Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Pablo Jerry. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Pablo, so happy to have you with us today and there is so much we want to ask you about. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others developed certain skills or qualities that we are struggling with can be helpful. Along those lines, we’d love to hear from you about how you developed your ability to take risk?
I’ve always been a risk-taker. As a kid, I chased adventures; riding my bike to places unknown, catching the subway alone, and even launching my own car wash business before I had a single customer. I loved the thrill of diving headfirst into something, even when I couldn’t see the outcome. I believe God placed this boldness inside me like Daniel in the lion’s den or David facing Goliath.
However, as we grow older, the world tries to tame that boldness. Responsibilities stack up, bills pile up, and suddenly, taking risks feels reckless instead of courageous. But I felt it too. I knew that if I was going to step fully into my purpose, my relationship with God would have to be the foundation that I stood firmly on.
The biggest leap of faith I’ve ever taken was leaving my full-time job as a police officer to pursue my true calling; acting, entertaining, and painting. My family worried so much and told me not to do it. They urged me to stay for security, but I knew deep down, that wasn’t my path. While I prepared to leave, I leaned onto God more than ever; committing myself to reading the entire Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. And as I began to do that, doors started opening left and right. I got calls for acting roles without even auditioning, including hotel and travel, and they were offering me more than my job ever did. I began to realize that these weren’t coincidences; they were confirmations.
One of my biggest inspirations was my girlfriend, who passed away last year. Before she left, she told me, “Don’t wait on anyone to join you in leaving that job. This is your journey, nobody else’s.” Her words stayed with me, fueling my faith when doubt tried to creep in and discourage me. So in May of 2024, I took the big leap. I walked away from comfort and into my calling. That was the best decision of my life. Because when you trust in God, and step out in faith, despite not seeing the next step, he makes a way. Boldness isn’t just about risk-taking; it’s about trusting that if God put the vision in your heart, He’ll provide the path for you to make it a reality.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
K lo K! My name is Pablo, and I’m not just one thing; I’m an actor, comedian, model, host, painter, philanthropist, and boxer. Every day, I wake up with one mission: to entertain, inspire, and create. You’ve seen me in movies, TV shows, and plays, streaming on Amazon Prime, Xfinity Plus, BET Plus, and HBO Max. I’ve made appearances on Fox5, ABC7, and WUSA 9. When I hit the stage, I bring laughter across the country, from the DMV to LA, because I believe one thing “if you laugh more, you’ll cry less.”
But my talents don’t stop there, I also bring art to life. I teach sip and paint classes, paint live at events, and create custom fashion pieces. From shoes to jackets, I help people stand out when they step out on the scene. If you need a unique design, I’m your one-stop shop.What I love most about what I do? No two days are ever the same. One moment, I’m on set filming a movie. The next, I’m in my studio painting a masterpiece of Muhammad Ali. Or one day, I’m modeling on TV; the next thing I know, I’m on stage bringing the house down with laughter. God blessed me with many gifts, and I tell people, “I do everything… but drugs.” (Literally.) “You have to ASPIRE to INSPIRE before you EXPIRE.”
What’s Next?
• Filming a new TV series, CREW, based on DC in the ‘80s.
• Performing in The Wedding: A Family Affair on March 16th at the Bowie Center for Performing Arts.
• Premiering my first movie of the year, STONERS, dropping on 4/20.
• Modeling on WUSA 9 this Valentine’s Day at 3pm
• Speaking at my Alma mater, UMES, on February 19-20, inspiring students to chase their dreams at the Young & Ambitious Panel.
Every day, I’m living my passion, trusting the process, and bringing my vision to life. This is my journey and I’m just getting started.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Looking back, I would have to say the three skills that had the most impact on my journey were prayer, discernment, and dedication. Prayer will take you further than you can ever imagine because God has an ultimate plan for you, even when “You” can’t see it. That’s why we have to pray for guidance and direction. But as the saying goes, “Faith without works is dead.” You can’t pray for something and not put the work in to achieve it. “Dedication” will help you push through the craziest obstacles, even when you’re tired and exhausted. Dedication helped me to push through family trauma and I adversity. In the entertainment industry, success isn’t just about skill—it’s about stamina. A lot of the people I started with aren’t here today because life made them either quit or gave up. I kept going even though life was “Life’N”.
Discernment is another crucial skill—you need it to filter through the BS people will try to sell you. I learned this the hard way. When I was in college, I joined an acting school called John Casablancas. They promised me TV opportunities and success, but it was all a lie. I paid them thousands of dollars only to book one car commercial. The truth is, when the industry wants you, you shouldn’t have to pay for opportunities. If you’re just getting in acting, start taking classes, join your local theater, and get into plays. Theater is the foundation of acting—every great actor that you see on T.V. started on stage. Theatre builds your improv skills, confidence, and your ability to project properly.
Back to prayer. I wish I had known this early, “How you PRAY matters”. My prayers used to be so basic and vague. You really have to be specific with God when you pray. Instead of saying, “God, I want to book a role,” say: “God, I want to book a lead role in a hit series, making (X) amount of money per episode.” I learned this lesson I’m telling you the hard way. I once prayed to God, “I want to be on HBO Max.” And he answered my prayer! But I was a featured extra in a scene with Jon Bernthal, not a main character. I should’ve prayed for a speaking role or supporting role on HBO Max.
Lesson learned: (Takeaway) Be bold. Be specific. Be relentless in FAITH and ACTION.
All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?
The biggest challenge I’m currently facing right now is financing my sister’s medical treatment to help her beat breast cancer. In October 2023, she was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer. A year later, in October 2024, she had to stop working to prepare for major surgery. Within three weeks, she underwent two double mastectomy surgeries and had 15 lymph nodes in her arms removed that were affected by breast cancer. After surgery, she began chemotherapy to prevent the cancer from spreading. My sister is currently seeing both a holistic doctor and a traditional doctor, to fight this battle from every angle. But the cost of her treatment, especially her medicine, has been overwhelming. I’ve been covering all of our bills and paying out of pocket for her care has been rough.
To help with the expenses, I started a GoFundMe, (https://gofund.me/8dc5c1e8) which provided some relief, but we still needed more support. I’ve been taking on more acting gigs from films to commercials, and auctioning off my paintings to raise money as well. My goal is to auction off a painting every month and sell more art to help cover her treatment costs. I know in my heart that she’s going to beat this. The last thing I want is for her is to feel stressed about finances when she should be focused on healing. I appreciate everyone who has supported us on this journey, it truly means the world. And I’m going to keep fighting for her, just like she’s fighting every single day.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.paulcjerry.com
- Instagram: @Paulcjerry
- Facebook: Paul Kornelius Jerry
- Twitter: @Paulcjerry
Image Credits
Dominique Washington, Qasim Barnes, Darrell Stoney, Andre, Bilal Khan and Campbell’s Soup.
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
