Actor Danny Lopes Discusses His Innate Passions and Finding Success

Actor Danny Lopes has a bold determination that has landed him in the heart of Los Angeles, California with a thriving career in television and film. Lopes had started acting in his hometown of Kenilworth, New Jersey when he was cast in Dante Tomaselli’s horror films, Desecration and Horror.. After moving to Hollywood and attending the New York Film Academy, Danny’s acting career continued to flourish and he partnered again with Director Dante Tomaselli to play a role of an autistic teenager in Satan’s Playground

We asked Lopes, given his career background in the thriller and horror genres, what his preference in roles is and where he envisions his acting career developing into. He replied, “While we all love a leading role, I am down for even a cameo if it were to be casted in a great film or with an amazing director. Although I did launch my career starring in feature horror films, I have had the opportunity to play an assortment of characters over the years. I don’t necessarily have a preference in a type of role as long as I can be challenged. I like to stay open-minded. I do tend to gravitate towards psychological films, and would love to do more action films.” Danny is currently working on two additional projects with Director Dante Tomaselli, including The Doll and the remake of the 70s classic, Alice, Sweet Alice. 

With a fearless acting style, Danny Lopes brings a rawness to the screen which is unaffected by success. When he was a young child, he would absorb the content he watched both in television shows and films he watched. “The actors I watched, were my teachers. Whenever I was left feeling moved by a scene, I would rewind and rewatch the scene over and over again, effectively trying to emotionally get to the same place as the characters that I was watching on the screen,” Lopes explained. He loves improvisation, working on the fly and off the creative energy of others in the room, “It’s exciting and wakes me up!”

Although Lopes originally started his acting career on stage, playing the lead role in a version of “City Slickers” called “Buttons and Bows,” he remains focused on expanding his credits in film and television at the moment. His passion for the live audience, costumes and lights was intriguing to him from early on in his childhood. Danny found himself playing the roles and becoming the characters he had dreamt of for years. 

After working with the late Irma St. Paule in Desecration and Satan’s Playground, Danny was confident that the crossover to film was meant for his career at that time. “Irma would always tell me that my home will be on the stage. She was an icon on stage and film… I have always held on to her words, and perhaps one day I will be on Broadway, but for right now I remain focused on film.”

Interestingly enough, Danny’s lengthy experience in horror and thriller films was not the most challenging character role for him to change into. “I was the lead in Reid Waterer’s ‘Performance Anxiety’ back in 2012 which is a multi award winning short film about two straight guys that decide to take on gay roles and have to simulate a sex scene. Being nude on camera is never easy… I think that is why I try and take on the more challenging roles on full force, to eliminate the fear in my mind,” Lopes shared.

Living and working in Hollywood, California has provided opportunities and possibilities to Danny that many individuals in the entertainment industry strive for throughout their lifetime. In his spare time, he paints and remains focused on expanding his catalogue of commissioned artwork for some of the country’s most renowned celebrities and executives. Danny replied, “The most important thing is that I stay as creative as possible with my hands and mind. I love having a blank canvas and it being all up to me to manifest something out of nothing. I just did my first collective art show this year in Los Angeles with Raw Artists and we had an amazing turnout! The music scene in LA also keeps me active and social, I love house music and can stay dancing for nights!” But along with the creative outlets that Hollywood provides, we had to ask Lopes what his biggest pet peeve is and if he has ever had any strange requests from fans… He continued, “I posed nude for Playgirl as a centerfold back in June 2006, let me not get into how crazy those fans are with their bizarre requests, you can use your imagination! And my pet peeve would be when you are out on a date and the person only talks about their ex!”

In closing, we asked Danny what his favorite all time movie is and if he could meet any fictional character in real life, who would it be. His admiration for thrillers and 80s films was clear when he brought up Stanley Kubrick’s ‘The Shining ' starring the legendary Jack Nicholson. “This is a question that is always hard for me to answer as I have so many and I go through different periods where my answer would change and I would love to give them all some credit. The one that often comes up the most is The Shining, when I was younger, I was obsessed with that film because the kid was also named Danny. I would drive my Mom crazy by repeating REDRUM REDRUM all day long. I would also want to sneak in Howard the Duck . . . although the box office doesn’t agree with me, I would stay glued to my VCR as a kid watching it over and over and over again. If I could meet ANY fictional character in real life? Hands down Jessica Rabbit! I would love to play patty cake with her… who wouldn’t?”

Danny Lopes is a reminder that something remarkable can happen when at the core of your work, you create a passion and fervency for your career. He continues to be an inspiration to many of his colleagues, a new generation of actors as well as his loyal clientele who continue to commission him for new artwork in their estates and offices.