And I bring you yet another familiar face and one you may have seen in diverse works on your TV screen–actor Lee Majdoub. I happened upon him when I was researching the upcoming Prison Break reboot, and I just knew I had to get the “scoop” on this guy. And indeed I did as he told me of his origins in acting, some intriguing information about his notable works, and even his opinion on diversity (or the lack thereof) in the industry.
RH: Why did you become an actor? What kind of training have you had?
LM: I was studying engineering in college and knew it wasn’t what I wanted to do. One of my sisters suggested I take acting classes on the side. After my first class, I knew there was no going back. I trained at the Groundlings School of Improv, trained in Meisner technique, and a number of other classes.
One of your earliest roles was on Psych. How did you get that job? What was that experience like?
I auditioned for the part. Psych was so much fun! I remember having a blast and having to stay on my toes. The leads improvised a lot, so you had to be ready.
I saw Baby Sellers and though you had a small role, what was it like doing such a difficult story that is more true than we realize?
Baby Sellers gave me an opportunity to delve a little deeper into a character. One of the challenges was finding humanity within the role I was playing.
I notice you had a role on Arrow? What was that on-set filming experience like?
Arrow was a wonderful milestone for me. It was my first guest starring role. It was really cool to be involved in the DC universe.
I hear nothing but great things about Supernatural. You were on two episodes. What was that like? What was the cast/crew like?
There’s a reason Supernatural has been around for over ten years. The team involved clicks well together. There was never a feeling of ego on that set. It was a breath of fresh air to see a set run so efficiently and also see people having a good time.
I see you were on Once Upon a Time. How was that particular experience?
Playing Sir Kay on Once Upon a Time was a dream. I’ve always wanted to play a knight. When I found out I was dying, I joked (and hoped) some crazy cool magic would put my ashes back together again. But I guess it would have made more sense if I had been playing Humpty Dumpty.
I see you’re in Puppet Killer. I have heard a lot about this film. What was it like working with the Soska Sisters?
Yeah, the Soskas are great to work with. We’ve worked together a few times now. The first time was on See No Evil 2, and then ABCs of Death 2, and their most recent blood drive PSA. With them being twins, the actor and director relationship is one of the most interesting I’ve experienced. For instance, Jen can engage with the actors while Sylvia stays focused on the shot, etc.
There is a lot of buzz about Prison Break the Sequel. How did you get involved with that?
I’m really looking forward to Prison Break. I auditioned for a few different roles and then was offered Yasser. The team was wonderful and we all clicked. It was really nice. Getting to see Morocco and getting to know the locals was a blessing and the cherry on top of the whole experience. I’ll never forget it.
Any other upcoming works you can mention?
I’ll be appearing in an episode of Rogue in season four, and there are a couple of interesting projects on the horizon. Really looking forward to the near future.
Any plans to write/direct/produce?
I’m doing a little writing right now. A few short stories, here and there. I have some loose ideas of projects I would like to make, but who knows where that will lead?
While I hope it’s quickly becoming a thing of the past, what is your perception of racial bias/discrimination in the industry?
I think things are changing for the better. There are still some very questionable things happening. For instance, the lack of much diversity (if any) in the last two Oscars. However, like I said, I think times are changing. Projects like Orange Is The New Black and Sense 8 are proving that audiences do want ethnic diversity, representation of LGBTQ and leading women in the shows they’re watching.
While Lee may not be a household name, his impressive body of works, heterogeneous characters, and commitment to his craft make him a successful actor, at least in my book. How many times do you lounge in front of your TV, see a familiar face, and jump on IMDB to see why you recognize the actor? I do it almost every night of the week and often more than once. In the case of Lee, he is memorable for all the right reasons, and even if his name is unknown to the typical, uninformed viewer, it does not diminish his worth. Lee is in the business for the right reasons, and his attention to detail and even finding humanity within a depraved character (his role in Baby Sellers was impeccably done, though difficult to watch at times) elevates him to another level in my opinion. Lee’s humility is readily apparent even in the responses he has given to my questions. He never draws attention to himself. He is always about shining the spotlight on everyone else, and as long as he has portrayed his character with depth, respect, and humanity, he has accomplished what he has set out to do. And if that character happens to resonate with the viewer on a deeply emotional level–whether anger, sorrow, joy, or any other emotion–he is ecstatic and deeply touched. Be sure that you watch out for Lee in his upcoming projects (Prison Break will be here before you know it.), and while you’re awaiting these gems, be sure that you check him out on the links below and consider following him across all social media. I have no doubt you will appreciate each and every update he gives.
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