A Chat with Actor
Rockmond Dunbar -

The Family That Preys Star opens up about his projects, his passion, and why his marriage ended. 
 

Rockmond Dunbar is a talented and handsome actor, producer, and director who has intrigued audiences with his presence and his versatile acting skills in Soul Food, Heartland, Felicity, Girlfriends, CSI, Grey’s Anatomy, The Practice, Prison Break, Dirty Laundry, Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang, Misery Loves Company and Punks. Rockmond, a theatrically trained actor who attended Morehouse College and the College of Sante Fe, has proven that determination and tenacity are key ingredients for success in show business. The Oakland-born actor, named one of  “Television’s 50 Sexiest Stars of All Time,” by TV Guide, has paid his dues and is on his way to leading man superstardom. In Tyler Perry’s The Family That Preys, Rockmond plays Chris, a devoted and hard-working husband to Andrea (Sanaa Lathan). Rockmond, 35, is quick to relate to his character, since he admits that his personal life overlapped with his character’s issues during the time of filming. After meeting Rockmond at The Jamaerican Film Festival a few years ago, it was a pleasure catching up with him again recently – via phone.  

Sonya: Hi, Rockmond. This is Sonya. How are you?  

Rockmond: Hey. Doing well. How’s it going? 

Sonya: It’s going pretty good. I’m calling from Atlanta. How’s it going out there? You’re on the West coast, right?  

Rockmond: Yeah. I’m actually in LA right now, walking out of the editing room – locking pictures for Pastor Brown. 

Sonya: Pastor Brown? What is that? 

Rockmond: It’s my first feature film that I directed, so it’s my directorial debut. We actually filmed it in Atlanta right after I finished Tyler Perry’s film.  

Sonya: What is Pastor Brown about and who stars in it? 

Rockmond: It’s a twist on the Prodigal Son story – Sali Richardson, Nicole Ari Parker, Keith David, Michael Beach, Ernie Hudson, Michael B. Jordan, myself. There are tons of people in it. Angie Stone, Monica.  

Sonya: How was it filming The Family That Preys? I did see the trailer, and it seems like it’s going to be pretty interesting. It’s not just straight out comedy, but there’s some drama in there as well.  

Rockmond: Of course there are some parts in there that will make you laugh and pull on the heart strings a little bit. You know Tyler always has a good way of doing that. The acting, again, is just phenomenal. The talent pool in Atlanta - the actors that he pulled on to the project – are just of great quality. But it’s an incredible story and I’m so happy to be a part of it. I learned a lot from Tyler. It was a great experience. 

Sonya: Tell me a little about your character in that movie. 

Rockmond: I play Sanaa Lathan’s husband of five years and we have a son. My character is a hardworking dreamer. He’s a guy that wears his heart on his sleeve and he just tries to do the best that he possibly can for his family. He’s hustling. He tries to make the best he can out of the lemons.  

Sonya: Will people like your character in this particular movie? I know with most Tyler Perry movies, you don’t like the character at all or you really like the character a lot. 

Rockmond: I think that people will like the character that I play. He’s an honest guy – just a straight-forward guy. He’s not trying to manipulate people. He’s just trying to do the best that he possibly can. I think people will fall in like with my character.  

Sonya: Would you say that you have similarities to your character in real life? 

Rockmond: Yeah. I just recently went through a divorce because my ex wife cheated on me . . . 

Sonya: Sorry 

Rockmond: It’s art imitating life. It’s very, very interesting how I end up playing a character that was similar to the situation that I went through, even though I think that I’m not as naive as the character I play. I caught on a little bit quicker than my character did in the film – thank God. 

Sonya: Well, sometimes bad things end up being good things in the end. 

Rockmond: Yeah.  

Sonya: Moving on. When would you say you got your big break in acting? 

Rockmond: Big break? I don’t know if it’s actually come yet. I’ve just been working. I don’t think that big break has actually hit me yet. Maybe one of these days it’ll pop up and you’ll come back and ask me that question again and I can pinpoint the thing that has been the big break. But I just think that I’ve been working – trying to do good work . . . and some people have appreciated it.  

Sonya: Where do you see yourself ultimately, as an actor? 

Rockmond: I’m working towards longevity. And that’s just having a long, defined career with characters that people look at and see as upstanding characters or engaging characters. Sort of like a Morgan Freeman. I’m in the business and I’m in the business for the long-haul. I love creating.  

Sonya: What advice would you give to aspiring actors? 

Rockmond: Tenacity. Don’t give up. Whatever you feel or think that you can do in order to enhance Hollywood or give it some more creative feel, go for it. Just don’t give up. Have tenacity. Sometimes you’ll go through a process and you’ll think it’s the most difficult thing and you’ll think that you’ll never make it, and people will tell you so. They’ll say, ‘You can’t open up a film,’ and ‘You can’t do this and you can’t do that.’ But it’s new muscle once you go through and achieve that success. It’ll all come in due time. And put God first always.  

Sonya: If you had an opportunity to work with someone as an actor, who would you choose to work with? 

Rockmond: Tom Cruise, because every Black man that works next to him seems to get an Oscar. (Laughs). He’s like a Black man’s good luck charm. But actually someone who could make me a better actor – I would definitely say like a Daniel Day-Lewis or Geoffrey Wright or Jeffrey Rush. 

Sonya: I remember you being pretty buff, how do you stay in shape? 

Rockmond: (Laughs) I just finished directing a film. I just gained 15 pounds in all the wrong places. I’m [expletive] fat right now. I’ve literally been sitting in the editing room eating everything in site. I’ve got to get back in the gym. I’m not looking pretty.   

Sonya: Okay. Now that you are single, are you looking? Are you just enjoying the single life? What are you doing? 

Rockmond: I’m dating someone right now and having a really good time – and absolutely enjoying it. And working. I’m kind of a workaholic, but I’m trying to learn how not to be.  

Sonya: What qualities do you find attractive in a woman? 

Rockmond: Honesty . . . confidence . . . definitely someone who takes care of her legs. I love legs. Hygiene is definitely important. If you’re gonna get weave, please, I definitely don’t want to see tracks. That just absolutely turns me off. I hate bad hair. That’s just a pet peeve. Clean fingernails are a good thing. And teeth. You gotta have clean teeth. Take care of your teeth. In fact, I don’t trust people with bad teeth. I just don’t. It’s just one of my things. And so far, I’ve been really right in my life [about that]. And someone whose not so conservative where she lets life pass her by. Someone who can take moments to have fun. Someone who can drop things at any given moment (if they’re not working) and just take a trip and fly out - without any bags.  

Sonya: (After mostly laughing while Rockmond gives his spill) Okay. You have any kids? 

Rockmond: No, I don’t. I want kids. I don’t know if that’s going to happen. Maybe one of these days. I was really into it a while back and really wanted kids, but now I don’t even care. If I make films and do television series, those are my babies. But maybe one of these days – if God is willing – he’ll bless me with a boy because a girl would drive me crazy. 

Sonya: I’m sure. Well, I think that’s about it, Rockmond. I’m looking forward to seeing The Family That Preys, as well as many other of your projects, including Pastor Brown. You have a super day. I do appreciate the interview. 

Rockmond: Thank you. I’ll talk to you later.