In the movie Dark Fields, Patrick Kelly plays the role of a vengeful shaman. He is pictured in the bottom half of this cover sleeve alongside David Carradine.
He worked as a roadie, bouncer and staff member for the rock band known as Jackal. He was in the blockbuster hit ‘Real Steel’ staring Hugh Jackman. He was in an Indonesian film, making his debut in a foreign film called ‘Venella.’ He wielded a medieval sword during a cinematic fight scene in the movie ‘Ice Shield of Alethia.’
Patrick Kelly may be putting in a 40 hour work week for the U.S. Postal Service and Sidney Shuttle Service but he doesn’t call himself mail carrier or a shuttle driver. Sure, for now, it’s paying the bills. But his passion is acting and stunts. And, as a professional actor with a lengthy resume, it probably won’t be long before another opportunity to be on the big screen comes up and he heads off to pursue another acting gig. “For right now I am viewing and enjoying this time in Sidney as my working vacation but not limiting myself because you have to follow your dreams,” he said.
So, he has plans. Big plans. Academy Award winning plans if all goes right.
His greatest accomplishment happened in 2008 when he was cast to play as the main character in the movie ‘Dark Fields’ alongside David Carradine. In the science fiction movie he plays a revengeful Shaman. “I have always respected the talents of Carradine and it was so amazing to be a part of such a great talent. This movie has the potential for a prequel about each generation. That is something I am looking forward to,” he said.
Kelly got his start in acting back in his home state of Michigan, working in television roles, films, dance, theater and stage shows beginning in the 7th grade with playing Lenny, in ‘Of Mice and Men.’ His aspirations to become an actor began at a young age but it took him several decades to finally go all in on a competitive career choice that always has the potential for dealing a wild card.
Like many, Kelly has his bouts with stage fright. “Throughout the years I just came to terms with the fact that you have to throw yourself out there. Once they say ‘Action,’ you either can or you can’t. You either will or you won’t,” he said. “I was always told I had a unique look as someone with Mexican, Irish and Anishnebe heritage. But when it came to reading lines I always got nervous. So I quit practicing. I had to just not think about it. I had to get up there and do it, and hope it came out right,” he said.
Surprisingly, he was a shy and introverted young child. “I can still remember standing on that stage when I ran for the junior high student council. I couldn’t read my speech, started crying and ran off the stage. Everyone made fun of me so I put myself in drama classes that next semester so I could get over my stage fright,” he said. All these years later, the classes seem to have paid off.
Kelly left Michigan in 1998 to pursue acting in Atlanta, Georgia and then Sacramento, California, where there were more connections and glitzy showbiz possibilities. He sold everything he had to make the transition. Prior to that, he had worked as a mechanic, a landscaper and a few other jobs that helped pay the bills while moonlighting as an actor.
His move from Michigan was also inspired by the slow growth of the movie industry in Michigan. At one time former Governor Jennifer Granholm, had given a tax break to the film industry in an attempt to entice movie producers to film in the state. But, once the Governor was out of office, the incoming Governor capped the tax credit, lessening the incentive for the film industry to produce films there. “It became apparent to me that Hollywood would not be coming to Michigan and I was tired of waiting so I made the decision to go to it,” he said.
In 1999, while working as a stage dancer he was approached by a film producer about being a supporting character in the Jeff Burton film, ‘The Night Divides the Day.’ In it he played a vampire. Then, his first speaking role was in ‘Initiation,’ a movie that came out in 2000 in which he played a character named Steve.
Along with many other movie roles, he also worked in the film, ‘Oz - The Great and Powerful and played a character called a Quadling for Disney Productions.
He was also nominated for best Supporting Actor in the theatrical performance, ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s nest,’ as Chief Bromden, in 2001. Kelly qualified himself as a member of the Screen Actors Guild following his role in An Ordinary Killer, in 2003, staring Dan Haggerty, also known as Grizzly Adams.
He ended up moving to Sidney last year from the Sacramento area after an unprofessional agent offered him false hopes and he needed some time to regroup and strategize his next career move. “My brother, Jim Kelly, lives here and had wanted to start a shuttle business and thought it would be nice to have me come and help him while I planned my next move,” he said.
Aside from acting, Kelly also works on the side as a professional photographer with some 15 years of experience specializing in models and weddings. He’s also the proud father of two grown children, Patrick Jr., and Brenda Jo and one granddaughter, Tayleigh.
Most recently, Kelly was part of a calendar shoot for Hunt’s Hog Shop Leather and Apparel as a model and worked in a video shoot for the band Hollow Drive. Locally, he is in the upcoming play, Halloween Cemetery, opening Oct. 20.
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