A journalist-turned-professional actor told students on April 20 to “be open minded” about art.
Ron Canada performed in theater productions of “Fences” and “Othello” and on television in “House of Cards.”
“Don’t try to impose the sensibilities of 2023 on all of the past,” Canada said. “That is dangerous, intellectually, and dangerous for people’s intellectual growth.”
Canada said actors must have “an obsessive desire” to perform.
Theatre AACC invited Canada, who also appeared in three different Star Trek series, as part of the Guest Artist Speaker Series.
Canada began his career as a television news reporter in 1971, but switched to acting in 1978.
“It’s been a good career,” Canada said. “I’ve gotten … to work with some of the best practitioners of this craft that there are on this planet. I know a great number of them and I have one degree of separation from just about all of the others.”
In an interview with Campus Current before the event, Canada called acting “a handed-down craft. So that’s what I’m doing. I want to give back to the profession and craft that has given me the bulk of success in my life.”
Canada said his advice for students who intend to become actors is to never “conflate the word actor with the word celebrity.”
“If you want to be a celebrity, that’s fine,” Canada said. “You can pursue that in many other ways, but don’t think it’s the same as an actor. If you have anything else you’re passionate about in life, that gives you more enjoyment that you think fits you better, then do that. The sacrifices that you have to make personally are going to be far too taxing and the emotional burden is going to be too great.”