Written by: Lana Jalabi
You have seen Merrick McCartha before, even if you never caught the name. Maybe as District Attorney Grayson Valwell in Prime Video’s hit crime thriller Countdown, smiling at the cameras while working an angle nobody else has figured out yet. Maybe as the stern father on All American, or the deacon with a secret in John Singleton’s Rebel. He is one of those actors who seem to be everywhere, and once you learn the name, you start spotting him in everything.
What most viewers don’t know is the road he took to get there. McCartha grew up in Detroit, the son of two decorated police officers, and spent years working as an engineer before he walked away from that career to act. He went on to train under faculty from the Yale School of Drama and directors from the Royal Shakespeare Company, and he still performs on stage with The Road Theatre Company in Los Angeles between screen roles on shows like Tyler Perry’s House of Payne, Netflix’s Unstable, and films like the acclaimed If You Should Leave Before Me.
I spoke with Merrick about the characters he has played, how he builds a role from the first read of a script, and what he would tell anyone dreaming of doing this for a living. He answered everything with the warmth and humour of a man who clearly loves his work, and laughs easily while talking about it.
Let’s start with Grayson Valwell in Countdown. He’s an attorney and a politician at once. How did you find the man in there, and what did you want people to feel about him?
I saw in DA Valwell a man that was truly working in the best interest of the citizens of Los Angeles. However, after being in the world of politics for so long, he’s gotten used to operating a certain way. One of coercion thinly disguised as charm. His genuine concern for the city of Los Angeles is long term. I’ve actually known of local figures like this growing up in Detroit, MI. I even have family connections to them. I knew who Valwell was right away, and it was my pleasure to bring him into this project.
In All American you played Robert Hicks. How did you make him your own, and what did you enjoy about stepping into that world?
Like me, Robert Hicks is a father. I know what it’s like to have big plans for your child and the fear of them falling and not being able to help. He is the conservative part of me, that I was brought up to be but never let take hold. He is also a man of some privilege, and it’s always fun to play roles that allow you to see the world in a way that is antithetical to your own.
You were Deacon Avery Silver in John Singleton’s Rebel. What did working on that show teach you, and how do you play a man of faith who also carries that kind of authority?
Though created by John Singleton, my episode was directed by one of his proteges, Sheldon Candis, a fantastic director and filmmaker in his own right. He’s actually got a powerful new feature film out now called They Fight, starring greats like Wendell Pierce and Andre Holland. I actually grew up around churches like the one depicted in this episode of Rebel. Deacon Silver has secrets, which are later revealed in the episode. In the end, it was about hypocrisy in the church… with which I have personal experience.
You played Dr. Daniel Brown across Borrowed Time and the Anatomy of an Antihero films. What’s it like living with one character over several films, and how did he change for you?
This film series is a passion project of a good buddy of mine, and he wanted me to play this character that recurs in the saga of the protagonist. It’s more of an action/martial arts thriller and I definitely enjoyed being a part of it. Dr. Brown’s relationship with the star of the series evolves over time, and it’s great to see things like this in film… because relationships do evolve… drastically at times.
In If You Should Leave Before Me you played Lorne, and it became your best-reviewed film. Who was Lorne to you, and what made that one land the way it did?
I read the script and had something in mind, but it wasn’t until we did a wardrobe fitting that I had a solid sense of what I wanted to bring to Lorne. He is essentially like a younger Scatman Crothers… for anyone old enough to remember who that is. Haha!
Ted in Unstable put you opposite Fred Armisen. How did you find the comedy in that character?
Oh, don’t skip past me working with Fred Armisen!! Haha! Sitting in between takes and hanging out with him was one of the most enjoyable experiences of my career. Watching him work is another level above that. The man is a comic genius!! I got to pick his brain about all the many characters he created on SNL, since I loved every one of them! He was so kind and just fully open. Playing in scenes with him is really tough, because he does things you don’t expect, and they can easily make you bust up laughing if you’re not focused.
On House of Payne you played Laura’s father. How do you play a man who’s stern but clearly loves his daughter, without tipping into caricature?
For that show, it would be easy to fall into that, but I wanted to honor the depth of the show. It’s not all comedy; it has its very serious moments. Every episode I shot was fun and efficient. Tyler Perry Studios has an awesome team!
In The Playground you were Grandison. What drew you to that role?
Grandison is an unhoused man. I had never done a role like that. Usually I’m playing very polished and buttoned-up people. Grandison hasn’t showered or shaved in days, lives on the streets, always in survival mode. I dug pretty deep for this one, and it made me a better actor.
In Failure! you played Mr. Serge in a crime comedy with Ted Raimi. How do you pitch a performance when the tone is that playful?
The other very interesting thing about Failure! is that it was shot all in one take!! Yeah… it’s over an hour long. So my character doesn’t come in till near the very end of the film. So I had to wait in a hiding spot all that time… and somehow be confident that I wouldn’t ruin an hour’s worth of work! Haha! Mr. Serge really came from Vito Corleone and Marsellus Wallace, very calm and cool, yet supremely villainous and dangerous. Playing opposite the masterful Ted Raimi, it was an outstanding combination.
You’ve played a lot of detectives and officers over the years, like Detective Fisher in Twisted Twin. What keeps pulling you toward those roles, and how do you keep them from feeling the same?
My parents were decorated police officers in Detroit, MI, where I’m from, so you could say it’s literally in my blood. Haha! I think because I understand the world of law enforcement and its physicalities, I tend to just hit the right notes, as they say. Each character has unique objectives; this is how I keep them different.
You’ve talked about prepping with an engineer’s checklist and a playlist for each character. Walk me through how a role goes from a first read to something you can play.
Oh, you’d have to spend the years of acting training I’ve done to get the proper explanation. It’s really me using all the things I’ve learned over the years, and customizing a process that works specifically for me. Each actor should be doing this, though. There are no general rules of acting that must be followed. It always depends on the project, and how the individual actor finds success in expressing themselves within it. I guess in my latter days I could write a book…?? Haha!
You trained under Yale School of Drama faculty and Royal Shakespeare Company directors. What’s one lesson from that grounding you still reach for in every role?
There’s a term I was taught called the ‘Who Am I’. It’s the starting point to most of the tools I’ve learned to use. I must determine the ‘Who Am I’ for every role. Sounds obvious, but it’s more complex than you might think.
What advice would you give to aspiring actors?
Please please PLEASE seek to understand the business side of acting as soon as you can once you decide to make this a career. It is so important to manage your expectations before you start. Forget any and all anecdotal tales of others’ paths to success. Your path will be unlike any other… if you choose to stay on it.
From the streets of Detroit to the sound stages of Los Angeles, Merrick McCartha’s story is proof that there is no single road into acting, and no substitute for craft, patience, and a genuine love of the work. With Countdown streaming on Prime Video and new projects on the horizon, audiences will be seeing a lot more of that familiar face, and this time, they’ll know the name.
