Brant Daugherty: Actor

Where are you from originally and how long have you been in LA?

I’m originally from Ohio, grew up in Cincinnati, so was born and raised there. I spent some time in Chicago for school and have been in LA for 11 years now.  Looking back at it it’s crazy how time has just flown by. LA is a beautiful city! It takes some time to get into the groove here but once you’ve put down some roots, it’s hard to imagine living anywhere else.  

First experience with a suit in real life and on TV.

As a kid my parents used to dress me up in those adorable suits so I have pictures of me in suits as a kid but as I got older the suits weren’t fitting right anymore.  The jackets got big and baggy and the pants didn’t match. Suits as an adult were just not as appealing as the fun I had in my suits as a kid. When I look at my choir videos and photos it’s just one ill fitting suit after another ill fitting suit.  So that was my experience as a kid and then young adult. I thought they were uncomfortable, don’t fit right, either too baggy or too tight, until I put on a nice suit and thought, oh yeah, this is how it’s supposed to fit. When I a filming and get to wear a nice suit it really takes the character to the next level. 

You are here at JB Clothiers because we are going to be dressing you for your wedding.  Tell us about it, where did you propose and where are you getting married etc? 

I proposed in Amsterdam which was a crazy coincidence because I was going to propose anyway and then we planned the trip there for Valentines day so I just waited.  I took her to this beautiful bridge overlooking the sunset and proposed there. I really wanted to give her that amazing experience and the memories.  

We are getting married on her family’s property on the bay in San Francisco which is beautiful.  Her grandparents got married there, her parents got married there so I wanted us to get married there and also give her that experience.  It’s a tradition. She asked me if there was any place that I wanted to get married and I told her no, that I’d marry you in a cardboard box I just want to marry you.  

How did you get involved with New Horizons?

New Horizons empowers individuals with disabilities to reach their full potential.  It’s a daycare, education center, work facility and so much more for people with special  needs.  They believe that persons with special needs should be able to lead healthy, safe, meaningful, and productive lives; exercise self-determination over their lives; fully participate in, be accepted by, and give back to the community in which they live.  My brother was diagnosed with asperger syndrome at 19 and he didn’t have a place where he could go and feel like he was around people like himself or felt included.  People who knew how to engage with him and I feel that it’s important to bring awareness to that! Success in acting affords you a platform as a byproduct and when you have that you can use it to shine a light on amazing organizations doing great work. 

Biggest challenges faced along your acting journey such as rejection, which actors experience so often. 

Rejection and acting go hand in hand!  People growing up told me that I couldn’t be an actor that it’s a long shot and even people in the industry tell you you can’t do it and you hear NO No NO all the time.  But what I feel is that a no is not a dead end, only that I can adjust and come up with a plan and do better the next time. I use rejection as a form of motivation.  

Funniest or best advice I have recieved? 

Dont take life to seriously, you’re never going to get out alive.  If I was to give advice to my younger self it would be to relax and enjoy the ride.  

What is your advice to the new generation in this city who have big goals and dreams? Also how to overcome their challenges. 

Formulate a plan and stick to it!  A lot of people are listless. They don’t know where their future is headed and don’t have an outline or plan.  My advice is to have a plan. It will fail and then you will have to make a new plan but have a plan! Have something that you’re going towards because otherwise someone is going to pull you towards something they are planning and then you’re just helping someone else follow their dreams.  ALSO your feelings are irrelevant. It doesnt matter how you are feeling that day, you are capable of doing great work. I’ve been under rushed circumstances and done amazing work and also been provided with all of the luxuries and done bad work. The point is that you are capable of amazing work regardless of how you feel about it.  Don’t go off of your feelings! Your feelings are a lie. You can feel uninspired and put amazing work in so just do it regardless of your feelings.