Jalen Thomas Brooks in ‘The Pitt.’ Photo Courtesy of Warner Bros. Television, Max.
Rising actor Jalen Thomas Brooks (“The Pitt”) chatted about his latest projects, and being a part of the digital age.
Margaret Mead once said: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” This quote applies to Jalen Thomas Brooks.
‘The Pitt’ on Max
“The Pitt” is a new medical drama TV series on Max, which stars Noah Wyle (“ER”), who also serves as an executive producer.
“This is my favorite project I have ever been a part of,” he admitted. “It’s hard to describe it. We’ve built a family there, and you can feel the closeness of us onscreen. We’ve all spent that much time in the hospital together, so we’ve gotten close.”
Playing Nurse Mateo Diaz
On playing Nurse Mateo Diaz, he remarked, “My character is very nonchalant, relaxed, and chill. A lot of people rely on him because in intense situations, Mateo knows what he is doing.”
In a high-intense situation, I am very relaxed to play him. So, strangely, it is very relaxing to play Mateo,” he admitted.
Brooks on the shows ‘Rebel,’ ‘Walker,’ and ‘Animal Kingdom’
“Ironically enough, for ‘The Pitt,’ there are a lot of crew members that worked on ‘Rebel’ as well,” he noted.
“Speaking of ‘Rebel,’ it was a good experience,” he said. “It was fun. I also loved doing ‘Walker’ and it holds a special place in my heart. I was 20 years old when I was on that show, so I was growing up with that character (Colton) and experiencing life as he was.”
“Also, ‘Animal Kingdom’ was an awesome show,” he added.
The digital age
On being an actor in the digital age, Brooks said, “It’s interesting. When you are on a show and you hope it hits, it really is a swing in the dark. I’ve been lucky enough to work consistently somewhat, and with the amount of content that has been out there, it has been helpful for my career.”
“It is very interesting to see how much things are changing year by year. The digital age is not tangible, and you can’t predict anything at all,” he noted.
“There are so many variables; it is very anxiety-driven, but at the same time, it is a fun game. I come from a sports background, so I am very competitive,” he acknowledged.
“It is also very funny to see how hit or miss some things can be in this industry, and how you can’t really project anything,” he added.
Marci Miller
Brooks complimented three-time Emmy nominee Marci Miller (“Days of Our Lives”) who was recently on “The Pitt” for an episode, where she played the character Gina Phillips.
“Marci was so great in ‘The Pitt.’ She was amazing in that role,” he admitted.
‘Thanksgiving‘ film
On being a part of the thriller “Thanksgiving,” he said, “Working with Eli Roth was a pleasure… The same holds true about Addison Rae, Milo Manheim, Nell Verlaque, and the rest of the cast. We all become close friends.”
“It was really fun, and it was cool to be around all of these practical effects, and be in the presence of a horror legend like Eli,” Brooks noted.
Brooks continued, “Eli taught me how to trust a director’s vision, and as an actor, that’s what you are supposed to do. I would not trade this for anything else. I was honored and proud that this was my first movie, and it was great to work with Eli. I can’t wait to work with him again. It was absolutely wonderful.”
Advice for young and aspiring actors
For young and emerging actors, he said, “Throw yourself at every audition you can get. Don’t be picky with your projects. Whatever you get, throw yourself at it. Do the best you can; I look at it like a Domino effect, where every job will make you better.”
“You never know what’s on the other side of each job, so never cut yourself short. So, just get started and allow yourself to fail because that makes you a better actor,” he added.
‘Pop Culture Unplugged with Elias’
Brooks shared that he enjoyed being profiled in “Pop Culture Unplugged with Elias,” where he was spotlighted by Greek-American host Elias Giannakopoulos.
“Elias was the best. He is such a cool guy, and my interview with him was great,” he admitted.
Superpower of choice
If Brooks were to have any superpower, it would be to have “Superspeed” like “The Flash.”
“With superspeed, you can be great in so many other areas as well,” he said.
Brooks on Marcus Coloma
Brooks had kind words about actor Marcus Coloma (“General Hospital” fame).
“Marcus Coloma is amazing,” Brooks exclaimed. “Marcus was a part of my childhood with the ‘Beverly Hills Chihuahua’ movies. He is just so good, and so talented.”
Stage of his life
On the title of the current chapter of his life, Brooks revealed, “Putting things into practice.”
Success
Regarding his definition of success, Brooks said, “Success is having stability in all areas of your life: financially, relationship-wise, and emotionally.”
“I was a basketball coach back home in Oregon, and one of the most successful moments I’ve ever felt was helping young men accomplish their goals in the sport,” he noted.
“More importantly, success means having a positive effect on others. Success is touching your community and impacting other people’s lives,” he acknowledged.
To learn more about actor Jalen Thomas Brooks, follow him on Instagram, and check out his IMDb page.