Todd Kramer and Jay Reum sit down with John Guerrasio, a veteran actor with nearly 50 years of experience working, training, and teaching the craft.
Born and bred in New York, John followed a job to England and ended up staying for over 30 years, where he more or less cornered the market on playing wiseguys β bringing grit, specificity, and authenticity to stage and screen. These days, he calls Northwest Tennessee home, but at 74 years young, John is still very much in the game: acting, teaching, and passing on hard-earned knowledge to the next generation.
This is a conversation about longevity, discipline, and what it actually takes to stay working over decades β not hype, not shortcuts, just craft, consistency, and character. If you want the real deal from a real working actorβ¦ fuggedaboutit. This guy is the real deal.
00:00 β Welcome & introducing John Guerrasio
04:10 β Nearly 50 years in the business
09:30 β Early training and New York roots
15:20 β Chasing work and landing in England
21:40 β Becoming "the wiseguy guy"
28:10 β Working consistently over decades
34:30 β Craft vs trend
40:50 β Teaching actors what actually matters
47:20 β Discipline, preparation, and humility
53:40 β Aging in the industry (and staying sharp)
59:50 β Moving to Tennessee
01:05:30 β Why the work never really ends
01:11:40 β Advice for actors who want longevity
01:18:10 β What separates pros from hopefuls
01:24:00 β Final thoughts & wrap-up
What does a long acting career mean to you β fame, fulfillment, or simply staying in the game? Who are the working actors you admire most? Drop a comment and let's talk longevity, grit, and craft.
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