Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Joel Alvarado. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Joel, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
Greetings from Mayberry USA. My name is Joel Alvarado. I am the Coproducer and actor that plays Goober Pyle in The Andy Griffith Show Movie Mayberry Man which is now with Sony Entertainment. I also am on Warner Bros Worst Cooks In America:Spoiled Rotten Edition. I found my purpose through laughter. I believe that laughter is a feeling that can heal a person internally. For the longest time I did not even know what laughter was. I barely knew how to smile. The roads that led to Mayberry were rather dark and winding roads. I endured many moments that brought sorrow and despair. I was bullied for being myself and not following the hoard. My father abandoned and rejected me. As a child, I would take naps in front of a screen door at my grandparents house. My father and his family would speak of his return. I would fall asleep watching Opie and Andy on The Andy Griffith Show. I always wondered what it would be like to be in the Mayberry family. One day in my teenage years, my father asked me, “ Do you know what people’s number one fear in life is?” I replied sharks failing to understand the severity of this conversation. He answered “rejection and abandonment… you are nothing more than a guinea pig in my science project. I rejected and abandoned you to see how you would turn out.” My father graduated with honors in psychology. He warped his purpose and used his ability for the bad. My story has done a 180 degree turn for the better. My dream of being in the Mayberry family .. the dream that saved me as a child.. would come true when the children of the original cast of The Andy Griffith Show welcomed me to become a part of Mayberry history. When I auditioned… I auditioned for every role other than any of the Mayberry characters. In fact, George Lindsey Jr, who is the son of Goober on the show, was already set to play the role of “Goober” and pay tribute to his dad. Every audition I gave resembles the Goober that the Director saw for the Mayberry Man Movie. They called me one day, and said “We can either go with the son of the Goob for the role which will be a guaranteed hit… or we can take a chance on you.” Needless to say they made their decision and adjusted the advertising and marketing to studios accordingly. It was then that I truly found my purpose. Appearing on Worst Cooks has emphasized this. Producers watched Mayberry Man with their family and said we need Goober in the kitchen! I am now writing a book that will soon be published. It is a cookbook and mini Mayberry memoir. More and more as I build my brand, I realize my purpose. To bring Love, Laughter, and my infamous Orange Chicken to the lives of a hurting world.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
My book is already highly anticipated by the Mayberry community and lovers of Classic Television. I attend meet and greets at Comic cons, Pop cons, Mayberry events, and have an annual 5 day holiday event that I host at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. I will be doing a casting call on site at the Christmas Gift and Hobby Show in Indianapolis, In. The dates are November 6th-10th. I am hosting a new reality series that I am sure will be a lot of fun for singles!
My goal is to continue my growth and expansion. I have overcome enormous odds against me. I build my brand and continue to film for television shows for major networks. I have a movie with an expected release date this year that will feature Butch Patrick, “Eddie Munster”, from the Munsters classic tv show. I push my boundary and have now done a death scene in a horror film and also filmed as a murder suspect in a crime series. In this industry it is foolish to box yourself in. You must always continue to evolve and thrive.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
The three qualities that I have that allow me to be successful are determination, adaptability, and magnetic personality. I have the skill set to be able to network and be amongst any crowd. Many lack people skills. You must be pleasant to be around. Nobody will tolerate 16 hour days on set with dreadful people no matter the talent you possess. I somehow have a gift at finding opportunity. Opportunity also finds its way to me. The advice that I have for anyone who is just now starting their career in acting or production is to accept any opportunities to get a feel for what you are about to get yourself into. Create a reel demonstrating your various acting talents. Have a mixture so that casting can see the many types of roles that you can play. My recommendation is to spend as much time as you would at a job each week on developing your craft. Something that most people don’t know is that there are easily accessible opportunities for major networks just as there are for student films. You can find your purpose through acting. Sometimes the people who make us laugh on tv and in film are the ones who have been hurt the most.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
I am always on the lookout for new projects to collaborate on. If you are looking to network, have questions about the entertainment industry, or would like further information on how to begin your bold journey feel free to follow me and send a message on instagram. My profile is theofficialgoober. You can find me on Facebook
www.facebook.com/realitystarroyalty
I look forward to hearing you and following your journey as well!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: theofficialgoober
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/realitystarroyalty
Image Credits
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