Can you figure out the famous actor who transitioned from staying in a shabby New York “flophouse” for only $150 each month to having a serene farm with his family? This actor’s modest start is a huge difference from his present life filled with farm animals and fresh veggies grown at home. As a kid, he realized early on that acting was his passion. After visiting the cinema, he would rush home and dress up as one of the characters from the movie, diving deep into the world of imagination. His favorite toy during childhood? A box of old clothes that his mom saved for him, which sparked his creativity and imagination.
In 1976, right after leaving Philadelphia, he headed to New York City to pursue acting dreams. He spent several months sleeping on his sister’s couch before discovering an affordable place through an ad in the Village Voice – a simple “artist’s residence.”
Although this place wasn’t fancy at all, it was what he could manage financially back then. Actually, he mentioned that it wasn’t even just one room – he had to share it with a roommate. His roommate was a classical pianist; they shared their space for four years. In interviews later on, the actor fondly remembers how soothing piano sounds filled their apartment late at night. While living in The Big Apple, this actor took part in a show at Circle in the Square Theater School. “I wanted real life,” he told Nancy Mills from Cosmopolitan later on. “The message I got was ‘The arts are everything. Business is bad news. Art and creative expression are almost holy.’”
