Eric Erickson is a Los Angeles-based actor, writer and artist. In this interview he talks about his life journey as an actor, his upcoming projects and plans for the future.
You’re also known as “The Angry Viking”… Where does this moniker originate?
I am a proud descendant from the ancient Viking dynasties, but the name The Angry Viking came while doing stand-up comedy. Ronnie Ray, a stand up friend of mine, was hosting a show and after I did my set he commented to the crowd “Now that’s one Angry $%&$% Viking!” The name stuck, minus the expletive.
You’ve recently completed filming “David & Goliath.” How did you get this acting role and how was it like to work in an action movie?
I was actually reading for a small role as one of David’s brothers. After my audition the producers noticed my action and stunt training and asked if I would be interested in a larger action part as a warrior David fights in a large centerpiece action scene. Who could refuse that?
We had fight training leading up to the shooting days because the fights are a grueling knock down battle. It’s always fun shooting an action film, but it is definitely tiring.
Who has influenced you the most in your acting career?
When I was younger and starting out it was iconic figures like Charles Chaplin and Orson Welles. And while I am still moved by them, at this stage it’s more about the journeymen. The actors who are constantly crafting amazing performances and characters. You’ve got to be inspired by Mathew McConaughey right now. He is firing on all cylinders.
Shortly after his death, an award show clip of Philip Seymour Hoffman was making the rounds. He talked about how you need to treat every opportunity to act as just that – an opportunity. Even an audition is a performance, treat it that way. That thought inspires me on a daily basis.
Do you think it’s necessary to take acting classes to get a role in a Hollywood blockbuster?
To get a role, no. To succeed in the industry, maybe. If you take a class, make sure you are learning something, not just stroking the ego of your acting teacher.
There are plenty of actors who have never stepped foot in an acting class, but somewhere along the way they learned things. There are those who are just natural performers, but they had to learn somewhere. Maybe it was in the classroom as a child being the class clown. There are basics you’ll need to learn either away from the set or in the trenches. Not just how to deliver a line, but terminology, subtleties, on set expectations. But very often you can’t learn them on the set, because time and money is more important than your education. I have been on many a set where people where replaced because they didn’t know what they were doing.
Piece of advice as you start out – keep your mouth closed on set and watch. Don’t fall into the politics or get dragged down into the mire. Keep your eyes open and your mouth closed – at least until it’s time for you to say your lines.
In 2013 you underwent a drastic change… Can you give us more details?
I had stepped away from acting for a few years to work behind the camera. But by 2013, I missed performing, so I began to audition and appear in projects again. I did a feature film and during the ADR (additional dialogue recording) sessions, I saw myself on screen and was blown away at how heavy I had gotten. At my highest I was over 250 pounds.
About the same time a friend of over 20 years dropped dead at his daughter’s soccer game from a heart attack. He was the same age as I and it opened my eyes. I was unhappy, scared and needed to change my life.
I completely changed my outlook from eating to exercise to attitude. I began working out twice a day 5-6 days a week (drawing heavily on the workout plans used by Jason Momoa and Hugh Jackman) and went on a crash diet of chicken and tuna fish. Within six months I had gotten down to 180 pounds and began to resculpt my body.
I have never felt healthier or more in shape and it definitely shows in my work. I went from what I was to being featured on a romance novel and a beefcake calendar! How great is that?!?
What are you working on right now?
I have an upcoming episode of Comedy Bang Bang! on IFC where I play one of Chris Parnell’s minions and the film “David and Goliath” being released this spring. I’m also featured in the 2015 Man and Machine Calendar and will be on the cover of Melissa Foster’s book “Tamed by Love” this spring.
Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years’ time?
Creating larger scale projects of my own as well as playing in other people’s projects. By that point I am hope to be playing a character in the DC or Marvel cinematic universes. Lobo, maybe?
