Talking with Walt Simpson III

I'm taking a little break from Empire Building, again,  to do an interview with another famous friend of mine.His name - Walter Simpson III. I went to Prep School with this brother, for a semester, then he went on to greener pastures...and girls.We were in an all boys school , after all! (insert laugh track here)

He was a basketball star at school.They called him "Mike" and he had Michael Jordan moves, to boot!He was a Freshman who STARRED in the Varsity League! That's an accomplishment, "for your ass"!

He also had the ability to study and memorize the words in whatever book he had to study from.Word for word. It only makes since, as far as memorizing lines, that he made the transition.

I caught up with "Mike" recently for an interview. This is what he had to say:

Walter "Mike" Simpson III

INQ:  Knowing you in school, you were an athlete. What got you into acting?

Walt: Basketball was and still is my first love. however, it was around my 3rd year in college that i realized my passion for acting during an impromptu play where some group on campus needed me to play Frederick Douglas. From there the interest grew & lead me to a local theatre in Baltimore called arena players...and then eventually i found myself in nyc.

INQ: How’d you get into acting? What was your first big break? 

Walt: I was at an event in nyc and i met this guy who said he did casting. he eventually got me into a few movies as an extra. i begin learning about & going out on more auditions and gradually started booking more roles. one of my first widely seen projects was actually a music video. sittin home by Bad Boy Entertainment's girl group, Total.

(Note from INQ: click the link above to see the video..he comes in at 1:58. He steals the MVP trophy!)

INQ:  How’d you end up in the movie, The Cookout?

Walt: i learned about the cookout from an email blast i received from a fellow actor. i submitted my head shot / resume not really expecting a response...but got one after all. it's been a great experience man. while i definitely got a good ways to go still, i've been fortunate enough to play lead in a host of independent films, tv shows, commercials, & stage plays.

INQ: What are your acting projects? (past, present, future)

Walt: i've been cast to play the role of jacob be in a film shoot in LA that's coming out next year called 'never the bride'.

  INQ:   I noticed you've worked with notable actors/actresses, anyone you loved working with? Anyone you'd like to work with?

Walt: i really enjoyed working with an actor vincent d'onofrio and kathryn erbe on law & order. they were both cool! i look forward to working with you brotha! i think we could do a cool remake of bad boys& replace will smith & martin lawrence!!

INQ: I'd MOST DEFINITELY DOWN! I'll be Martin Lawrence..YOU look like a Mike Lowrey!  What drives you?

Walt: realizing my purpose. i don't want to leave here (this life) feeling like i didn't realize ALL of what i was put here to do, change, challenge, overcome, leave behind & become. think about it...what if the hammer never ever met the nail, michael jordan never touched a basketball, steve jobs...a computer, JESUS...a cross. that would suck!

INQ:     Have you won any awards/accolades?

Walt: i've been acknowledged for something here or there...but it honestly feels rather weird to now list things i "won" after my previous answer. so instead of doing that, i will say that one of my most gratifying moments ("accolades") was just recently experienced. a close friend of my told me that he was going to now pursue his own longtime dream because he was inspired to see that i was still pursuing mine. i thinks that's just the coolest!

INQ:    Can I have your autograph?

Walt: man go ahead with that...you still owe me for that lunch money i lent you back at prep - Lol!

INQ:    As clichéd as this may be, do you have any advice for aspiring actors/actresses ?

Walt: yes! start writing. start telling your OWN stories. Not only to you need to tell them. THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT HERE WAITING TO HEAR THEM....and nobody can tell your story better than you! doing this will also set you apart from every other "walking headshot" and give you a platform to discovered for being nothing more than....YOU!

INQ:    What are other endeavors are you into?

Walt: i enjoy writing, creating & "telling" relate able stories...options trading, web marketing, & can't NOBODY see me on the michael jackson wii video game!

INQ:      Married? Family?

Walt: yes, 10yrs this oct 25th...man, i got lucky! she's an amazing women! no she's not perfect, hell neither am i...but she's without question perfect for me. we have 4 beautiful children....

INQ:     What is a typical day for you?

Walt: mr. mom! hey man, just being honest...this husband/father role IS WORK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

INQ:     Any last words?

Walt: DECIDE what you REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY want. "SEE" it. SEIZE IT!

Walter, it's been a pleasure!Another friend of mine who has to hustle to make a living.As you can see with him, like Mike McGlone, he's multifaceted. He uses his talents to earn a good living.

Hustling your ass off is the name of this game.That builds Empires!

See you next week, my people!