FILM Sebastian Siegel wrote, produced and directed the documentary film AWAKENING WORLD, premiered at festivals to standing-room-only audiences. The second installment from this project, LOVE SEX GOD, is titled SPIRIT OF EVOLUTION. He produced the half hour comedy JUST BE YOURSELF (teaser); and adapted the screenplay for Ken Wilber’s book GRACE AND GRIT. Sebastian is represented by BHDRL.
ACTOR Through 2012 (film reel) he’s played predominately pivotal character roles: Hector, the google-eyed alien geek and secret agent in THE FINDER; Jones, a villain in HAWAII FIVE-0; Erik, a vigilante in LOST; Nick, an investor who looses his family and all hope in THE FAMILY THAT PREYS; Hiram, the eccentric CEO in JUST BE YOURSELF; Cardiologist Dr. Bailey in NOTE TO SELF; Cult leader in STRUCK; in roles like Judas Iscariot in indie films INDIE IS GREAT, ATHEIST, RISK, as well as roles on FAMILY GUY, FLASH FORWARD, BAYWATCH HAWAII, CSI MIAMI, and in the EuroCinema Hawai’i 2012 trailer CASTAWAY. Siegel began studying theatre at seven years, won the drama prize at Kent School and was accepted to the University of Hawaii at fifteen to study drama. He expresses his practice in theatre as, “my first form of meditative practice and experience of a safe and near limitless space for dynamic personal exploration and expression”. He rehearsed character material for nearly ten years with the late James Whitmore, and currently studies with Sandra Caruso, John Coppola and Gary Marks. Sebastian is represented by Metropolitan (MTA).
EARLY LIFE Sebastian Siegel was born in Oxford, England. He grew up part-time with his father on Oahu, Hawai’i, and lived the other part of each year with his mother and stepfather in Texas. His father, Lee Siegel, is professor of comparative and Indian religions and a Pulitzer nominated novelist, and his grandfather was a Jewish immigrant from Russia. Siegel's maternal grandfather, Leonard Thompson, was a professor, author and active opponent of apartheid.
IDEAS Sebastian cites Alan Watts, Ken Wilber, Ramana Maharshi, Joseph Campbell and mentor James Whitmore as strong influences, and as a kid, his father’s teachings on Zen and comics he brought back from India on Rama, Kali, Ganesha and Shakti. In 1983 Siegel met Campbell with his father on Oahu, Hawaii.
OTHER MEDIA He was in theatre throughout school and although he didn’t play an organized sport - as a hobby - Siegel is widely recognized for appearing on over one hundred magazine covers from Men’s Fitness to Iron Man and FitnessRx. In an interview he described his physicality as "strictly a byproduct of the love for transcending physical limits, igniting emotional highs and disciplining mental will". Photographers Steven Meisel, David La Chapelle and Robert Fleischauer have photographed him for covers, campaigns and billboards in Times Square.
Siegel rapped the comedic lyrics for the parody hit music video, “Green Tea Partay” and played the lead in Lil Wayne’s Tapout. He is a supporter of The Smile Train, Best Buddies, and is a children’s mentor reader for the Screen Actors Guild. Siegel has served as an advocate against diabetes for the ADA, and writes poetic philosophy for The Huffington Post.