Only Good Things
You may not have seen Michael Evans Behling on multiple screens just yet, but he makes up for that with his phenomenal performance as Jordan Baker in The CW’s All American, inspired by the life of former NFL player Spencer Paysinger, an individual Behling spends time with on set. “He’s a great inspiration, motivation, and he’s got so many stories,” he says of Paysinger. “It’s pretty neat, and it almost makes you feel like you’re aiding in the telling of his story.” In addition, Behling says his favorite part of working on the show is “the ability to get out there and put the football pads on, to talk and walk around with these ex-professional, ex-collegiate, and ex-high-school athletes.”
While All American has become one of the most popular and talked-about shows, Behling and his co-stars have bonded through the sport, as well (due to compliance with COVID-19 restrictions, they have not been able to interact as much as they used to). “It’s been a blast between takes throwing the ball around and playing mini 7-on-7,” he adds.
Every time All American gets renewed for another season and airs, he feels a new appreciation for having had the opportunity to star in it, alongside those who he admires. “I’m a fan of the show. I read the scripts, but I don’t get to see everyone’s performance, I’m not in every scene. It’s exciting to watch my best friends and my co-stars work,” shares Behling, who has also starred in A Cinderella Story: Starstruck – the sixth in the iconic franchise – as a heartthrob named Jackson Stone (“It is a light film, and it should be able to bring joy and spread happiness. It’s nothing too dramatic or heavy – I don’t think America needs that right now, or the world. I was excited to be a part of it, and very fortunate to knock out my first filming experience”).
Moreover, together with three of his best friends, Behling runs a clothing line, 5AM. “The whole general meaning of 5AM is, only good things happen at 5 a.m.,” he describes, also referring to his relentless work ethic and his journey to become an actor. “After I left college in December 2016, I was working six jobs, and my motto at the time was, ‘Business never sleeps,’” he recalls. “I wanted to break into this industry as quickly as possible, and that was my motto. It didn’t matter if I got less than three hours of sleep, or ten hours, it didn’t really matter. What would matter to me was getting out there and shaping everything I could to get to this point.”
It’s obvious that Behling has no plans to slow down anytime soon. “I want to be able to, at some point, share my story, and just make other people happy, and in turn, make myself happy,” he affirms.
Writer: Savannah Dial
Photographer & Videographer: Haldane Morris
Editor: Eiko Watanabe
Special thanks to EPK Media (@myepk & @epkmedia - epkmedia.com)