Merrick McCartha left behind a safe job in engineering to pursue his passion of acting and it is paying off. Merrick has had roles in major shows including “Unstable”, “All American”, “Grey’s Anatomy”, “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and many more. His next heavily recurring role will be in a new series debuting in 2025 and we can’t wait to see it! About Insider recently had the pleasure of interviewing Merrick to learn a little more about this talented actor.
HI, WELCOME TO ABOUT INSIDER ! THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME TO CHAT WITH US! CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF, WHO IS MERRICK McCARTHA IN YOUR OWN WORDS?
I’d say I’m just a weird kid from Detroit, MI who grew up with big dreams and a big heart. It’s been an incredibly challenging, yet wondrous road for me.I grew up in a quintessentially black middle class home, in a nice neighborhood, listening to Motown music on a daily basis. I loved to dance and perform but I also found out I was great with math. As I grew up in a blue collar household, I was expected to take the safe, most profitable route, so I went into engineering. Only later in life did I finally make the move to pursue acting. I was a lot less terrified than I should have been, but my persistence propelled me through. For most, it’s immensely challenging to get a foothold in this industry, and I was certainly no exception.
YOUR CAREER SPANS DIVERSE ROLES IN BOTH DRAMA AND COMEDY, FROM ALL AMERICAN TO UNSTABLE. HOW DO YOU APPROACH PREPARING FOR SUCH VARIED CHARACTERS, AND IS THERE A GENRE YOU FEEL MOST AT HOME IN?
The very grounded, intense roles are always appealing to me, as they allow me to explore some deep truths about myself. I prepare for roles using techniques I’ve learned from the many great teachers I’ve had. It will always depend on the type of project, but invariably I know I must get to the truth in the work.
YOU’VE WORKED WITH ICONIC FIGURES LIKE ROB LOWE, LARRY DAVID, AND ANGELA BASSETT. WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED FROM THESE EXPERIENCES, AND HAVE ANY OF THESE COLLABORATIONS SHAPED YOUR APPROACH TO ACTING?
Oh Yes! I have walked away from all of those experiences with important lessons about my work and about the industry. Mainly they taught me where my weak spots are in my work, and/or my understanding of the business. I will always love that part of it. One of the beautiful things about being an actor is that you are always learning…and good actors are always curious. You never want to have the mindset that one day you will have ‘mastered’ acting. I’m pretty sure even Meryl Streep employs an acting coach. Mine is the amazing Laura Gardner btw.
YOUR TRAINING WITH THE YALE DRAMA SCHOOL FACULTY AND THE ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY MUST HAVE BEEN TRANSFORMATIVE. HOW HAS THAT CLASSICAL TRAINING INFLUENCED YOUR PERFORMANCES IN MODERN TELEVISION AND FILM?
What I learned from these teachers is what has reset my trajectory for sure. Yale has taught specific approaches to the craft of acting that I had never seen in other schools. Gregory (The Berg) Sobeck, Andrew Wood, and Bruce Katzman all taught at Yale with and learned from the great Earl Gister who also taught Angela Bassett, Frances McDormand, and many more. You learn about things like the ‘who am I’, ‘objectives’, ‘tactics’, and ‘sources’. It’s the way of working that keeps me prepared and confident whenever I’m acting on screen or stage. That’s the thing though….I’m not saying this is the only way to work. Actors should find a way of working that helps them be more prepared for when they are on stage/set….whatever way that is. As for Shakespeare, I had for years just barreled into his works just full of intimidation and ignorance…until I started learning from Rob Clare of the Royal Shakespeare Company. He is an absolute authority on Shakespeare and a truly visionary director and actor. He probably could do a show where he recites the complete works of Shakespeare start to finish, line by line. More importantly for me, he demystified the approach to Shakespeare while also explaining why these works should be revered. Bruce Katzman did the same for me with Chekhov.
YOU HAVE DONE MAY VARIED ROLES SO FAR DURING YOUR CAREER. WHAT DRAWS YOU TO CERTAIN PROJECTS?
That’s a fun question! I’m attracted to projects that: A) Have a powerful positive lasting impact on the viewers, and B) Pay well. Haha! Of course having both can be a challenge in the current state of the industry. So, while I, like most good actors, prefer every project to have A and B in equal measure. I will do either so long as the latter is not sacrificed too much.
BEYOND ACTING, YOU’RE DEEPLY INVOLVED IN GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY, FOCUSING ON FEEDING THE HOMELESS, REDUCING POVERTY, AND PROMOTING FINANCIAL LITERACY. WHAT DRIVES YOUR PASSION FOR THESE CAUSES, AND HOW DO YOU BALANCE THEM WITH YOUR BUSY CAREER?
For me it really is about taking every little opportunity with your time. I’ve done a range of things from holiday gift wrapping events, to simpler things like keeping packets in my car filled with some essentials and a little cash, so when I happen to be somewhere and see someone in need, I run to my car and grab one for them. Giving to those in need should be part of being a citizen anywhere.
YOU’VE WON MULTIPLE AWARDS FOR YOUR WORK, INCLUDING FOR THE HEIRESS LETHAL, WHICH SCREENED AT CANNES. HOW DID THAT RECOGNITION IMPACT YOUR CAREER, AND WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO HAVE YOUR WORK SHOWCASED AT SUCH A PRESTIGIOUS FESTIVAL?
Yes, awards are very nice. You don’t want these things to feed your ego though. It’s great for visibility in this business, and should be treated as such. Especially actors aspiring for bigger things.
WHEN YOU’RE NOT ACTING, YOU ENJOY KUNG FU, CHESS, AND POOL. HOW DO THESE HOBBIES INFLUENCE YOUR CREATIVITY OR HELP YOU RECHARGE BETWEEN PROJECTS?
These things keep your mind and creative juices flowing. I want to do more things! I’ve studied martial arts since I was a kid, and now I train in the Northern Shaolin Eagle Claw system and Shan Tung Kung Fu in Pasadena under Sifu Kenneth Edwards. It’s a combination of physical, mental, and spiritual growth for me. As an actor, I have learned to draw on my physicality. You’d be amazed at how much physically moving artistically and creatively can bring out the truth in your work.
AS AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE ROAD THEATER COMPANY, WHAT ROLE DOES THEATER PLAY IN YOUR ARTISTIC JOURNEY, AND HOW DOES IT DIFFER FROM YOUR WORK IN FILM AND TELEVISION?
Most actors have been told that doing theater is an important part of your training as an actor. Denzel Washington is one of the big proponents of this philosophy and he’s right. It’s an exhilarating experience every time you perform in a play. I imagine it’s like jumping onto a moving train. Once on, you’ve got to learn to go with it. It builds muscles you didn’t know you had. You will end every show, a better actor. This training might now show up as much on screen, but believe me, the director and production crew will notice a difference between you and an actor that hasn’t been on stage. You as a working actor will want that kind of recognition.
WHAT’S SOMETHING WE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT YOU THAT MIGHT SURPRISE US?
Oh when I was younger I was very big into the alternative music and club scene. I wasn’t ever a goth kid, but had many goth friends. Alternative 80s and house music were a big part of my activities for a long time. Once on campus and U of M (Michigan), my friend and I shaved our heads into mohawks….haha!
WHAT IS ONE MESSAGE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO GIVE TO YOUR FANS?
All that you see of me is from humble beginnings, pain, hardship, and tenacious pursuit of a fantasy. That fantasy has become reality only because I have had people with me who have believed in me. These are my friends, my family, and I am forever grateful. I have stumbled many, many times. Never think stumbling makes you a failure. The only failure is in giving up.
WHERE CAN OUR READERS FIND YOU ONLINE?
I’m on Instagram as @therealmerrickmccartha, on Facebook, Threads @therealmerrickmccartha and Bluesky as Merrick McCartha.
