Interview with Jabari Gray

Although Jabari Gray intended to become a lawyer he soon got the opportunity to work as a model which led him to becoming an actor. With guest appearances on a lot of well-known TV shows he gives us an insight into his work in front of the camera and his life behind the scenes.

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1. What is your favorite moment of your childhood?

One of the favorite moments of my childhood was my 9th birthday party. I invited almost the entire class of thirty 3rd and 4th grade elementary school students and marched from my school through the snow to my house. It was a smash! We had a clown who made balloon animals and told jokes and riddles, cake, ice cream, and a pinata...really awesome. Mom and dad really hooked me up that year. Good times!

2. You graduated from Fordham University’s School of Law. How did you become an actor after that?

That's a great question. Well, my entire life I've always loved visual and performance arts. After I graduated from law school I worked as an attorney but continued to pursue my creative passions as a reggae recording artist and landed my first television appearance on a live morning show on ESPN called "Cold Pizza." The performance was a hit and one of the show's hosts encouraged me to expand my work from music into modeling and commercials. Fortunately, I had an uncle who was an actor and a model who believed in my ability and introduced me to one of his agents when I told him I was interested in acting. From that point, print work led to commercials, commercials led to soap opera roles, and the soap opera roles led to the film and television work I'm doing this season on "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" and "White Collar."

3. You got a role on “White Collar”. What can we expect from your character? With whom of the other actors do you interact?

I have a co-starring role in an episode of "White Collar" in a scene with the lead characters played by Matthew Bomer and Tim DeKay. In this episode you can expect them to attempt to crash a benefit at an upscale tennis country club. You can expect my character to find them suspicious and refuse them entry.

4. You had recurring roles on “Law & Order” and “The Guiding Light”. How is working on a soap opera different from working on other TV formats?

Soap Operas are different than other TV formats in that the production pace is really fast. Soap Opera producers have to shoot an entire episode in one day, whereas shows like "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" can take anywhere between a week and a half to two weeks per episode. Besides that, I've found that Soap Opera productions are smaller in size and budget so one can get to know the entire production team and cast a little faster.

5. You did guest appearances on shows like “30 Rock”, “Gossip Girl” and “Fringe”. Which one did you like the most? On which set was the funniest atmosphere?

Out of all the shows you listed I have to say that I enjoyed the 30 Rock appearance the most. The writing is really funny and smart and it was great watching the stars put it all together to make it work. I had a scene with Alec Baldwin and it was interesting to see how much flexibility the director and writers gave him to bring the scene to life in the funniest way possible.

6. Do you see your future in film or television? What genre do you prefer - comedy, crime, mystery or drama?

I honestly have the same love for film and television - they both give me the same adrenaline rush and freedom I crave as a performer. I'd like to do both in the future. The primary difference for me in my experience is that television production schedules generally move faster but that hasn't really affected me. My favorite genre is drama, particularly crime dramas.

7. Is there a show currently airing which you would like to play a part in? What kind of part would you like to play if you could choose?

I'd love to play a part in the new CBS legal drama, "The Good Wife," starring Julianna Margulies. I think she's a phenomenal actress and this show is a great vehicle for her to showcase her talent. As you know, I'm an attorney myself, so I'd love to bring my experiences as a litigator, a negotiator, and a counselor to the screen.

8. Apart from being an actor you are also a musician and rumour has it you met Bob Marley. Was he an inspiration for you?

Bob Marley was and is a tremendous inspiration for me. He came from nothing, from the bottom - the slums and the ghettoes of Kingston, Jamaica - to broadcast the Rastafarian message of peace, love, and human rights to the world. I met him in Jamaica when I was about 5 years old. It was a surreal experience to meet the man whose records I loved to listen to. No doubt I was a little shy and clung to my father at the initial introduction, but after some time I was playing football with the King of Reggae! Being a musician myself has been both a way for me to stay connected to my Jamaican roots, and a passport to connecting with people from other cultures and backgrounds.

9. You are practising Martial Arts. What can you tell us about it? Are you a fan of Asian action movies?

I've trained in the Martial Arts of Russian Combat Sambo, Wrestling, Muay Thai, and Brazilian Ju-Jitsu. Initially, I enrolled for self defense purposes to defend myself and my loved ones after having been the victim of a robbery on a family trip to Zimbabwe in 1996 and getting jumped by multiple assailants in NYC in 2000. Practicing Martial Arts has given me confidence, discipline, respect, humility, and a way to express my aggression in a healthy and constructive way. I'm happy to say that I haven't had a single street fight or physical altercation since I began training. I absolutely love Asian action movies. Besides the late, great Bruce Lee, I've admired the work of Jackie Chan, Jet Li, and Tony Ja. Those guys are no joke!

10. Since myFanbase is an online magazine about TV series, do you have a favorite one?

Absolutely! "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" is my favorite series! I love the actors, the twists and turns of the story lines, the pacing, and the fact that its shot in New York City!

Catherine Bühnsack - myFanbase