Photo source: Instagram – @JasonMooreOfficial
Jason R. Moore is a rising star in entertainment. Moore has appeared in several TV shows, including “The Quad,” “Law & Order: SVU” and is now playing the role of Curtis Hoyle in Marvel’s action-packed series “The Punisher” premiering on Netflix.
Rolling out recently sat down with the talented actor to talk about his professional journey and new role in Marvel’s cinematic universe. He also touches on his character’s PTSD and mental health problems that affect veterans.
Tell us about your background. What inspired you to become an actor?
Jason R. Moore is a Jamaican-born immigrant; I came to this country when I was young. I grew up in Albany, New York. I was always like a clown, so entertaining people was something I always did for my family growing up. I didn’t really capitalize on that until I was in college, where I fully decided to become an actor. It wasn’t something that I wanted to do as a child; I thought about it but didn’t really do it. I have a background in athletics; I ran track. It was at a track meet when I fully decided to become an actor and wanted to go to school for acting.
How would you describe your journey as an actor?
Rocky. It wasn’t something that came easily but I wanted to take it seriously, so I made sure I went to school for it. I trained in a conservatory to learn how to really do it and not just skate by. I felt like that foundation would get me longevity in the business and it would also make the work easier as time went on. At first, it wasn’t easy in terms of me getting in because I got rejected having the lack of background. These conservatories — which were very prestigious — did not accept you if you didn’t have the basic skills.
What can viewers expect from the new Netflix series “The Punisher”?
The viewers are going to get the exactly what the 40-plus year history of the “The Punisher” is in the comics. If you are a Punisher fan, you are going to be well satisfied after you watch this series. It’s violent, it’s bloody, it’s gritty and it’s going to give you a different feel from the other Netflix Marvel shows. This one is based on reality; no one has super powers, so you are going to get a real-world TV experience. There are real things at stake, so that urgency and that danger is there. It’s going to have people on the edge of their seats when they are watching this.
What is it like being a Black man in the Marvel cinematic universe?
The character that I am playing was originally a White guy in the comics. It is very welcoming; I am working with great people. I am conscious and aware that [there are] not many of us still there. When we are doing table reads, I am the only Black guy there, that’s common but I am aware of the situation. As Marvel gets bigger — and they are huge — they are expanding their roles to different cultures and ethnicities, I think that’s a good thing.
The role as of Curtis Hoyle in “The Punisher” is considered to be your breakout role this year. How has this character differed from other roles?
This is not that far off from other roles that I have gotten. I tend to get military roles, soldiers, police officers and things like that. Pretty much “Curtis” is that same thing, he’s an amputee, he’s a vet, he’s a soldier. He is suffering from his own case of PTSD, even though he may appear like he has a handle on it, he is still suffering. Which is another thing that we comment on in the series a lot and we try to handle that issue because some of these soldiers come back and suffer from it.
How did you land this role?
How I got the role was going through the standard audition process and sometimes I say it’s luck. I couldn’t predict this, out of all of the hundreds of auditions I went on this is the one that fit. There is nothing that I did differently and as an actor, especially at this level; you know what you do as an actor, you don’t go in there and switch what you do to cater to a casting director or producer, you go in there and do what you do and that’s what I did.
Tell us a little bit more about your character Hoyle. Who is he? What is he like? Where does his allegiance lie?
Curtis Hoyle is a loyal character, he is very loyal to Frank Castle. He is like the only [who] knows that Frank is still alive, this is a secret that him and Frank has kept. His allegiance lies with the truth: with Frank. As you see when you watch the series, you see that Curtis is struggling with Frank to bring the truth and reality of what he is doing, as being the “Punisher.” Curtis runs this veteran talk group. Curtis is a nice guy, he genuinely wants to help people get through there their problems and their issues because it also helps him. You’ll see Curtis throughout the series, engaging in deep conversations with some of the soldiers and trying to bring them back to a sense of completeness, so to speak. These soldiers see so much on the battlefield and when they come back into society it’s also like they are not complete, and they don’t have it [all together] and it affects their psychology. In terms of Curtis, he lost a limb so when he comes back as a man who can’t do what he needs to do, that affects his psychology a lot. You see in a couple of episodes that he struggles with not being a complete man.
What other projects, businesses, etc. do you have going on?
I am currently shooting season two of “The Quad,” that will be premiering on BET. I am working closely with Anika Noni Rose, who is an awesome actress. This is a little different from the role of Curtis Hoyle. In this series I am playing a doctor but it’s still a good contrast.
What’s high on your priority list for 2018?
I have my eyes set on a couple of movie roles that I think are important. Those are the ones that I am going to get the most fulfillment from because of the historical importance of some of these characters. Maybe season two of “The Punisher” comes along, but we’ll have to wait and see about that.
Where can people find you on social media?
Instagram: @JasonMooreOfficial
Twitter: @JasonMooreENT
