Dominique Columbus
Dominique Columbus is a rising star in the entertainment industry, known for his captivating performances on both television and film. He garnered attention for his role in the acclaimed series "Ray Donovan," where he showcased his talent and versatility as an actor. Now, he's set to captivate viewers once again with his upcoming role in the highly anticipated film “Roadhouse” slated for release in March.
Left:
Jacket by The Last Follies Closet
Pants by Milarri
Hat by 8one8
Right:
Jumpsuit by OAK & ACORN
Boots by Pskaufman
Before we jump into your exciting role as Reef in the upcoming “Roadhouse,” I’m curious to know what initially got you interested in performing?
Honestly, it was just something I always loved. When I was a kid I had an opportunity to work as an actor, but I decided to do sports instead. I grew up in a household where my family was mixed between entertainment and boxing. So, it was something that always came naturally. A lot of my inspiration to become an entertainer came from my dad, hearing his stories about him going on world tours and choreographing for some of the biggest artists in the world, opened that door for me to want to explore entertainment in my own way, and for me that was acting. My dad would always have actors come over to the house when I was a kid, being exposed to the energy early on showed me what was possible and what came with that.
Who are your biggest inspirations or role models when it comes to performing?
What's amazing is that the people that I looked up to growing up, I've had an opportunity to star alongside them, such as Johnny Depp, Jake Gyllenhaal. “End of Watch” is still one of my favorite movies to this day. I'm also inspired by Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese. I love how over the decades they've made multiple films together, and that's always exciting when you can have somebody with whom you can consistently make history. I'm also inspired by actors like Denzel Washington, Charlize Theron, Tom Hardy, and Obba Babatunde.
Outfit by OAK & ACORN
Shoes by Pskaufman
You star along Jake Gyllenhaal, Connor McGregor, and many other notable names in “Roadhouse.” How did this role find you?
It was just being prepared for the moment of opportunity, when I got the chance to have a director session with Doug--the role just felt organic. The energy was right, the chemistry was right, and it was just a situation of “right time, right opportunity.”
What drew you to your character, and how does Reef compare to the real-life Dominique
What drew me to the character was his boldness. I love that Reef is the type of person who will have his friends back no matter what the situation is, and that is something I personally resonate with. I always find myself being a protector of my friends and family, no matter what the situation is I’m going to have your back.
Off the screen, it seems like you live an active, fitness-focused lifestyle. How does this impact getting into character on such an action packed movie?
For this type of project, it requires a lot of physical labor. So, I am prepared to put in that work, which is massively important for me. My daily regimen requires me to stay at my highest optimal level to perform, working long hours on set doing my own stunts requires a level of focus and dedication that is built through discipline. I believe in the concept of preparation to meet opportunities, so staying prepared to do action-based projects at “High Caliber levels,” such as this, Is what I think about daily rather I am on set or off.
Looking at your credits, there seems to be a theme of intense action roles, most notably your role on the Emmy-nominated series Ray Donovan. How does this role compare to your past ones?
The difference between the two was the grappling. On “Ray Donovan” my character was an amateur boxer who turned pro, so everything that we did was focused only on boxing. On “Roadhouse,” I got the opportunity to learn a lot more about grappling, which gave me the chance to be able to fuse boxing and grappling in my scenes. I take pride in doing my own stunts, so seeing how everything came together was an awesome experience to be a part of.
Are there any genres you have yet to explore that you want to in the future?
Luckily over the years I've had the opportunities to explore a variety of genres from action, drama, thriller, horror, and comedy, you name it. What I've come to realize is that drama and action are lanes that I feel I can continue to become a leading man in. Everyone has their strengths, action and drama are definitely mine. My dream role though is to be a superhero one day in the DC universe or Marvel. I'm a big fan of both universes.
Jumpsuit by OAK & ACORN
Boots by Pskaufman
When not on the screen, you are behind the mic on your podcast, “Inspire to Inspire.” What drew you to start this podcast? What can listeners take away from it?
The podcast is a way to service my community. I wanted to create a space where actors, filmmakers, and content creators, and entrepreneurs can tune in to and connect the dots within their own reality. I went through a phase of feeling discouraged as an actor back in 2020, and watching podcasts and shows such as “Actors Round Table” and “Actors on Actors” helped me connect the dots within my own reality. It played a massive part in my process of re-falling in love with the craft. So, I created this podcast as a space where creators can speed up their learning curve from our experiences and our lessons. Every guest I have has the work to back up what they’re talking about. If you were to sit down and have a one-on-one conversation with someone you're inspired by. This is how I would want it to feel as a viewer.
Social Media.
Instagram: @domsperspective
PhotoBook Editor-In-Chief: Alison Hernon
PhotoBook Creative Director + Photographer + Producer: Mike Ruiz @mikeruiz.one
Talent: Dominique Columbus
Fashion Stylist: Melvin Sanders
Groomer: Raquel Moreno
Photo Assistant: Ozzie Gutierrez & River Chad
Fashion Stylist Assistants: AmbiKa Sanjana Sarah Gibsonn
Tearsheets by Daniel López, Art Director, PhotoBook Magazine
Interview by Ethan Engh, Contributor, PhotoBook Magazine
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