Kevin first caught the attention of TV audiences early on with a role on Beverly Hills, 90210. From there, his career expanded into a wide variety of projects, including guest appearances on Days of Our Lives and a memorable turn as the Head Pallbearer in the feature film Cop Land, alongside an ensemble that reads like a who’s who of Hollywood heavyweights: Sylvester Stallone, Robert De Niro, Harvey Keitel, Ray Liotta, and more.
Breaking Into Film: Memorable Roles and Iconic Co-Stars
In recent years, O’Sullivan’s work has continued to gain recognition. He earned the Best Supporting Actor award at the 2024 Egyptian American Film Festival for his portrayal of Officer John Nelson in The Deal, a performance that showcased his grounded presence and emotional restraint. Some of his most recent projects include Nepotism, Baby! (a Tribeca Film Festival nominee), Tal, Lord Hear Our Prayer, and Unveiling Shadow.
O’Sullivan new chapters include the horror film, Choleric, scheduled to release in 2026, and two new vertical series: In Love with My Moms Boyfriend with Robert Palmer Watkins and The Legal Queen with Ben Schreen.
Acting Approach: Adapting to Vertical Series and Long-Form Drama
Hi Kevin! Thanks so much for the interview! You’ve worked in traditional television, film, and now vertical series, which demand a completely different storytelling rhythm. As an actor, what muscle do you find yourself using more in vertical content that you didn’t rely on as heavily in long-form projects like Days of Our Lives?
When I prepare for the verticals, my preparation is very similar to my actor homework on Days of Our Lives. The real key is how I can bring my character to life and make the audience feel the emotions of my character.
That response sets up the next question perfectly. When you play characters that sit in morally uncomfortable spaces, how do you personally decide where empathy fits into those characters?
When I’m playing a morally corrupt character, I try to build chemistry with my co-stars. This allows them and me to act out these sometimes-compromising positions and still understand that we are just creating art for the audience’s benefit.
Working with Legends: Lessons from Hollywood Heavyweights
Ahh, love that perspective. You’ve worked alongside legends — from Beverly Hills, 90210 to Cop Land — and you’re still building momentum decades later. What did younger Kevin think success looked like, and how has that definition changed now?
I used to talk to Jennie Garth and Jason Priestley on set, and I thought to myself, “Wow, there is a star, and she is talking with me like a normal person. I thought, “I have arrived!” Now I have the privilege of working with many co-stars, on different verticals, and I think to myself, “Wow, they are rising stars in the industry, and I’m working alongside them. My priority now as an actor is to support my lead co-stars in scenes that propel the dynamics and tell a compelling story to the audience. In my younger days, I was the lead. Things have changed, but I love and embrace what is happening to my career now.
Upcoming Roles: Choleric and Emotionally Challenging Characters
Embracing every step along the journey is a vital key to enjoying it, well said. Your upcoming film Choleric places you front and center in a deeply “disturbing role.” What was harder to manage: the psychological preparation going in, or emotionally detaching once filming wrapped?
The hardest thing going into making Choleric was receiving my wife’s blessing for the character I was cast in, as it was a role that was completely the opposite of who I am in real life. It is hard for me to prepare for a role effectively if I don’t have my loved one’s support. Playing DAVID was emotionally draining, and playing that disturbing character took a little something out of me emotionally and physically. I normally go back and reflect, then meditate to help detach and bring myself back to my true self. The director, Sebastian Fabres, was instrumental in drawing out my character in the film and showed his care for his actors by ensuring that we remember who we originally were coming into the film.
From a creative standpoint, working with co-star Morgan Warren allowed me to go to a darker place than I thought I could. This working bond between us allowed me to be free to become my character, knowing that she knows who I am in real life and that we are creating characters who are believable.
Award Recognition: The Deal and Career Validation
One can see you’ve taken great care in the development of your creative process, and that it is paying off. For instance, you won Best Supporting Actor at the Egyptian American Film Festival for The Deal, which must have been an awesome honor. How did that moment validate something internally for you and motivate you to push and raise your bar even higher?
The Deal was an incredible honor, not only winning Best Supporting Actor, but also because The Deal itself was recognized as an Oscar-qualified short film. The ability to do my own driving stunts, in a high-speed car chase, through the streets of Los Angeles, was amazing. With Director McGregory Frederique’s support, I was better able to understand and reach my untapped potential to play that role. I’m looking forward to continuing to bring my craft to life for audiences.
Let’s loop back to verticals for a second. There’s been debate about whether vertical series are a stepping stone or the future of storytelling. From your perspective inside the work — not the headlines — what do people still misunderstand about this format?
There was a time when everything was on the silver screen. My goal as an actor is to reach audiences by telling amazing stories. Technology is changing, and I am very fortunate to be part of this change. I am looking forward to being able to reach a broader audience. We are pushing 14 to 20 pages of dialogue per day, working 12-hour days, and everyone is pulling together as a team. Yes, it’s a bit melodramatic, but bringing high emotion while still being grounded is the winning formula. I feel that this is the right chemistry one must achieve in a vertically shot series. I’m proud to be part of this new media.
Life Between New York and Los Angeles: How Locations Shape Roles
Evolution is an evergreen part of life, as it should be. You split time between New York and Los Angeles, two cities that shape actors very differently. How do those environments influence the kinds of roles you pursue — or the risks you’re willing to take?
In LA, you have the big screen aura, where everything that glitters is gold. In vertical Dramas, moving from location to location can create a bit more stress when everything is spread out through TMZ. However, many vertical micro dramas are still shot there. Whereas in New York City, you have more compact shooting locations and ease of transportation for everyone involved.
As for the kinds of roles I pursue, it really all depends on the director’s vision, where the shot is happening, and how the storyline goes. My co-stars and I have faith in each other to help bring that vision to life, in whatever environment that may be.
Career Throughline: Inspiring Audiences Through Storytelling
Looking at your career — soap opera intensity, prestige film moments, award recognition, and now bold genre work — what do you see as the throughline in the characters or stories you are most drawn to?
Technology and my craft may have changed, yet the result has remained the same: to captivate and thrill the audience. My goal of inspiring others by living through my character and providing relief to the normal doldrums of life is the same. I feel very lucky and blessed to work with great directors, cinematographers, and talented co-stars. I want to continue to reach audiences and inspire them, while still enjoying what I love, with the full support of my family.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of PR.
Kevin O’Sullivan Official Links
IMDb: http://imdb.me/KevinOSullivan
Official website: https://www.thekevinosullivan.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekevinosullivan/
Key Takeaways
- Kevin O’Sullivan’s career spans film and television, showcasing his range and consistency as an actor.
- He gained acclaim for roles in projects like Beverly Hills, 90210 and Cop Land, and earned the Best Supporting Actor award for The Deal.
- O’Sullivan prepares similarly for vertical series and traditional formats, focusing on character emotions and chemistry with co-stars.
- His upcoming projects include the horror film Choleric and two vertical series, highlighting his adaptability in storytelling.
- O’Sullivan emphasizes the importance of audience connection and collaboration with directors and co-stars in evolving production environments.
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