Meet Will Roberts

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

Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Actor Will Roberts with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?

As an actor, my work ethic is defined by a deep commitment to my craft and an unwavering dedication to bringing every character to life with authenticity and depth. From my role in the critically acclaimed “Oppenheimer,” where I had the privilege of contributing to a story that garnered multiple Academy Awards, to my performance in the bold western “The Redeemer” I’ve consistently pursued roles that challenge and inspire me. Working alongside industry greats and on diverse projects like the upcoming film “Redeemer,” I approach each role with meticulous preparation, a collaborative spirit, and a passion for storytelling and research. Whether it’s through intense character study or immersing myself in the historical and emotional contexts of a role, I strive to deliver performances that resonate deeply with audiences.

With Oppenheimer I spent 3 months educating and researching General George C Marshall. I worked with the Historian from The General George C Marshall Foundation, Melissa Davis ( marshallfoundation.org )

I wanted to make sure I understood how the 5 star General would think and why he made the decisions he made. Please when an actor prepares they don’t spend their time concerned about who else may be in the scene(s) they are doing, Especially if it is directed by Christopher Nolan and you are in a Scene with Matt Damon, Of Cillian Murphy …

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?

Will Roberts is an award-winning actor, film and television weapons expert, cowboy, author, reporter, dancer, and holder of two Guinness World Records.

Will is in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenhiemer as General George C Marshall

Will has been a professional actor since 1982 and in 1985 joined tge Screen Actors Guild and from then on has been working all around the world in Films and TV. Roberts’s other notable film credits include Oppenheimer, The Redeemer, A Soldier’s Revenge, iBot, The West and the Ruthless, North of Neon, The Killer, Signal, and Turner and Hooch. Roberts’s television credits include roles on the pop-phenomenon Netflix hit Lucifer, True Terror-Robert Englund, and 60 other credits. and is infamous for his appearance on The Ellen Show as “The Dancing Dad.”

Roberts has appeared in various national commercials for companies such as Total Wines, Applebee’s, Geico, Verizon, Audi, Nike, Nissan, Levi’s, Chrysler, One Plus with Robert Downey, Jr., and a Super Bowl ad for Jack In The Box. Roberts appeared for three years at the Aria Hotel on the Las Vegas strip in Cirque du Soleil’s Viva Elvis. His other theater credits include Will Rogers’ Follies: The Life and Times of Will Rogers, Show Boat, Bye Bye Birdie, A Chorus Line, Beyond Therapy, Chicago, Oklahoma, Cabaret, Godspell, Annie Get Your Gun, West Side Story, Show Boat and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.

Roberts received the Best Dramatic Actor Award at the X World Short Film Festival at the Action on Film Festival in Las Vegas and the Best Actor Award – Short at the Golden Gate Film Festival, both for the film Signal in 2018. He holds the Guinness World Record for “Gun Spinning” and “Most People Inside a Spinning Lasso.” He is a professional clown and magician and is a member of Magic Castle in Hollywood and the Magic Circle in the UK, a trick roper, gun spinner and coach, and a balloon artist. Additionally, he is a professional mechanical bull rider and coach. He is classically trained in ballet, jazz, tap, and hip-hop.

Born and raised on the Southside of Chicago, Roberts began his career in entertainment in theater. He secured his first broadcast television job as the host of the FOX Kids Club in Northern and Central California, a position he held for seven years. Simultaneous with his acting, stunt, and voice-over career, Roberts worked as a feature reporter for over 25 years in various markets and was the host of his syndicated radio show, The Will Roberts Weekly Telegram, which aired in over 40 U.S. markets on PBS. He is a humorist and called the “Modern Day Will Rogers” and the author of A Crackpot’s Potshot at American Politics.

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?

In my years of experience as an actor, I believe there are three essential qualities or skills that are crucial for success in this industry. Here’s my take:

1. Self-Confidence
The ability to have confidence in yourself is paramount. You must make decisions based on your needs and passions, not on what you think others might like or do. After all, you’re the only one living your life. This quality of self-confidence is developed through trial and error. It requires a commitment to your personal growth and a belief in your unique path.

2. Tenacity
Being tenacious is vital because acting is one of the hardest industries to pursue as a career. We can’t simply reach out to casting directors or directors as it’s considered unprofessional. Despite the word “show” in show business, the business side is significant. We must be very thick-skinned and not blame ourselves if we don’t land a role. There are countless variables in the decision-making process for casting an actor. Persistence and resilience are key to navigating the inevitable rejections and setbacks.

3. Versatility
Developing a wide range of skills around what you do is incredibly important. An actor should not only know how to act but also how to shoot a camera, edit videos, and manage their own social media. In this day and age, it’s crucial to be a multi-talented individual rather than a one-trick pony. Opportunities often come to those who create them, and having a diverse skill set opens up more avenues for you to explore and succeed in the industry.

Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?

Will Roberts on Overcoming Adversity

Question: What did your parents do for you that impacted you the most?**

Wow, what a great question this is. I don’t want this answer to sound negative—in fact, I think it’s a powerful testament to resilience and determination. Reflecting on my upbringing, I would say that my parents raised me in a way that profoundly shaped who I am today, albeit not in the conventional sense. They didn’t provide me with a proper education or many opportunities. To put it bluntly, I was raised in challenging circumstances.

I moved 15 times before I was 10 years old, and when people ask if it was because my father was in the military, I have to laugh and say, “No, it was because of bad checks.” It’s funny now, but it was a harsh reality back then. Constantly switching schools, often in the middle or end of the year, subjected me to relentless bullying. I grew up in a home with alcoholics, no money, poor education, and bad eating habits. But these challenging conditions in my childhood and teenage years fueled a fire within me. They drove me to rise above and succeed at everything I set my mind to, despite my upbringing.

I was constantly bombarded with negative comments like, “You can’t do this,” “You’re not good enough,” and “You’re stupid.” These experiences taught me an extremely important lesson: people who can’t do often criticize those who are doing because they can’t do it themselves. This realization was a turning point for me. It made me understand that the negativity was more about them than it was about me. Instead of letting it hold me back, I used it as a driving force to prove them wrong and to push myself to achieve my goals.

In many ways, my challenging upbringing was the catalyst for my determination and resilience. It shaped my ability to face adversity head-on and to persist in the face of obstacles. It’s a reminder that no matter where you start, it’s where you’re going that truly matters.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5659247/
• Instagram: WillRobertsOfficial
• Other: ActorWillRoberts.com–also I own the oldest Magic Shop in California – ZucchinisMagicShop.com 45 years old