Arts & Entertainment
Ealy
continued from page 6
series, Common Law. Since it’s a cop series
revolving around black and white partners,
it sounds a little like Psych, which is also on
the USA Network?
ME: [Chuckles] It’s nothing like Psych.
It’s an action comedy about two detectives
who are really good at what they do. But
they have different approaches to the work
and to life in general, and that creates con-
flict and bickering and fights, sometimes.
What happens is that their captain decides
to send them to couples’ counseling in order
to keep them together, because they always
get their man. They basically just need a lit-
tle help in getting along. What makes it
funny is that the characters end up having a
lot of the same issues as the married couples
they’re in therapy with.
KW: Editor/legist Patricia Turnier asks: If
you weren’t acting, what career path would
you have chosen?
ME: I’d have been a teacher.
KW: Is there any question no one ever
asks you, that you wish someone would?
ME: Wow! That’s a good question. [Paus-
es to reflect] I’m sure there is, but I don’t
know what that question is right now.
[Chuckles]
KW: If you can come up with a good
generic question I can ask everybody, I’ll
call it the Michael Ealy question.
ME: If you don’t mind, I’m going to give
that some thought and I’ll send you one
later. I really will.
KW: Much appreciated! The Tasha Smith
question: Are you ever afraid?
ME: Sometimes, yeah.
KW: The Columbus Short question: Are
you happy?
ME: Yeah.
KW: The Teri Emerson question: When
was the last time you had a good laugh?
ME: A couple of days ago.
KW: What is your guiltiest pleasure?
ME: Ooh, sweets.
KW: The bookworm Troy Johnson ques-
tion: What was the last book you read?
ME: The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle.
KW: The music maven Heather Coving-
ton question: What was the last song you
heard?
ME: An old school classic they played on
a radio show I was on earlier today. Sorry, I
can’t recall the name of the tune.
KW: What is your favorite dish to cook?
ME: I love breakfast. I can make a mean
omelet.
KW: The Sanaa Lathan question: What
excites you?
ME: Passion, ambition and talent.
KW: The Uduak Oduok question: Who is
your favorite clothes designer?
ME: [Laughs] Man, I could get in trouble
if I answer that one.
KW: Dante Lee, author of “Black Busi-
ness Secrets,” asks: What was the best
business decision you ever made, and what
was the worst?
ME: [LOL] When I bought my house in
L.A., that was the best business decision I
We honor the many
accomplishments of African
Americans.
It is our primary goal as a
labor union to better the
lives of all people working
in the building trades
through advocacy, civil
demonstration, and the
long-held belief that work-
ers deserve a "family wage" - fair pay for an honest day's work.
A family wage, and the benefits that go with it, not only strength-
ens families, but also allows our communities to become
stronger, more cohesive, and more responsive to their citizens'
needs.
Our family wage agenda reflects our commitment to people
working in the building trades, and to workers everywhere. In this
small way, we are doing our part to help people achieve the
American Dream. This dream that workers can hold dear regard-
less of race, color, national origin, gender, creed, or religious
beliefs.
The Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters
Representing more than 5.000 construction workers in Oregon State.
Do you want to know more about becoming a
Union carpenter?
Page 10 The Portland and Seattle Skanner May 2, 2012
Michael Ealy
ever made, until the housing market
crashed, and it became the worst business
decision I ever made.
KW: When you look in the mirror, what
do you see?
ME: I’m aging.
KW: If you could have one wish instant-
ly granted, what would that be for?
ME: Healing for the people in my family
with medical problems. Definitely… defi-
nitely…
KW: The Kerry Washington question: If
you were an animal, what animal would you
be?
ME: A lion!
KW: The Ling-Ju Yen question: What is
your earliest childhood memory?
ME: My third birthday party.
KW: The Melissa Harris-Perry question:
How did your first big heartbreak impact
who you are as a person?
ME: This is such a great question. For
me, my first big heartbreak is actually
sports-related. My senior year, I became the
starting wide-receiver on my nationally-
ranked, high school football team as a
walk-on. We have a good season, make it to
the playoffs, and are on the verge of three-
peating as state champs, when the coach
decides to go to a two tight-end offense
which suddenly makes me a non-factor.
Then, the team went out and got spanked on
our home field. I’ll never forget how I cried
after the game, because I’d been denied the
opportunity to help the team in the champi-
onship game, even though I had played a
big role up to that point. It was like the
coach forgot what had gotten us there. So, I
never got to hold the trophy or savor a state
championship. And I’ll never forget that
first bitter heartbreak. I remember feeling
devastated and going to church the next
Sunday. My mom spoke to the pastor about
it and, from the pulpit, he asked the congre-
gation to pray for me. That did make me
feel better, like I wasn’t alone. That was my
first heartbreak. So, to answer your ques-
tion, my first heartbreak devastated me, but
it was the support of my family and my sec-
ond family, my church family, that helped
me understand that it wasn’t my fault, and
that everything was going to be alright. That
helped me tremendously later in life
because in this business, as you surely
know, Kam, there are a lot of things beyond
your control.
KW: The Judyth Piazza question: What
key quality do you believe all successful
people share?
ME: [Reflects for a long time before
responding] I’d say two qualities: persever-
ance, because you can not be successful
without confronting rejection and, second,
studying. You have to know your craft. I
find that most people who are very, very
successful know their craft and have done
the research.
KW: Two Pastor Alex Kendrick ques-
tions: When do you feel the most content?
KW: Between “Action!” and “Cut!”
KW: Secondly: What do you wish other
people would note about you?
KW: That I don’t think as highly of
myself as some people make me out to be. I
am so far from arrogant, because I have
been through enough to know that every-
thing can go away in a moment. You know,
I really don’t understand why anyone would
want to put me on a pedestal.
KW: Bernadette also asks: What is your
favorite charity?
ME: I have a number of charities I work
with. I’m a big advocate of two in New
York City, the Urban Arts Partnership and
the Harlem’s Children’s Zone. What Geof-
frey Canada has built in Harlem is
something special. Honestly, he’s a hero of
mine in a lot of ways. Really!
KW: I’ve tried to interview him, but have
never been able to get him on the phone.
Can you hook me up?
ME: Yes, that man’s very, very hard to get
in touch with. But he’s a good friend, so I
may be able to help.
KW: What advice do you have for anyone
who wants to follow in your footsteps?
ME: Study your craft, first. Then explore
the business side.
If you can commit to mastering both, then
you’re ready to pursue acting as a living. I
really want people to understand that you
can’t take shortcuts.
KW: The Tavis Smiley question: How do
you want to be remembered?
ME: One of my heroes is Mr. Sidney
Poitier. In his autobiography, “The Measure
of a Man,” he talks about the difference
between being a great person and being a
great actor. I’m happiest when I’m acting,
and I’ve dedicated my life to it. Still, as
much as I love acting, at the end of the day,
I want to be remembered as a great person,
first, and as a great actor, second. I believe
that acting is a talent while being a great
person encompasses so much more: being a
good father, a good husband and the ability
to show compassion for others. There’s
nothing more rewarding than making a dif-
ference doing charity work or being able to
be there for a friend.
KW: Thanks again for the interview,
Michael. It’s been an honor. Good luck with
Think Like a Man and with Common Law.
ME: Thank you, Kam. This was special.
Your questions were phenomenal. A lot of
people clearly don’t do the same amount of
preparation as you. So, I really appreciate it.