Bryce Gheisar gave up his dream of becoming an Olympic gymnast and traded it for an acting career.
So far, it’s paid off. And some.

Gheisar is now co-starring in two Nickelodeon TV series (“The Astronauts” as Elliott Combs and “Are You Afraid of the Dark?”) and has been in numerous movies with A-list actors such as Clint Eastwood, Julia Roberts, Dennis Quaid, Owen Wilson, Lynne Collins and Isaiah Washington.

When did you aspire to be an actor?

My interest in acting began when I heard about an acting school in Texas called Cathryn Sullivan’s Acting for Film from a friend. I had always loved to perform at my school talent shows, etc. I begged my parents to take me to a class. As soon as I took my first class, I was hooked. I never really knew it was possible to become an actor for TV and film.  

Which do you prefer, TV or film? 

At this point in my life, I like them both equally. I love film because you work on it for a shorter amount of time, and then you get to move on to another project. I love meeting new people and going to new places. I also love being on a regular series  because you are able to spend a lot more time developing your character. And, hopefully, you also get to reunite and work with the same people season after season.

What has been your most enjoyable scene to do?

I would say one scene that was enjoyable was one from the 2017 movie Wonder. The scene is the one where I was in the office with my on-set parent, and I was playing the scene across from Mandy Patinkin, who was the principal. I had recently watched Princess Bride before filming with him and I was a little starstruck.  He was such a nice person and awesome to work with.  

You play the role of Elliott Combs in Nickelodeon’s newest series “The Astronauts.” How did that come about? 

My manager sent me to the audition. I got a callback and went to L.A. I was originally auditioning for a different character, but they asked me to stay in town for a couple of days and come back to audition for Elliott. I’m so excited to be part of the first show that Nickelodeon is partnering with Imagine Entertainment, Ron Howard and Brian Grazer’s production company.

What is one fun thing most people don’t know about you?

Before acting, I wanted to be an Olympic gymnast. I started training for Level 7, but after I started acting, I decided to quit gymnastics because I loved acting so much, and it was hard to juggle both.  

Who has been the greatest influence in your life as an actor?

I don’t have one specific influence. Since I started acting, every single TV show or film that I watch, I take away something from each performance. Every actor is so unique. I learn from every single one of them. I also have had a few great acting coaches that have been a big influence. My parents are my biggest supporters and I couldn’t do any of this without them. 

What would you say to someone who wants to act? 

I would tell them to make sure this is something you really want to do. Acting can take over your life, so you have to really love it to make up for the sacrifices. I would also tell them to keep on going. There can be a lot of rejection in the business of acting, and it takes time. You have to be motivated and relentless.

What do you like about acting? 

I love stepping into somebody else’s shoes and looking at the world from somebody else’s point of view. The thing that can be challenging about acting is you’re only acting for a short amount of time.The rest of your time is spent preparing for the role and sitting in a chair. One cool part about it is that there are many different chairs you get to sit in. Big chairs, small chairs, all kinds of chairs. I have literally become a chair connoisseur! 

Future acting plans?

Right now, I am filming season two of Are You Afraid of The Dark? which is also on Nickelodeon. I hope to one day be in an action film, that is definitely on my bucket list. I also hope to conquer a more challenging role. A role that has more emotional depth than anything I’ve ever done before.

Follow Bryce Gheisar on Twitter and Instagram.

Cover photo courtesy Nicole Gheisar

Bob Valleau is a freelance writer living in McKinney, Texas.