Check out our interview with talented actor and former Pro Hockey player Tyler Gallant.
When Tyler’s hockey career ended, he moved to Los Angeles and immersed himself in acting and film study. He is best known for Guest/Co-Starring roles on shows such as GENERAL HOSPITAL, TWA, and TALES FROM OLD TOWN 11. His film credits include lead roles in films such as ALPHA WOLF starring alongside CASPER VAN DIEN and PATRICK MULDOON and directed by the visual effects genius KEVIN VANHOOK.
Outside of the entertainment industry, Tyler trains in both MMA Boxing and Muay Thai as well as coaching elite-level Hockey Goalies throughout Los Angeles.
Follow Tyler @actor_tyler_g
Hi Tyler, please tell us a little about you?
Hi my name is Tyler Gallant and I am an American born actor and former pro Ice hockey player. I was born in Boston, MA and am of Indigenous American/Canadian and European decent. My first love was acting but had always been involved in various sports as well. At the age of 12, I really started to excel at ice hockey and played for various select teams. I played college hockey for St Norbert College and Arizona State University, where he also studied acting and Journalism. After college I signed pro and played 4 years professionally. My love for acting and film started at the age of 7, while making home movies with his friends and cousins. College presented a golden opportunity to further my education of my lifelong passion for acting and film more aggressively; I immersed himself in acting, theatre, film study and film critique classes. To date, I have acted and/or been in a wide variety of media: film, TV, radio, web series, commercials, promotions, and modeling. Since being in Los Angeles, I have studied for years with some of the best coaches LA has to offer.
Describe yourself in 3 words?
Hard working, focused, team player
How did you get started into acting?
I got started doing home movies with my cousins and friends. We would remake Hollywood films or make original content. We made tons of movies I got to play all different kinds of characters and that’s where I fell in love with acting.
How has this changed your life?
Acting has changed my life in so many ways. It brought me out to LA and I started my life over from hockey to acting 100%. I met so many wonderful people and have gotten a chance to make my childhood dream a reality.
What is the best and worst part of being an actor?
The waiting on roles and having so many things out of your control makes it very tough for sure. Acting is subjective where sports are based on stats and physical results so it’s tough for sure.
Tell us about your work in popular projects like “General Hospital,” “SWAT” “Bones,” “#followme” “rootwood” “alpha wolf” and Blind?”
General Hospital was such a wonderful experience, I am so grateful for Mark Teschner and Lisa Booth for giving me an opportunity and Casting me. It was so cool to work in that atmosphere, it’s so impressive the amount of work soap actors do in such a short amount of time.
The opportunities on swat and bones were so much fun because I was brought on by hockey friends that are actors. My Hockey friend David Boreanaz was a lead and director/producer on Bones and he asked me if I wanted to come on with a few of our hockey friends and play a hockey guy in one of his episodes. On SWAT my friend Jay Harrington who plays Deacon brought myself and a few of our hockey friends on to play hockey guys with him in one of the episodes. So Hockey has definitely been a big part of even my acting experience.
#FollowMe Was a lot of fun to shoot, with a wonderful team and great director Sam Hardy. This film was based on some actual events which makes it even creepier. It outlines some of the dangers of being too revealing on social media.
“Blind” and “Rootwood” were shot with a lot of the same production team, same director Marcel Walz and some of the same actors like Sarah French. They both were so much fun to shoot and were both filmed in Los Angeles. “Blind” is a romantic-slasher, which is kind of new genre about an actress that loses her sight and is stalked by a dangerous fan. “Rootwood” is a paranormal thriller that takes place deep in a forest were a team of paranormal podcasters are investigating a frightening legend.
And now about your lead role in film “ALPHA WOLF?”
“alpha wolf” was so much fun to shoot with such a wonderful cast lead by star, Casper Van Dien (Starship Troopers, Sleepy Hollow). It was also directed by “Bloodshot” comic book creator and producer of recent Vin Diesel adaptation of “Bloodshot”, Kevin VanHook. It is an 80s style horror/comedy werewolf film.
How do you prepare for a role?
I approach it with the Chekhov technique I have learned from years of training with my LA based coach Nikolai Guzov. I rely on visualization, psychological gesture and atmosphere as well as using sensory awareness to make it real.
What other projects you have been part of?
In 2020 I was part of exciting “Blind” sequel “pretty boy” due out later this year as well as action/sci-fi thriller “Obscura” also due out later this year.
What kind of roles do you like or would like to play and why?
I love to play interesting characters roles that challenge my creativity. So far I have loved the roles I’ve gotten to play but really loved my character in “Obscura” so much who is “Apache” a Native American outlaw biker. I have wanted to play a strong native character and I finally got to which meant so much. I also have always been fascinated with the biker culture and brotherhood which was so cool to be a part of in this film. I would love to play characters in projects like Vikings, sons of anarchy, mayans, ozark, animal kingdom, game of thrones, the lost boys, lord of the rings and pirates of the Caribbean.
What is the most rewarding part of your work?
Getting to create a character, bring it to life and immerse myself into that world. It’s fun to get to escape reality and be someone else, it’s a fun and liberating experience.
How would your best friend describe you?
Very focused, hard working and loyal.
What book should every entrepreneur read?
“You are a bad ass. How to stop doubting your greatness and start living an awesome life” by Jen Sincero. This book is absolutely incredible and is simply a must read for any entrepreneur.
We learned that you played professional hockey. Tell us about that and why did you decided to switch from that to the entertainment business?
I had an absolutely wonderful time playing professional hockey and getting to meet so many amazing people. I still have many wonderful friends from my years of playing that I keep close contact with. I have to say the thing I really miss is the camaraderie, the road trips, the locker room and hanging with the guys. My career was cut short by a string of injuries. I decided I didn’t want to have problems later in life physically so I hung up the skates and stepped back in front of the camera.
What’s next for Tyler Gallant in 2021?
In 2021 I really wanna focus on booking some TV spots on some of the shows I really love. I’d like to start getting more involved in TV.
What is your favorite healthy food?
I really love fruit. I could eat watermelon every day, when it’s in season I sometimes do.
And your favorite cheat food?
I actually truly crave fruit more than I do any traditional cheat meals. I would love to get a watermelon or grapes or fresh figs and just sit down and eat them.
How would you explain your fashion style?
My friends would say I have a very unique style. I’ve always been eccentric and artsy with my style and I do mix in Biker and Native American influence.
What is your own definition of happiness?
My definition of happiness is getting to do what you love every day for your profession.
If you could meet someone living or dead, who would it be and why?
I would love to meet my artistic inspirations: Johnny Depp, Gary Oldman, Viggo Mortensen, Matthew McConaughey. These actors have heavily influenced my acting I and what I want to be as an actor.
Best advice ever given?
These two quotes I carry with myself all the time: “I can and the man who said I can’t are both right” and “There are things you can control and there are things you can’t control, don’t let the things you can’t control effect your confidence.”
Do you support any charity?
I don’t currently have a charity that I’m a part of but there are many that I think are wonderful.
Where do you see yourself and your career in 5 years from now?
I am hoping I will be a series regular on a network show.
Favorite song? Why?
Probably “on the road again” by Bob Seger because I can relate to it on many levels and it brings back many memories.
What do you think of Social Media?
I think social media is an important business tool especially now in the entertainment industry. I try to focus purely on business and my brand and less personal stuff because I think that divide is important.
Where we can follow you?
I am mainly on Instagram and my handle currently is @actor_tyler_g
Thank you very much for talking with me.
Photo Credits:
Cover Photo – Premiere Headshot
Full Body Photo – CAFrancisPhotography
