The Many Faces of Reid Gormly

by Stephanie Struyck Elgin

You may recognize him as Captain Stanhope, the whiskey-drinking commander whose life has been drastically changed by the faces of war in R.C. Sherriff’s masterpiece, Journey’s End.  You may even recall his role when he played opposite Mrs. Robinson, as the 21-year-old college grad, Benjamin Braddock, in The Graduate.  He also graced the stage as the stuttering, nervous yet captivating Billy Bibbitt in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.  He’s the talented actor, Reid Gormly.
Born Anderson Reid Gormly, Reid grew up on the east coast.  Originally from Charleston, South Carolina, Reid had always been a part of plays throughout high school.  During his senior year of high school, Reid worked on the production of Oklahoma.  The day after the opening night, the biggest radio station in Jacksonville, Florida was talking about his performance.  “It was a big moment for me,” states Reid.  “I loved acting and I loved being on stage.”  
Despite Reid’s fear that his speech impediment may hinder his ability to act, it certainly did not.  “As a young child, I took speech therapy to slow down my speech,” states Reid.  “I spoke really fast, so fast you couldn’t understand me.  As the therapists tried to slow my speech, I developed a stutter.  Thankfully that hasn’t affected my ability to act.”
In 2000, Reid attended Furman University, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies.  In 2005, Reid made his way to the west coast, Los Angeles to be exact, to pursue his dream of acting.  “I was only 22 at the time, but I wanted to be a story teller.  I’m a firm believer in the power of story, and I want to be a part of a positive influence through story.”  Reid began networking, as well as taking acting classes.  He’s worked with internationally recognized acting coach, Ivana Chubbuck, Ben Davis, and Rebecca Kitt, and has taken many acting classes to hone his craft.  
“I feel like I have a handle on the acting itself,” states Reid, “and because of the training, I feel like I am comfortable with the material given to me.  I trust myself enough to trust my impulses as an actor, honor it, and see where it takes me.”
Reid just finished the production of Journey’s End at the Repertory East Playhouse located on Main Street in Newhall.  “I played Captain Stanhope,” states Reid.  “He was a psychological mind mess, and it was a challenging role but very rewarding.”
Journey’s End is Reid’s fifth play with the Repertory East Playhouse.  His first was in The Graduate, working with actress Jordana Capra.  He also played Clifford Glimmer in SIDEMAN, Bob Lansky in Beyond Therapy and Billy Bibbitt in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. “Theatre is its own organism,” states Reid.  “We all do the work, the prep and the rehearsals.  With the help of the artistic director, who helps create the ‘world’ we live in, add the audience, and suddenly it all comes to life.  There are no redos.  We’re in this together.”  
From roles like Benjamin Braddock to Captain Stanhope, one thing is certain, Reid is a talented actor.  “I’ve been so fortunate to be able to continue my training while doing theatre in the Santa Clarita Valley.  It’s been wonderful and I look forward to many more opportunities here.”
Reid is currently signed with Origin Talent Theatrically.  He is a SAG/AFTRA Actor.  To learn more about Reid Gormly, visit www.reidgormly.com.