Meet Luke Bauer

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Luke Bauer. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Luke below.

Luke, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?

I think my resilience comes from a mix of my experiences and my mindset. Growing up on a small farm in Minnesota, I faced emotional challenges that forced me to develop a strong inner voice. I was also an avid motocross racer, which resulted in many injuries and taught me how to never quit. I’ve learned to find comfort and strength in things like acting, music, creativity, and moments of rest, which help me recharge. I also focus on staying productive and adapting to whatever life throws at me—whether it’s living in my car, creating art, traveling, or pursuing my goals. My ability to push forward comes from knowing that I can create a better life for myself, no matter the circumstances.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I’m an actor and creator with a deep passion for storytelling and performance. Acting has always been my way of expressing myself and channeling my imagination—it feels like stepping back into the joy and wonder of playing around as a kid, where every role is a new adventure.

I’ve had the privilege of performing with Universal Studios, including portraying the lead villain in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire and bringing Garaka to life as the lead villain in Halloween Horror Nights. I’ve also acted with Universal / Warner Bros. as a wandering wizard and spell instructor in Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade.
On the film side, I’ve taken on roles from lead protagonist to lead villain, in two films by BetterPart Productions. I’ve tried to make a splash early in my film career by showcasing my range and dedication as a performer.

Along with acting, I’m an avid cosplayer performer, transforming into iconic characters like Harry Potter, Jack Sparrow, Gellert Grindelwald, Aragorn, and Batman. Through my content on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok (@thepotterplayer), I’ve built a community of over 25,000 followers, with some videos reaching over 5 million views. Cosplay allows me to merge my love for acting with creativity, while sharing my passion for storytelling and character work with others.

I also create various forms of art for fun, which I share on my personal Instagram (@lb_everythingg). Whether it’s sketching, digital art, video edits, or other creative projects, this is where I express myself freely and explore different creative outlets. It also provides an inside look into my personal life as an actor.

Acting and creating content gives me the freedom to express myself and connect with people through stories that entertain and inspire. Moving forward, I’m excited to continue growing as an actor and creator, collaborating on new projects, and sharing my love for performance and storytelling with audiences around the world.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Three qualities that have been most impactful in my journey are not caring what others think of you, music, and life experience, all of which have deeply shaped my growth as an actor and human being.

1. Not Caring What Others Think of You.
Learning to let go of the fear of judgment has been freeing. It allows you to fully commit to your roles, try bold things, and be authentic in your craft. My advice? Know yourself and surround yourself with people who encourage your individuality. My dear friend Brian Klier has supported and encouraged me through think and thin when it comes to being myself and staying disciplined while taking on new adventures. I encourage everyone to make decisions on your own and practice stepping out of your comfort zone daily. Start small—whether it’s wearing something bold, hitting a gnarly workout, or sharing a creative project. You can still continue to stay grounded in humbleness, but also build self-confidence over time.

2. Listening to Music.
Music is a powerful tool that helps connect to emotions and set the tone for creativity- especially film scores. It’s been instrumental in helping me get into character and stay inspired. I even listen to music while I’m performing if I can and spend hours curating playlists dedicated to my roles. I’ve got playlists of everything from Hans Zimmer to Bob Marley! If you’re early in your journey, create playlists that match the energy or emotions you want to channel, whether for a role, a project, or just life in general. Explore different genres and let music guide you into deeper emotional spaces.

3. Soak Up Life Experience.
Life experience is invaluable for acting—it gives you a well to draw from for emotions, character depth, and authenticity. The struggles, joys, and everything in between shape who you are and bring truth to your performances. My advice? Embrace every experience, big or small, triumph or struggle. It’s all part of your own story and character development. Travel, meet new people, listen to their experiences, and put yourself in unfamiliar situations. Reflect on what you’ve been through, appreciate it, and use it as fuel for your art.

These three things have not only helped me grow but also made my work feel real and meaningful. If you lean into them and truly make your life your own, you’ll find your unique path forward.

What would you advise – going all in on your strengths or investing on areas where you aren’t as strong to be more well-rounded?

I think it’s better to be well-rounded because life often takes you down unexpected paths, and having diverse skills and experiences can open up more opportunities. I’ve learned this firsthand through my journey. For instance, when I was a teen, I was fully committed to motocross racing. I went all in, pushing myself to be the best, but after a bad crash that left me with a broken collarbone, I realized that focusing solely on one thing could limit me. I was bedridden for a few weeks, had surgery which left me with a titanium plate and 7 screws, and I went from 175lbs to 140lbs in 7 days. That moment taught me that I should pursue multiple passions and not be restricted to just one.

My life since then has been a series of pivots and adventures. I moved to Florida straight out of high school, then took a leap and moved to New York at 19, moved back to Minnesota with zero dollars to my name and lived with my true Godsend of a friend, Jessica McFarland.
I soon returned to Florida, where I lived out of my car while acting in commercials to make ends meet. Through it all, I realized that being adaptable and pursuing a variety of interests was crucial to building the life I wanted. Your sentence is grammatically correct! Now, I’m fortunate to work with Universal Studios, have a stable apartment with my loving partner, Leah, and enjoy a range of passions I can explore whenever I want.

Having a well-rounded skill set and life experience has given me the flexibility to embrace new opportunities, whether in acting, cosplay, or content creation. It allows me to approach each passion with a fresh perspective and appreciate the full spectrum of what life has to offer. My advice to anyone is to explore different interests and not be afraid to switch directions when you feel called to do so, or when you just feel like taking a risk! You never know how strong you actually are until you test yourself, and you never know where those experiences will lead you.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Headshots – Mariah O’Donnell
Garaka Photo – Michael Carelli
Batman Photo- Chris Bombardo
Aragorn Photo – Mari Pagan
Spell Instructor Photo – Andrew Walt
Harry Potter Photo – Nikki Maldonado-Mancebo

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