Life & Work with Edward Patterson of Kansas City/Chicago

Today we’d like to introduce you to Edward Patterson.

Hi Edward, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I am a full time father that uses ALL of the talents God blessed me with to provide for my family. I’ve always been a lover of music and entertainment growing up but at a young age I had asthma so I wasn’t able to participate a lot with others in physical activities. Thus grew my love for music and singing and overall arts. I was in choir and band K-12 and sang in the church choir. It wasn’t until I booked a Coke Zero commercial at the University of KANSAS that I thought hey, this really resonates with me. I landed my first short film role in 2018 “Burying Mitchell” and first feature film in 2020 “The Stylist”. Once COVID hit it leveled the playing field and my now fiance and I had been wanting to move. We landed on Chicago, which is where I took my acting to the next level. Booking plays and immersing myself with the Chicago acting scene. Since being here in Chicago, I have booked 4 National Campaign/Commercials and now am ready to tell my own stories. I have been writing a short film called Trigger. It aims to highlight microagressions that are often over looked or excused, specifically around the word “nigga” and its use outside the black community. Shooting will begin this summer 2025.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Of course not but that’s what makes/molds you into the best version of yourself. My first feature film the director called me the night before the premier to let me know that my scene had been edited out. While this did hurt, I do respect that the director told me. I learned right then and there you can’t take anything personal in this business. When my partner and I moved to Chicago together, turns out we were pregnant. Not only that, but our daughter upon birth was diagnosed with CDLS. A rare genetic mutation that comes with limb deformities, being overall small, and cognitive delays. I thought I’d need to just stick to my Corporate America job and give up acting but thru perseverance all of this just made me stronger. With Sam (now fiancé) leading the way with our daughter’s care I had no choice but to rise to the occasion. Our daughter Naya has been nothing but a blessing to our lives and has made me a better actor. Those audition rooms and countless self tapes that I send out, could never compare to the nerves I used to feel walking into a doctors office with my daughter. A wall was broken down, so much that we decided to have 2 daughters. So now we have 2 under 2 (never do it!) and we make it work so well that I’m gonna be shooting my movie soon!

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am an actor. I am currently known in KC as EZ Eddie who hosts karaoke. In Chicago I’m known as Mr Callback. Now we just gotta start landing more roles. I am most proud of my dedication and passion for my craft. I continue to learn and expose myself to new environments and people thru networking. This involves acting workshops, mixers, film screenings, etc. I just know that these countless No’s are going to be worth that 1 Yes!

Who else deserves credit in your story?
My partner Samantha Brown, she supports me everyday. Also my agencies that help me book roles Talent Unlimited in KC and Big Mouth in Chicago.

Pricing:

• Donate to the film Trigger

Contact Info:

• Instagram: therealedwardpatterson