NBC’S AMERICAN AUTO’S TYE WHITE TALKS: SEASON FINALE, SELF CARE + NOT SO SUNNY DAYS IN LONDON!
PHOTOGRAPHER: DYLAN PERLOT
AT EXCLUSIVE ARTISTS
EDITOR IN CHIEF: COREY GUEVARRA
WARDROBE: KIMBERLY GOODNIGHT
GROOMING: KATHY SANTIAGO
VEST: AG JEANS, PANT: 4FUNKYFLAVOURS, WATCH: ALOHA GLAMOUR
OK SO AMERICAN AUTO IS HILARIOUS!!!
TYE HAVE YOU DONE COMEDY LIKE THIS BEFORE? IF NOT PLEASE TELL US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE LEARNING THIS FORM OF SLAPSTICK COMEDIC TIMING & NUANCE?
Oh man, Thank you! I haven’t in an official format before… I mean, I’ve studied comedy through my years of training but I think what makes it most comfortable for me is the fact that at my core, I’m actually not a very serious person at all [lol]. Even less serious once I’m comfortable around you! I’ve also been a student of comedy for many years prior to my training without me even knowing. The primary genre I tend to watch is comedy; tv, movies, series, stand up! So I’ve been “watching tape” or “game film” (like athletes would say) for as long as I can remember! Once I began my professional training, I got to practice all of the things I’d learned while on the bench!
YOU’RE FROM DETROIT RIGHT? WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO ONE DAY DECIDE TO PICK UP YOUR LIFE & HEAD TO LA IN PURSUIT OF YOUR DREAMS? HOW DID ACTING BECOME YOUR DREAM?
I am! I love my city! Which is why this series is an honor to be a part of because I also get to represent my city in a very positive light! I think I was just a kid at heart who had a dream & I wanted to see just how close I could get to it. Though I’ve accomplished so much, I’m not fully there yet, still much more I’d love to achieve. The proverbial vision board is still very much full. I think that’s what made the difference for me. I would rather try & fail than never try & wonder ‘what if’ for the rest of my life. The not knowing would haunt me. -And today, if I’d never left Detroit, someone else would be playing Jack. -And they’d probably be from like Idaho or somewhere [ha!]
WHO/WHAT IS YOUR ABSOLUTE DREAM ROLE TYE?
I have a few. But I kinda like to keep those dreams close. I don’t really like to speak on things aloud until they happen! But I will say I do want to work with some of my favorite actors that I grew up loving! -Dinero & DiCaprio... & if a 'Joe Louis' biopic ever happens count me in!!!
SHIRT & PANT: TELL THE TRUTH, WATCH: TISSOT, NECKLACES: TALENT’S OWN
WHAT BRINGS YOU THE MOST PEACE?
Family! Away from LA on an island. Any beach. Any island. Any time away from LA is peaceful. LA has a certain energy to me, that while not as ‘go get ‘em’ as NYC, it makes you constantly hungry for success. I’m generally in tune with LA that way, so I don’t always feel relaxed or always at ease. Albeit beautiful & sunny, I’m here on a mission & my mission isn’t yet close to competition! I find being in rainy London with my wife’s family more peaceful than most days in LA.
DESCRIBE YOUR IDEAL DAY FOR US?
My days are pretty typical & all sort of ideal that way. I’m with my kids & my wife, I’m at work or I’m at the gym. That’s it. Nothing glamorous, but it works for me! I’m not partying or racing cars down sunset lol. I’m enjoying work or enjoying family!
WE DEFINITELY CONSIDER PHYSICAL FITNESS A FORM OF SELF CARE & WELLNESS. WE SEE YOU’RE A PRO IN THE GYM! ANY TIPS ON HELPING OUR READERS ATTAIN THAT IDEAL SUMMER PHYSIQUE?
That old tried & true saying: ‘you are what you eat’! I think what I’ve learned about myself is that plainly put, I enjoy food! [Ha!] I even love trying new wines or beers sometimes. But too much of that & your fitness will fall completely off & you can’t outwork a poor diet! So I limit my “fun” indulgences to usually just 1 day on the weekend. If you can be disciplined enough to give yourself 1 day or so of the the less healthy stuff, most would be surprised what they can achieve. -And if something comes up during the week by chance, subtract that day from your [cheat] weekend. -So a disciplined diet & also definitely finding some realm of fitness that you enjoy! Otherwise it’ll be hard to motivate yourself day after day. Personally, I love boxing so it’s heavily in my routine, multiple times a week. Others might like dance or yoga. Find whatever your “fun fitness” might be & it’ll keep you going!!
TELL US ABOUT HOW IT WENT, FROM SCRIPT TO AUDITION TO FIRST DAY ON SET FOR “JACK”?
I read for the role I think at least 5 times! So it definitely was not an instant process. NBC was familiar with me due to my stint on ‘Chicago Fire’ but even a good (& familiar) resume still doesn’t mean anything automatic. I did get a good feeling by the final audition however, 1 of the NBC executives Grace Wu asked me where I was from & when I said ‘Detroit’ everyone in the room lit up!
PULLOVER: LIO/LOCAL INTERSTELLAR OUTFITTERS, HAT: GOORIN BROS.
THE SEASON FINALE OF AMERICAN AUTO AIRS TONIGHT, WHAT CAN WE EXPECT? ANY CLIFFHANGERS?
I think it sets up season 3 perfectly if we are lucky enough to get it. The team, the relationships, the comedy, I think we have the show in a really special place where we can tell a very funny, cohesive, ongoing story.
& FINALLY TYE, OUR STAPLE QUESTION.… TYE WHITE, WHAT'S YOUR DEFINITION OF LUXURY?
Luxury to me is exclusivity. Experiences that perhaps everyone doesn’t have access to? From private planes, to 1 of a kind items, to simpler things like never having to wait in lines! ‘Luxury’ is a life of truly exclusive experiences!
