Casey Deidrick: Out of the Dark, into Stardom
Written by: Aaron Royce
Written by: Aaron Royce
Casey Deidrick’s acting path traces back to adventure. “The first time I watched Legolas in Lord of the Rings, issue I knew it was for me,” says the In the Dark actor. “I thought, ‘How else could I live my imagination?’ As a kid, films were my escape, and I’d re-watch movies over and over again.”
The real push to pursue acting came from his family. “If it wasn’t for my mom, I don’t think I’d be in this business,” says Deidrick, revealing he was about to join the Marine Corps after deciding to drop out of college. “My mom heard about this AMTC convention, which is basically a beauty pageant for actors and models, and asked me to give it a shot. I ended up getting the most callbacks in my group.”
After that convention, Deidrick was scouted by an agent in LA and offered a role on Days of Our Lives. Having been on numerous TV shows, his intuition spoke to him when reading for CW’s In the Dark. “The way the story was crafted just spoke to me, and I thought ‘This is a show that no other network is airing,'” says Deidrick of the comedy-drama, which centers on Murphy (Perry Mattfeld), a blind woman navigating an overbearing family and dating while trying to solve her friend’s murder. “Having a strong female character finding levity in her dysfunctionality, connecting with others through loss and finding romance-and she does all of this through her visual impairment. I knew it was special, and when I met Perry at the chemistry read I knew this was going to be great.”
To prepare for his role as food truck owner Max, Deidrick focused on authenticity. “I thought about how I wanted to prepare in such a short time, but I realized Murphy’s appeal to Max is that he doesn’t treat her differently because she’s blind. So I purposely didn’t want to do any research,” he says of getting into character for his onscreen dynamic. “I think I relate to Max in so many ways, and using my real-life experiences of past relationships helped me get into his head. Max taught me patience, and to always speak from a place of love, which I have brought into my personal life. I made a choice of adoring Murphy in everything that she is, even her flaws, and that’s something everyone can learn from.”
After filming the show’s first season, his “favorite journey so far,” as an actor, Deidrick’s reflections have been positive. “I grew not just as an actor but as a person,” says Deidrick of filming in Toronto. “I loved showing up to set every day with a smile on my face and getting to work with my friends. I honestly feel our show has some of the hardest working people anywhere, and this gave me the opportunity to immerse myself in an inspiring city I’ve never been to before.”
That journey will continue for In the Dark‘s recently-renewed second season, which Deidrick is overjoyed for. “I found out on my birthday,” Deidrick says of the renewal, “when our showrunner Corinne called me to congratulate me on the pick-up. Thankfully, my mom was in town visiting and we just shared a tear or two together. That was one of my best days of my life.”
As an actor, Deidrick finds inspiration from his co-stars, as well as actors in his favorite films. “I was so moved by Tom Hardy’s performance in Warrior-I could watch him do nothing in a scene,” says the actor, who also admires Shia LaBouf and Ben Foster. “Anytime I’m feeling down, I always watch their films. I’m also inspired by all the strong, incredible women on our show, who I feel very lucky to be surrounded by.”
While having a successful career, Deidrick’s biggest challenge has “been himself”-specifically, his experience with mental illness. “Recently, I’ve opened up more about navigating life with bipolar disorder,” he says, revealing that In the Dark reached him at a critical time. “I was at my breaking point before I booked In the Dark. I’m just thankful that Max came into my life when he did. This business can rip you apart, and having a mental illness that constantly tells you to give up doesn’t make it any easier.”
As summer nears, Deidrick’s exploring varied side projects while promoting In the Dark. “My episode on Greg Arakki’s Now Apocalypse just aired,” he says. “I also shot a music video with Robby Starbuck that’s coming out this summer. I’ve been pretty focused on promoting In the Dark and bettering myself.”
Between projects, Deidrick will explore passions off-set. “I’ve been working with The Lost Angels Children’s Project, which gives me the opportunity to be a positive influence with foster kids,” says Deidrick, who’s recently taken up Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai classes as well. “I like to stay active; I’m either at CrossFit every day, or taking my dog on hikes. As much as I love my solitude, I’ve been enjoying spending my time with friends. I try to eat clean and find myself in the kitchen a lot. I’ve just been exploring what I like, and what’s important to me.”
Deidrick’s advice for aspiring actors, based on his experience, is to stay headstrong. “Be so stubborn that you don’t know how to quit,” he says. “I’ve wanted to give up so many times, and I had to remind myself that the universe is on my side. Just keep pushing, and remember dreams don’t happen overnight.”
For Cool America, Deidrick’s hobbies make him ‘cool,’ as does the country’s opportunity. “I’m probably one of the best Settlers of Catan players in the West, and I can play a mean game of Fortnite,” he jokes. “America is truly the land of opportunity. If I woke up tomorrow and wanted to be a food blogger, I could. I feel blessed to be in a country where I get to pursue this crazy dream.”
Team credits: Photographer: Joe Simpson, Stylist: Gabriel Langenbrunner, Grooming: Joe Espinosa
Photographer Assistant: Collins Zerby