PAN27: Acting and Albinism with Dennis Hurley

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“Looking so different from the average kid opened me up to bullying and harassment,” said actor Dennis Hurley about his early life with albinism. “Then, I found out I could make people laugh. I finally felt effective at something and having that sense of empowerment, I realized that I could do it and made acting my life.

According to Albinism.org, Albinism is an inherited genetic condition that reduces the amount of melanin pigment formed in the skin, hair and/or eyes. Albinism occurs in all racial and ethnic groups throughout the world. In the U.S., approximately one in 18,000 to 20,000 people has some type of albinism. In this podcast, Dennis discusses the challenges of living a life with albinism, from childhood bullying to finding his voice as an actor on stage. All this and more on this episode of the Patient Activation Network Podcast

About Dennis Hurley

Dennis is a Los Angeles based actor-comedian who began his career as a performer atDennis Hurley - Actor and Albinism advocate Ithaca College in New York, he also received improvisational training from the Groundlings, the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in NYC/Los Angeles and the Massachusetts-based ImprovBoston (where he studied with Kids In The Hall‘s Kevin McDonald).  Dennis is part of the sketch teams: TIM, Dynasty, OK Google, Sawyer and Hurley and Friends of Gertrude.

Dennis Hurley’s television and film credits include: The Daily Show, official ‘Can’t Stop The Feeling’ music video by Justin Timberlake, DISH Network / Ancient Aliens Commercial,Unusual Suspects, True Nightmares, Tosh.0Let Them Chirp a WhileVillanelle, and his original film The Albino Code, a parody of The DaVinci Code mwhich he wrote and starred in.  His parody has been met with international acclaim, being featured on CNN, MSNBC, Inside Edition, Fox News and The Boston Globe in a review by top film critic Ty Burr.

Episode Details

  • About Dennis Hurley
  • Growing up with Albinism
  • Being an actor with Albinism
  • Albinism advocate organizations
  • Advice for those living with or raising kids with Albinism

Related Links

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