you know it is off, try to figure out why
Dennis Haysbert
it’s off and fix it. The only way you fix it
is by asking yourself, ‘what can I do to
make it better?’”
BEOEJ: Did you participate in theatre
when you were in school?
Dennis Haysbert: “When I finally
got into High School I was fortunate
Life is a Lesson
enough to have the district theatre, it was
were all the high schools in my district
graduated from. I had this big stage that
By: Carolina L. Saucedo was like my back yard and I played on
it all the time. I did shows for English
classes just to get the feel for what the
experience was all about. I started young,
not so much wanting to do it, but just
not knowing or having the means to do
it. It was a very tough time growing up
in the early ‘60s. And basically it was a
struggle to get an education because they
wanted the black kids in trades, it wasn’t
about giving them college preparatory
classes; which my mother had demanded
that they give me. So I found theatre, and
it clicked, and I knew right away what I
wanted to do with my life.”
BEOEJ: As an actor, which roles have
been the most difficult?
Dennis Haysbert: “I just can’t say
that I’ve had anything hard. I’ve enjoyed
everything I’ve done because it has led
me to this point. I have nothing bad to
say about any of the roles because it was
something I needed to experience. Some
of the hardest ones were probably Navy
Seals because I was working with some
people who were not very disciplined.
We were working with guns and we were
working in water with oxygen tanks. If
you have people who are screwing up
in those instances it could cost you your
life. That alone was hard but I’m glad I
did it, that was a really good role for me
but I do wish that role were flushed out a
little more. But then again, I got a second
chance to do the role for four years when
late, he’s beautiful to look at, and he’s really know, all I really saw were people I was doing The Unit so it comes around.
intelligent.’ Looking at a guy like that, and figures on the screen and say, “Boy, I can’t really say that there was anything
I was in shock. This is what was going I’d like to be there one day!” It wasn’t that was really hard or something that I
through my mind in an abstract manner until Jr. High that I saw some kids on didn’t like. I’ve always been very experi-
when I was a kid, but when I grew up I stage chewing up the scenery. And at this ential; I always enjoy the experience”
associated those visuals and the things I point I knew what I liked, and I knew BEOEJ: What is the driving force
heard and it carried me through. When what I didn’t like. When you are wat- behind your success?
you are looking at somebody growing up ching something that’s really great and Dennis Haysbert: “To be better; to
you are not looking at yourself, you’re you are really into the story you aren’t learn. I think for any person no matter
just saying, ‘Wow, I can do that, there’s really sitting there with a critical eye, you what their profession is, is to always keep
somebody that looks like me on televi- are just kind of sitting there enjoying it. asking questions and never stop learning.
sion.’ What I was interested in I didn’t When something is just a little off and Waking up everyday, life is a lesson.
The Black E.O.E. Journal www.blackeoejournal.com 71
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