Born in the Los Angeles area, Eric Bolton graduated from Arroyo High School in El Monte, class of 1980. While a high school student, he became involved in music and theatre and had his first leading role while just a sophomore, playing Paul in Carnival. At age fifteen, he auditioned for and was invited to be a member of the Young Americans, a world renowned company of singers and dancers. He worked with other young talented performers like Nia Peeples (Fame) and Marc Cherry (Desperate Housewives). He spent four summers during high school at the Idyllwild School of Music and the Arts - now Idyllwild Arts. He went on to graduate from Pasadena City College with an A.A. degree in Humanities and from Cal State Los Angeles with a B.A. degree (cum laude) in Theatre Arts (acting and directing). After a stint at Disneyland playing several of the world famous Disney characters (Pluto being his favorite), he worked for the Captain K.I.D. child safety program for several years, educating and entertaining children in over 700 schools across the United States.
In the late 1980's, Eric met teacher, mentor and friend Sal Romeo and began taking scene study and T.V. / film acting classes. It was through his association with Sal (and several other inspiring theatre artists) that he became a co-founding member of the award-winning Friends and Artists Theatre Ensemble (F.A.T.E). Some of the F.A.T.E. productions Eric was extremely proud to participate in were Marat Sade, Balm in Gilead, The Firebugs, Moonchildren, K.D. Dufford and as the star of the midnight cult classic, Late Nite with Barry Ivy. As Barry Ivy, Eric conducted interviews with Dustin Nguyen (21 Jump Street), Rob Stone (Mr. Belvedere), Courtney Gains (Children of the Corn) and Mike Gordon (Phish). In a later incarnation of the same character, Eric interviewed Christopher Hewitt (Mr. Belvedere), Michael Dorn (Star Trek) and Bernie Kopell (The Love Boat).
During his F.A.T.E. years, Eric took full advantage of his musical training and wrote, with screenwriter Kevin Hincker, the music for a full-length musical entitled Ghost Dance. It was never produced, but does that really matter? He and Kevin also wrote a children's musical called Magic Leaves that toured some L.A.U.S.D. schools. Eric also wrote music for the children's theatre piece, Cracker Jack Day (book and lyrics by Jennie Kaplan-Fahn) which was honored by then Los Angeles mayor Tom Bradley for promoting racial tolerance.
In addition to studying with Sal Romeo, Eric has worked with casting director Melissa Skoff, has taken classes at The Groundlings, Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute (New York) and Tepper-Gallegos (commercials). Most recently, he performed multiple roles in the fast-paced original musical, Mom's Gone Mad under the direction of the brilliant Kay Cole. Just prior to that, he played Daddy Warbucks in the Red Chair School production of Annie at the Alex Theatre.
If you watch television, you may have seen Eric on Boston Legal, Murphy Brown, Melrose Place (alongside Marcia Cross), Port Charles and a couple times on General Hospital.You can watch some clips on his demos page. He's been in commercials for Time Warner Cable, 7-Up, and The Abstrap to name a few and has done radio announcing for KPCC and voiceover work for Medsn.com. He enjoyed working on the feature film Eagle Eye, even though his scene was edited out.
Once, while advocating equal rights for people with disabilties, as part of a delegation to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, Eric was present to hear Yasir Arafat speak before the assembly. He has met and spoken with his heroes Ram Dass and the late Dr. Leo Buscaglia. He loves to travel and recently visited Ireland where he kissed the Blarney Stone.
He is currently writing a novel and plans to go back to school next year to earn a Masters degree in Social Work. He teaches singing, acting and audition techniques and composes songs for kids. He considers his family his number one priority.
In the late 1980's, Eric met teacher, mentor and friend Sal Romeo and began taking scene study and T.V. / film acting classes. It was through his association with Sal (and several other inspiring theatre artists) that he became a co-founding member of the award-winning Friends and Artists Theatre Ensemble (F.A.T.E). Some of the F.A.T.E. productions Eric was extremely proud to participate in were Marat Sade, Balm in Gilead, The Firebugs, Moonchildren, K.D. Dufford and as the star of the midnight cult classic, Late Nite with Barry Ivy. As Barry Ivy, Eric conducted interviews with Dustin Nguyen (21 Jump Street), Rob Stone (Mr. Belvedere), Courtney Gains (Children of the Corn) and Mike Gordon (Phish). In a later incarnation of the same character, Eric interviewed Christopher Hewitt (Mr. Belvedere), Michael Dorn (Star Trek) and Bernie Kopell (The Love Boat).
During his F.A.T.E. years, Eric took full advantage of his musical training and wrote, with screenwriter Kevin Hincker, the music for a full-length musical entitled Ghost Dance. It was never produced, but does that really matter? He and Kevin also wrote a children's musical called Magic Leaves that toured some L.A.U.S.D. schools. Eric also wrote music for the children's theatre piece, Cracker Jack Day (book and lyrics by Jennie Kaplan-Fahn) which was honored by then Los Angeles mayor Tom Bradley for promoting racial tolerance.
In addition to studying with Sal Romeo, Eric has worked with casting director Melissa Skoff, has taken classes at The Groundlings, Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute (New York) and Tepper-Gallegos (commercials). Most recently, he performed multiple roles in the fast-paced original musical, Mom's Gone Mad under the direction of the brilliant Kay Cole. Just prior to that, he played Daddy Warbucks in the Red Chair School production of Annie at the Alex Theatre.
If you watch television, you may have seen Eric on Boston Legal, Murphy Brown, Melrose Place (alongside Marcia Cross), Port Charles and a couple times on General Hospital.You can watch some clips on his demos page. He's been in commercials for Time Warner Cable, 7-Up, and The Abstrap to name a few and has done radio announcing for KPCC and voiceover work for Medsn.com. He enjoyed working on the feature film Eagle Eye, even though his scene was edited out.
Once, while advocating equal rights for people with disabilties, as part of a delegation to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, Eric was present to hear Yasir Arafat speak before the assembly. He has met and spoken with his heroes Ram Dass and the late Dr. Leo Buscaglia. He loves to travel and recently visited Ireland where he kissed the Blarney Stone.
He is currently writing a novel and plans to go back to school next year to earn a Masters degree in Social Work. He teaches singing, acting and audition techniques and composes songs for kids. He considers his family his number one priority.