My grandmother was adamant I was named after the late Clark Gable. She was a "cinephile" before the name came into popularity. Through her, I grew up engulfed in classic cinema. Starting at the Golden Age of Hollywood with black and white classics such as Gone With the Wind; all the way through modern times, with "Malcom X" and "The Godfather" being personal favorites at a young age. 

Some of my fondest memories as a child are attached to the escapism a trip to the local AMC would provide, my imagination would run rampant.

 

With all that being said I still fell through the cracks growing up. Coming from a small blue-collar town on the south west side of Chicago IL, pursuing the arts seemed like a fever dream. My father came to America from Albania as a kid, and did everything in his power to live up to the American Dream. He did a damn good job at that, and made sure I hit the books hard.  I was pretty athletic too, so between sports, school and responsibilities at home there was no room creativity unless I was "creatively" getting to some money. A sentiment that many of my fellow children of immigrants can empathize with. 

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More importantly there was a stigma around art and the making of it. Out of pure ignorance and no outside intervention my friends and I made up in our minds that there was no room for us in field...... AND THEN I GREW UP.

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As a burnt out Adult, seeking asylum from the monotony of life, I stumbled into the Acting Studio of Chicago one day after work. They told me "there's one spot left in our intro class", so I took the chance. I instantly fell in love with the craft and hit the ground running. All of that early love and admiration for cinema came rushing back. I bounced around from studio to studio, Technique to technique; all until I booked my first Co-star on NBC's Chicago PD. That was the validation I needed.

From there I progressed through the conservatory program at Second City Chicago. After gracing a multitude of Improv and Theatre stages here in the city I went and received classical training at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. 

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I'm dedicated, to becoming a more holistic storyteller; Developing as a writer, filmmaker, theatremaker and producer. All while giving back and making "art" more accessible to communities similar to the one that raised me, across the country and around the globe! 

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