of your misfortunes. You know I come from a time where, you were actually paid for your work and your abilities, but nowadays everybody wants something for free and capitalizing on real life situations without paying for it. It’s just a different world today and I don’t see it changing any time soon.
In Miki Howard’s upcoming TV Bio Pic “Love under New Management” due to air at 7 pm Sunday, June 12 on TV One, you play Gerald Levert. Where you able to meet Gerald Levert before he passed and can you tell us how long it took you to prepare for this type of roll?
I was able to meet Gerald Levert. I was blessed to know Gerald and he extended himself to me from one brother to another. The only thing I regret is that I wasn’t able to work with him musically. I wish to God I had been able to take advantage of the relationship in that capacity. This is also the reason why I wanted my portrayal of him to be very accurate and sincere. “This is TV One I didn’t have to prepare this is the new Motown” and in a side note while shooting this bio pic of Miki Howard, I was also involved with another project, that required me to cut my hair, but it was able to grow back enough to allow me to play this legendary of my mentor Mr. Gerald Levert.
Have you had the opportunity to meet Miki Howard and were you a fan prior to preparing for your roll as Gerald Levert?
I would say I have had the pleasure to have known Miki Howard for close to 20 years. She has been a mentee of mine for years. She has always been family; I love her children B Howard, Kaitlyn Howard, Nicholas Howard like they are my own children and my God children. As for Miki Howard, she is one of the great loves of my life.
Do you and Miki plan on getting in the studio anytime soon?
I’m hoping to get back in the studio with Miki Howard; we actually did a project that was nominated for a Grammy together called “Be Wishes” Miki gets a little frustrated with me because she doesn’t like the fact that I jump ship musically, when it is about to get good on the music tip. But I’m like “Miki I have to service the other career of mine.” Miki’s tells me, “a real musician would not do that, and they would stay and fight.” I’m trying to woo her back into the studio, because she does amazing work. Miki is a very strong woman to raise three amazing children that have never been to jail and been successful in their own right and for her to recover from being black balled low key to now this Bio Pic is a testament of her hard work as an individual. I’m also glad we are able to pay tribute to her while she’s still alive, because it’s rare nowadays to thank some of these icons in the business and I’m honored to be a part of this project.
Finally, do you think there will ever be a Family Matters Reunion?
Man do you know how difficult it is to get black folks to agree to pay for a check together. Man black folks go out and sit down to eat dinner and they are arguing over the bill. I don’t know man, we love each other very much, but unfortunately we did not create the show and there is some business that needs to be properly handled. The creators are going to have to be willing to do their part to get us back together. But, in the meantime I’m focused on my family and this new album “Game Over” the band is hashtag GO. Shout to my brother Donovan McCrary for being the other half of my music thoughts and my sister the brain and articulating them.
[vimeo 167004301 w=640 h=360]
“Love Under New Management: The Miki Howard Story” sneak peak from Tambay A Obenson on Vimeo.
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Website: dariusmccrary.com
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About the Author
Landon Buford Washington State Graduate Past Interviews include Grammy Award Winner Kenny G, David Banner, WNBA President Lisa Borders, What's Trending's CEO Shira Lazar, Ice Cube, NBC's Chicago PD LaRoyce Hawkins, Family Matters Darius McCrary, En Vogues Maxine Jones, Team USA Track & Field Member Norris Frederick, James Kyson, WNBA Great Lauren Jackson, and more.
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