ActorsLife.com : Capes Coaching Presents: 7 Qs For... Dan Fogler

DAN FOGLER received Tony, Outer Critics Circle, Theatre World & Lortel awards as well as Drama Desk (Best Ensemble) for his role as William Morris Barfee (It's Barfay!) in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Dan first created the character of Mr. Barfee in C-R-E-P-U-S-C-U-L-E at The Theatorium, NYC, & has been with Spelling Bee throughout its' thrilling journey from Barrington Stage to Second Stage to Broadway.

Other theater credits include The Ref in Joe Fearless (Ford Theater, NYC), Fred in Bridges and Harmonies (NYC Drama League). The Interrogator in Bobby Gould in Hell (Theater Row) Bane/Bill in The Voyage of the Carcass (Greenwich Street Theater), Bottom in A Midsummer Night's Dream (AccessTheater), & The Detective Sketches (Lincoln Center Lab).

In 2007, Dan starred in Balls of Fury and Good Luck Chuck, and next year will appear in the films Fanboys and Kids in America. His voice can be heard in the upcoming animated films Horton Hears a Who! and Kung Fu Panda. Dan’s play Elephant in The Room, inspired by Ionesco's Rhinoceros was a part of The NY International Fringe Festival 2007. He is presently editing his own film, Hysterical Psycho, which he also directed.

What have you been working on lately?
I just finished reshoots for the movie Fanboys, finished recording my voices for the upcoming film Horton Hears a Who, and about to finish recording for Kungfu Panda. I'm auditioning my tukis off - won't say for what, shhh, superstitious...about to finish my directors cut of my movie Hysterical Psycho that I produced with my theatre/film company Stage 13, keeping busy during the strike and coasting into the new year until the press starts up for all this cool stuff coming out.

What do you love about what you do?
Aside from working with folks I admire and traveling to places I've never been and basically having many of my dreams come true, I love paying the bills by doing what I love...feels damn good. Makes my folks proud. To be able to put a roof over my girlfriends head makes me happy. I get paid to play, makes me feel like I'm cheating the system, until tax season comes around...

What's your biggest pet peeve?
Folks who are ignorant and inconsiderate and judge books by their covers.

If you could try any other career, what would it be?
Math tutor....just kidding. I couldn't do anything else, probably be a sculptor or massage therapist - good with my hands.

Who do you admire in the industry, and why?
I have a long list of cliché names, but mostly I admire those who were able to control their career paths by making and producing their own great films.

What was the best career decision you ever made?
Staying with the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee after TV came knocking when we were off Broadway...the rest is history.

What's your piece of career advice for actors?
Are you willing to die an actor who fights and fights but may never see the light of day; or may never get paid a single red cent for your talents?

If the answer is "yes" then be patient, stick with it and get ready for the opportunity when that spot light does find you in the crowd, because it will....or speed things up and go visit Capes Coaching.