Shining a spotlight on celebrities and athletes who love to travel. Created and developed by Stacy Steponate Greenberg.
Some people were meant for football, others for Shakespeare. Those who were meant to do both are few and far between, but there is at least one such performer and his name is Bailey Chase. Football brought him to Duke University, and when his playing days were over he followed his next dream to L.A, but after being type-cast in roles of the good-looking jock, Chase knew he wanted more. The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art was his next destination, where he studied Shakespeare, and from there he never looked back. With roles on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Saving Grace and Longmire under his belt, Chase is now on not just one but two cult-like resurrected shows: 24: Legacy and Twin Peaks. If all that doesn’t keep this busy actor and father of three busy enough, he recently added Author to his resume with Spiritual Gangsta: The Search For Truth, an entertaining and witty memoir/self-help book about trying to find yourself and success. The Overhead Compartment was fortunate to meet up with Bailey Chase, go over a few plays, read a few verses, and find out what makes this gifted actor tick.
The Overhead Compartment with Bailey Chase begins now…
OC: You were a college athlete playing football as a linebacker at Duke. How did you get from there to the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art?
BC: A 737? Kidding… I moved to LA to pursue a boyhood dream but once I got out here I discovered I had no idea what I was doing. I’m a big believer in being prepared when opportunity knocks. The initial acting roles I was offered were jock/beefcake roles. I saw a need to dig deeper, challenge myself and strengthen my craft.
OC: How good were you at football?
BC: I was All-State, but not All-American.
OC: Did you ever aspire to be a professional football player?
BC: I think just about any good athlete dreams of playing pro and believes they can do it. They’re confident and that’s part of what makes them good in the first place.
OC: What was the best part about being in London?
BC: Pints at happy hour? Also, the freedom to be young, studying abroad and meeting people from a different culture. Tackling Shakespeare was humbling, but it also inspired me to get better.
OC: In many of the shows you have been in (24: Legacy, Longmire) your character is extremely active. How do you stay in shape for those roles?
BC: My physicality is a big part of my essence. I’m an active guy in my personal life so playing these law-enforcement, alpha male characters isn’t a big stretch, but when you take away that physicality is when the work gets really interesting. It becomes still and you do less. As for my workouts, I mix it up: boxing, pilates, spinning and hot yoga.
OC: What was the most interesting city your work has ever taken you to?
BC: Santa Fe. I love and miss it. My daughter Waverly was born there.
OC: You are the father of three young children, any tips for traveling with kids?
BC: We don’t travel a lot with the kids. We’re that family that if you see us on a plane you’re inside voice says: “please don’t sit by me.” We all flew back East for the holidays and we found most people to be very helpful and accommodating with the kids. We also travel with our therapy dog, Blue. He’s the easiest of the bunch.
OC: Favorite destination for a family outing?
BC: The beach or a park. The babies don’t need much. They really love the water, but I’m looking forward to getting them in the snow next year.
OC: You recently released your first book Spiritual Gangsta: The Search for Truth, part self-help, part memoir. What was the motivation behind writing this and what do you hope readers take away from it?
BC: They say people don’t change, but fatherhood made me a different person. I’m much better than I was 5-10 years ago. I want to shake that guy and tell him to get out of his own way. That’s why I wrote the book, because I want to help people (especially guys like me), who put a lot of pressure on themselves to figure it all out and be perfect. Life isn’t a game of perfection, it’s about finding the truth (your truth) and making that human connection. Hopefully, by sharing my path it will help others discover their own.
OC: First thing you do when arriving at a hotel in your room?
BC: Check out the view and turn down the temp.
OC: Complete the following sentence: I never leave home without:
BC: My phone.
Bailey Chase, please use care upon departure as items may have shifted in The Overhead Compartment during our journey. Thanks for choosing us for your travel tips! Have a wonderful day!
Photo credit: Manfred Baumann
