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Alumni Spotlight
Paul Pape '74
Class Year: 1974
What you are doing now (25 words or less): Actor/Producer/Writer, based in Los Angeles. President and CEO of Red Wall Productions.
Major: Theatre
Favorite Class at Brockport: Acting
Favorite professor at Brockport: The theater department faculty as a whole was outstanding. I am grateful to them.
Most memorable Brockport Moment: I was busy auditioning for grad schools when an adjudicator for the New York State Arts Council came through Brockport critiquing plays. He saw me perform in “The Scarecrow” and asked me to join a repertory company he was starting. I accepted and moved to New York City two weeks after graduation. I did my apprenticeship alongside 15 other actors – all of them mostly unknown at the time – including Danny DeVito, Rhea Perlman, Jeff Goldblum, Michael O’Keefe and Peter Scolari.
Most Interesting Life Experience: Outside of my family, it would probably be my connection with “Saturday Night Fever,” which I co-starred in. It has since gone on to become a piece of film history, and I am proud to have been able to contribute to something that has had such an impact on people, even to this day.
Most famous person I have met: In this line of work, you meet a lot of famous people. It comes with the territory. I have been really blessed to have the opportunity to be around and work with some of the most creative figures of our time.
Last Book Read: I’ll Be in My Trailer: The Creative Wars Between Actors and Directors, by John Badham.
CD most likely to find in your stereo: Right now it would be Mark Knopfler and Emmy Lou Harris’ collaboration on All The Roadrunning.
Favorite Movie: Ask anyone in my business what their favorite movie is and you’re in for a long conversation.
Favorite vacation spot: The Hole In The Wall, which is located in Johnson County, Wyoming. For the last 16 years, I have joined 50 other friends every September in riding the same country where Butch and Sundance had their hideout. We are in the saddle for anywhere from six to eight hours a day in beautiful, yet rugged country that hasn’t changed much since the outlaws rode it. For all the members of the “gang,” life really gets back to basics here.
Family: My wife Suzanne is the most beautiful woman I know and a great mother. She is very accomplished in her own right. She is a Supervising Sound Editor and four-time Emmy nominee. She has won the award twice, among other honors. Our daughter, Isabella, is just starting college. She is studying photography and is just an amazing writer.
What you want to be doing next year: Same thing I’m doing this year. I have been blessed to make a good living in the entertainment business. In addition to my acting work, I’ve been honored to win awards as a Producer and Writer. My company is beginning production on two new films this year (one short and one documentary). I will be directing and writing them both, so that should keep me busy as well as challenged.
What do you want to be doing in 20 years: Same thing, I hope. I also want to travel more with my wife. We have singled out Ireland and the Serengeti Plains of Africa as places we’d still like to visit. Eventually I’d like to leave big cities and have a horse ranch and lots of space around me. My wife would like a place near the beach in Hawaii. Perhaps we will do both. We’ll see what the future holds, but for now, I’m happy doing what I’m doing.
Message to the Students of Today: The process is more important than the results. Knowing you really want something comes from understanding how much you are willing to put into it. If you can’t give it your all, then someone else will end up living your dream for you. If you can embrace the journey day in and day out, it’s my sincere belief that the results will take care of themselves, and often in the most surprising ways.
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