#PoundTake
Can’t Stop the Steele
Everyone has dreams and aspirations they hope one day will become a reality. Some people are satisfied with the common (but not easy) things, like obtaining a degree, landing a great career, buying a house, etc. When it comes to showbiz dreams and aspirations, they don’t get the same respect. Here in northeast Ohio, I don’t think there’s a quicker way to end a first date than telling them you want to be an actor. It’s a shame because local actors/actresses are the hardest working & driven people you’ll ever meet. One, in particular, comes to mind when I think about someone who not just has dreams and aspirations, but dares to pursue them. His name is CK Steele, and you probably don’t know him yet, but I have a feeling you will. Let me tell you why I think this fresh face is going to make his mark in the film industry.
Before doing my interview with Steele, I hadn’t really spoken to him on a personal level. We followed each other on social media, saw each other out at a few bars, and we even popped up at the same Chinese joint to pick up our takeout, but I didn’t KNOW CK Steele. The only things we really share is our dislike for our first names (we’re both named Cody, but don’t go by it) and our dreams of the godforsaken showbiz industry. Earlier this year, Steele was living in LA, going to auditions and booking gigs. From what he told me in our interview, it wasn’t the most pleasant experience. He said he lived in a one-bedroom apartment with SIX other people! He even went into a story about how he told his girlfriend he was considering an ad for a
houseboy in West Hollywood. Money was already tight and the living quarters were even tighter, what else was needed to kick him in the balls? 2020 came in and said hold my beer.
Due to the global pandemic, Steele is now back in northeast Ohio, still pursuing his acting career. I asked him if I would know of anything he’s in and he laughed and said, “Probably not, but I have big projects in the work that I can’t talk about yet.” Steele was the winner of Cleveland Scene Magazines’ “Best Actor of 2019.” He probably would have nabbed the award this year too, if it was for another local actor by the name of Colson Baker. By watching his rise through the years, I admire the hustle and he has made it clear that there’s nothing that’s gonna the Steele.
Check out his latest film!