‘The Walking Dead’ actor Lew Temple receives Lifetime Achievement Award at local film festival
Photo by The Signal reporter Erika Sanchez.
He has fought the undead, took on an out-of-control train and played with devil rejects; what better way to honor such a man than to award him a Lifetime Achievement Award?
Lew Temple was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 17th Annual Gulf Coast Film and Video Festival banquet held Saturday, Sept. 12.
The Lifetime Achievement Award is given to a distinguished actor/actress or filmmaker recognized for his/her continuing work in the industry of film and video. The selection is made by a panel of members from the Gulf Coast Film and Video Committee led by founder Hal Wixon.
“We have a selection of actors and actresses who we are interested in giving this award,” Wixon said. “After reviewing their work, we offer an invitation to the winner. We like to treat our guest like family when they arrive to the day they leave.”
Temple, who received the award this year, is best recognized for his role as Axel on the hit show “The Walking Dead” and as Ned Oldham, alongside Denzel Washington and Chris Pine, in “Unstoppable.”
Temple, who was born in the Bayou Country of Louisiana, can be regarded as a Houston native. Before breaking out in the film industry, Temple had a Minor League Baseball career with the Houston Astros.
After working his way through the Astros system, Temple began his acting career at the well-known Alley Theatre. Productions included “Julius Caesar” and “Anthony and Cleopatra,” which were then followed by numerous television and movie roles.
Temple was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award because of his extensive work as a journeymen actor – an actor who although does not meet mega-star status does have continuous supporting roles in recognized television series or movies – and his ties to the Houston area.
From his style of dress to his intellectual dialect to the overall way he carries himself, Temple displays a charismatic demeanor and infectious personality.
Walking into the interview with his brown cowboy boots, striped blue shirt topped with a brown vest and fashionable skull rings, he sat down and showed what makes him a perfect recipient of the award.
“It all started with a pair of jeans,” said Temple, on how he got his start in acting. “I followed this girl wearing a nice pair of jeans in hopes of getting a date. I ended up following her into an acting class. I never did get that date, but I got an acting career out of it.”
Temple has a unique way of looking at the world in terms of opportunities. He believes that the moment he took off his blinders, in reference to the ones worn by horses to keep them focused, was the moment he saw the opportunities around him, like gold nuggets. This process of thinking is what allowed him to try a professional career in baseball, acting in theater production, and eventually landing him opportunities in film alongside famous entertainers.
Temple has a specific process he uses to make a character come to life.
“It is like playing hide and seek,” Temple said. “It is the process of going out and finding, and the excitement of discovery. I know my character and what he is supposed to do, but if you are going searching for more, you discover something you didn’t know. This is how I carry out my process, by discovering.”
Coming fresh off the set of his latest production “31,” a horror flick directed by Rob Zombie, Temple stated that working with Rob Zombie is always an intense project because Zombie is such a visionary and does what it takes to get the scene right.
Temple has dabbled a little in directing himself but claims he talks too much to really get anything done. However, what he does hope to do is to portray characters who he has not had the opportunity to portray.
“I want to play characters that are challenged with a moral dilemma,” Temple said. “I want characters who are faced with challenges that pertain to moral issues.”
Temple’s advice to upcoming filmmakers is, “To thy own self be true.”
“Tell your story,” Temple said. “There is no right, no wrong, it just is. Even though it might not get attention, you told your story and no one else’s.”
Temple, a man of so many words, was asked to describe his job in just three words.
“Relax, focus and compassionate,” Temple replied.
Catch Lew Temple in “Kidnap” and “31,” set to be released in 2016.
SLIDESHOW: 17th Annual Gulf Coast Film and Video Festival
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQNUya7qVEs?rel=0]
Slideshow created by The Signal reporter Erika Sanchez.
