The Breakout Star – Anthony Alabi

I had the amazing opportunity to chat with actor Anthony Alabi. We spoke about him landing the role of Moz in the hit Netflix show Family Reunion. Anthony chatted about his upbringing and how it impact him and his outlook on life with a Nigerian father and Puerto Rican mother.

Cox: Anthony I want to know your journey and how you got the role of Moz on Family Reunion
Alabi: It started with Raven’s Home. I ended up getting a recurring role on that show. The head writer at the time Anthony Hill had a friend Meg DeLoatch who was coming up with the show Family Reunion. I honestly thought he was kidding when he told me the premise. I was like an ex-football player who is moving back down south who has to navigate the different dynamics of his southern upbringing and new way of raising his family. This sounds like it’s me (laughs).

Alabi (contin): He was like I’m serious, but I thought I couldn’t get this part. Back then I had credits but there wasn’t really any name recognition for what I had done. I told him there is no way they will give me the lead. He told me to just audition. I told him ok but if I don’t get it can I at least get the role of the brother (laughs) or something because I kind of need a job.

Alabi (contin): So I auditioned for the role and got a call back the next week. After that I heard nothing for the next two months. I was like they already picked somebody else. Then to my surprise I got a call that I would be testing tomorrow at 10 pm. My wife at the time was pregnant, and she got up to help me go through my sides. Then we get there the next day and they cancel the test. I’m like okay they obviously found the guy they were looking for. Another week goes by and then I get tested.

Alabi (contin): Anthony called me on my way home from the test and told me I didn’t get the part. I said okay no problem even though my lip was quivering (laughs). He said man I’m just messing with you, you got it. I had to pull over to the side of the road because I was driving. I’m like Anthony, be serious right now and let me know if I got it because I can’t take the joke right now.

Cox: This was your first ever lead role. Did you feel ready for it? We are four years later with the show being a fan favorite on Netflix.
Alabi: It’s what I wanted! I was surprised to get the role but not surprised to be in the position. I was ready for the position. I live by this mantra, you have to learn what you want to become. Even when I wasn’t the lead in a series, I was the most annoying person on set as a guest star or recurring. I would always act as if I was part of production. I would voice my opinion on things and weigh in on decisions like they would listen to me. It’s because I believe that you have to come in with that presence that this is where I belong.

Alabi (contin): I’m humble but I’m never going to shy away from that spotlight or the responsibility that comes with that position.

Cox: I feel like your football background gives you a mental fit for this opportunity.
Alabi: Yes because when you come in as a rookie on a team you can’t be wide eyed because you are playing with people you look up to. You have to reach inside yourself and go above that. Say this is who I am now and these are the people I’m playing with. These are my teammates and I need to adapt to this situation.

Alabi (contin): No one gave me a tutorial when I’m lined up next to Jason Taylor who is a Hall of Famer defensive lineman. There wasn’t this introduction moment for me. It was to get ready because he is going to tackle you now (laughs). You get thrown into the fire and for me this is how it felt with coming on set for the show.

Alabi (contin): I also want to be a producer one day. So I used being on the set of Family Reunion to learn even more. I looked at things like oh this is something I would do with my production team or this is something I would do differently. These are things I took away from the show.

Cox: You seem like you are always a student of life.
Alabi: I am because I feel like every single day I should get better at something. Because if I’m not getting better I’m getting worse and that’s unacceptable.

Alabi(contin): Even with Family Reunion I review the taps of everything I film. I’m not one of those actors who doesn’t like to watch their work. I’m watching micro seconds of myself because I need to see if what I was doing was not that good, that it really didn’t work out, or hilarious. It’s the football background in me. In football you are constantly analyzing and auditing yourself to make sure you are squeezing out every bit of talent you have. This is so you can get the best product out of yourself.

Alabi(contin): I operate like this. You all are using your hard earned money to pay to watch us perform. This is money you used to feed your families and provide for them. I have to give you a performance that I know I’m giving you 100% effort because it’s disrespectful to give you anything less. This is just my mindset going into it.

Cox: You have successfully transitioned from professional football to acting. Earlier you said your parents played a big role in it.
Alabi: I will say my mom was the catalyst in all of this. She used to tell me just because you’re good at one thing it doesn’t mean you’re going to be good at all things. This helped me early on have a mindset of humbleness when going into anything new.

Alabi (contin): My dad played a huge role too because he had this saying Work Solves Everything. He had this philosophy that he didn’t care if you were better than him in something because he was going to outwork you. There would be no way you were going to get to work earlier than him or leave after him. And this was how it was on Family Reunion. You can ask anyone. I was there an hour and a half earlier than anyone because I wanted to go over my lines and think of things I can add. It was almost to an annoying extent (laughs). I knew that if I threw a ton of things at the wall when we started rehearsing and filming something would stick.