Why I Traded the Hollywood Hills for the Hill Country
After 35 years of working around the world in Film, TV and on Broadway, I've found the role of husband, step-dad and Austinite to be the most rewarding. Although I've had some amazing gigs in film and on the stage, and continue to work even through the pandemic, learning how to be a parent, navigating the politics and society of Texan suburbia has been quite a ride. I've become a beekeeper, a middle school basketball coach, precinct captain for my local Democratic party, and a weekly contributor to the Poetry Machine, an amateur poetry club started by local legend Bob Schneider.
About our speaker:
As an actor, Tate Donovan has appeared in over 45 films, including Rocketman, The Upside, Manchester by the Sea, Argo (for which he received a SAG award), Good Night and Good Luck, Memphis Belle, Love Potion #9, Clean and Sober, and as the title voice in Disney’s Hercules. Upcoming releases include Respect, Sony’s biopic of Aretha Franklin, and the Sundance film Worth, about the 911 compensation fund. TV credits include Alternatino, Macgyver, Man in the High Castle, Masters of Sex, 24, Damages, The OC and Friends, amongst others. Recently, he has shot two pilots: FOX’s Blood Relative with Melissa Leo and HBO Max’s Verbatim.
Behind the camera, Tate won an Emmy for his direction of the ESPN 30 for 30 documentary short Arthur and Johnnie about Tennis great Arthur Ashe, and has directed several television episodes including Madam Secretary, (CBS), Bloodline (Netflix), Damages (FX), Glee (Fox), Hawaii 5O, Weeds (Showtime) and The OC (Fox) On Broadway, Tate has stared in Tony Award winning productions with Judi Dench in Amy’s View, with Frances McDormand in Good People, and several Off Broadway shows including Kenny Lonergan’s Lobby Hero and The Medieval Play.
