Joshua Sasse is an incredibly talented actor, father, and a man passionate about whatever project he dedicates himself to. From film and television to theater acting and the environment, he’s got a depth and wisdom far beyond his years, understanding the value and treasure of everyday moments.
You might recognize Sasse’s name from the Hallmark movie Her Pen Pal, the medieval series Galavant, and his role in The CW’s romantic drama No Tomorrow.
We had the opportunity to chat with Sasse about his journey as an actor, his passions outside of his career, and how his role as Sir Gary Galavant in the series Galavant created lasting relationships and left him with several great memories that he’ll carry with him forever.
We’ve got to be honest; we’re big Hallmark movie fans and immediately recognized you from Her Pen Pal. What was your favorite part of working on a romantic project?
Sasse: To be honest, the cast and crew on that project were just out of this world; we spent a month in Paris living in this extraordinary hotel during lockdown — it was spring, and there wasn’t a tourist in sight. An old boy outside a café said to me he hadn’t seen Paris so empty since the war (WWII), and I’ll never forget it.
Are there any genres of acting you’d like to explore that you’ve not yet dipped your toes in?
Sasse: I’m a huge history buff, so I’d love to do some historical dramas, but there’s nothing more fun than stunt work, so — a period action would be right up my alley.
Galavant saw you take on the starring role of Sir Gary Galavant, and the series was a fun and exciting watch. What was your favorite part of working on that series?
Sasse: My presiding memory is learning to joust bareback beneath these castle walls on a summer’s day in Wales…that was a very cool thing to call work. I met a lot of really wonderful and very special people who changed my life on that show. I absolutely love doing comedy, and I really miss it a lot; Dan Fogelman’s writing is extraordinary, and getting the chance to work with text like that doesn’t come around a lot. There was a lot of charging around on horses in armor, and the cast was once-in-a-lifetime diverse. One day we had Ricky Gervais, the next Simon Callow, and then Rutger Hauer, with whom I became very close. He turned up at my house in L.A. the year before he passed away, on a Harley Davidson in a rain storm, shouting up through the window for me to jump on and ride up the coast because it was “his birthday present to himself.” I miss him. Yeah — A lot of good memories, for sure.
Sasse also talked about being in “full dad mode” at the moment and pointed out the fact that actors, while we so often relate them to their characters, are often living very everyday lives — much like the ones we exist in every single day.
What characters in your repertoire do you most relate to? Which are you the most different from?
Sasse: I’m in full dad mode at the moment, so I’m not really relating to any of them, to be honest…I think people expect actors to live in New York or L.A. having this Sunday Supplement sort of glam lifestyle, and that’s about as far away from my life as you can imagine. Lots of diapers and Van Morrison and reading quietly in a corner (laughs) – not sure that’s anything I’ve played…maybe in 20 years, I’ll catch up with myself.
You worked in theater across the U.K. and Europe before moving to America to dedicate yourself to acting. Has that always been a passion of yours?
Sasse: I think it’s synonymous with what I’m doing — I just couldn’t support a family working in the theater — the cuts in arts funding in the U.K. when I was coming up massively affected my ability to work. The theater in the town where I lived was closed down, and government grants went out the window. I miss the theater with all my heart, and I can’t wait to go back. You really have to live in England to go back and forth to the theatre, and I’ve lived just about everywhere else — when you have children, it becomes a luxury — in a way because it’s not as financially viable; people don’t speak about that a lot but its true. I’m longing to go back, so hopefully, that’ll happen next year.
When did you realize you had a gift for bringing characters to life?
Sasse: I don’t know if I’d put it like that exactly; I like entertaining people. Theater and performing were always a form of catharsis for me, and I always liked the thought that I was doing that for other people; I think that’s why I do it, really. I did a lot of Commedia dell’arte training when I was younger, which is a character-based improv technique, and I love dissecting physicality; I’m kind of obsessed with it. My wife always scolds me because when I see someone with an interesting gait or a weird tick, or maybe an interesting inflection in their voice or an odd way of…smoking say, or sipping their coffee; I’ll stare really obviously (she says) because I’m trying to figure it out — is it an affectation, or is it medical, or is it just plain kooky… it’s just wonderful how different we all are — and I make a note of it. That’s the thing about the job I love — getting to discover the psychology of what makes people tick, and how that manifests in their physicality and all their oddities.
You also have a heart for wildlife and work closely with an anti-poaching fund. How can your fans get involved in helping to ensure that rhinos and other wildlife around the world can live safely?
Sasse: A few years ago, I started a safari company, now called Classic Zambia, with my cousin Luke — I took a break from the business and wanted to do something different, and the opportunity came up. We provide the park rangers in the Lower Zambezi with our campsites — which are very remote in the bush — so they can use them as outposts for their reconnaissance. Rhinos are now extinct in that area of Zambia, and 12,000 elephants have been poached in the last ten years — and that’s in a National Park about one-eighth size of Rhode Island. Donating to anti-poaching companies is fantastic, and getting on the ground and volunteering is too — education is key in changing the people doing the poaching’s mindsets. If we can make it more profitable for local communities to work with the land instead of against it, we will all win.
What would it be if you could give your younger self one piece of advice?
Sasse: Don’t always try to be right.
Sasse’s passion as an actor, mixed with his insights on life, work, and family, makes him easy to admire. From his advice to his younger self to his dedication to his craft, we certainly can’t wait to see what’s next for Sasse — and we’re sure it’ll be an exciting ride.
