Nick Young (actor)

This article is about the American actor. For the British actor, see Nicholas Young (actor).
For other people named Nick Young, see Nick Young (disambiguation).
Nick Young
Young in 2024
Born
Nickolas Ray Young

Tucson, Arizona, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Other names
  • Nickolas R. Young
  • Nickolas Young
Alma mater
Occupations
Years active1985–present
Known forGeneral Gore in Friend of the World
Notable credits
Parents
  • Duain Francis Young (father)
  • Elois Roain Drayfahl (mother)

Nickolas Ray Young is an American actor who appeared in the films Friend of the World (2020) and Hemet, or the Landlady Don't Drink Tea (2023), television movies El Diablo (1990) and Geronimo (1993), and OnStage Playhouse's productions of The Diary of Anne Frank (2011) and The Other Place (2022). Young began working on television in Arizona throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s before moving to San Diego County for film and theater work in the 2010s.

Early life

Young was born to Elois Roain Drayfahl and Duain Francis Young in Tucson, Arizona.[1][2] He became interested in performing arts while in grade school,[3] was on the track team[4] and played American football as an offensive lineman at Palo Verde High Magnet School.[5] After high school, Young majored in drama at Pima Community College.[3] While there, he qualified for the National Junior College Athletic Association championships[6] after winning the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference for the discus throw but he was unable to place.[7]

Career

1980-2008

Young acted in many television movies and shows in Tucson and Phoenix while pursuing a career as a firefighter.[3] He was appointed to the Tucson Fire Department on June 16, 1980.[8] In 1981, Young received an electric shock while working with another fireman who suffered steam burns. Both were treated for non-serious injuries.[8][9] Young was promoted to engineer on May 8, 1988, and retired on February 28, 2008.[8]

2011-2022

After retiring as a fireman, Young relocated to San Diego County[3] where he performed in stage plays such as The Diary of Anne Frank,[10] The Other Place and Kimberly Akimbo.[11] He was cast in films such as The Case of: Dakota Moore,[12] I Brake for Caterpillars[3] as well as a Filmapalooza qualifying 48 hour short film called Con Boys.[13]

2020: Friend of the World

Main article: Friend of the World

Young auditioned for Friend of the World by submitting a mobile video and he was cast as Gore, a lead role.[12] Several film critics admired his performance[14][15][16][17] and he was nominated for Best Actor at the San Diego Film Awards. The film was distributed by Troma Entertainment.[12]

Character analysis

Ally Ham at Video Librarian said Young's chemistry with co-star Alexandra Slade was engaging but also out of place at times.[18] Rob Rector at Film Threat and John Noonan at FilmInk noticed his character seemed to be inspired from Dr. Strangelove.[19][20] Film critic Daniel M. Kimmel said Young proficiently expresses his character's thoughts[21] and Cheryl Eddy at Gizmodo claims he has an "unhinged aura of someone who's been alone too long."[22] Young's performance has been compared to John Goodman,[23] Bruce Campbell and Sterling Hayden[24] while director Brian Patrick Butler said his character is like John Wayne, casting him for his "grimness and humor."[12]

Stage credits

Year Title Role Location Notes
2011 Pride and Prejudice Mr. Wickham OnStage Playhouse, Chula Vista, California [25]
The Diary of Anne Frank Mr. Dussell OnStage Playhouse, Chula Vista, California [10]
2012 The Sugar Witch Grandaddy Meeks OnStage Playhouse, Chula Vista, California [11]
2013 The Sugar Bean Sisters The Bishop Crumley PowPAC, Poway's Community Theatre, Poway, California [26]
Kimberly Akimbo Buddy Point Loma Playhouse, San Diego, California [11]
2014 A Discourse on the Wonders of the Invisible World Reverend Peck Moxie Theatre, San Diego, California [11]
2015 Trouble in Mind Bill O'Wray Moxie Theatre, San Diego, California [11]
Love Letters Andrew Makepeace Ladd III Point Loma Playhouse, San Diego, California [27]
2016 — — La Jolla Theatre Ensemble, La Jolla, California [28]
2019 Return Engagements Joe Bristol Scripps Ranch Theatre, San Diego, California [11]
2021 A People's Cuban Christmas Tale Various OnStage Playhouse, Chula Vista, California Herbert Sigüenza adaptation of A Christmas Carol[29]
2022 The Other Place Ian Smithton OnStage Playhouse, Chula Vista, California [11][30][31]
Rest Gerald OnStage Playhouse, Chula Vista, California by Samuel D. Hunter[32]
It's a Wonderful Vida Saint Nick OnStage Playhouse, Chula Vista, California by Herbert Sigüenza[33]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1992 The Vagrant Guard [14]
2013 Speechless Ethan Short film
2016 Con Boys Herman Hill Short film[13]
2020 Kirby Alex Short film
Friend of the World General Gore [3][12]
2021 The Case of: Dakota Moore Detective Harris [12]
2022 Mike & Fred vs The Dead — [34]
Touch Detective Hooper Short film[35]
2023 Hemet, or the Landlady Don't Drink Tea Tank [11][36][37]
I Brake for Caterpillars † Police Chief [3]
Key
† Denotes films that have not yet been released
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1985 Gus Brown and Midnight Brewster — TV movie
1988 The Legend of White Gold Fred Talbot TV movie
1988 The Highwayman M.P. #1 Episode: "Summer of '45"
Jesse Sheriff TV movie, uncredited
One Life to Live Investigator 1 episode
Probe Elder Episode: "Untouched by Human Hands"
1989-1990 The Young Riders James Crowley / Customer 2 episodes
1990 El Diablo Deputy TV movie
1992 Sunstroke Cop TV movie
1993 Geronimo Purlington TV movie
Telling Secrets Highway Patrolman TV movie, uncredited

References

  1. ^ "Obituary for Duain Francis Young, 1930-2012". Arizona Daily Star. 2012-09-09. pp. C007. Retrieved 2023-11-30 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "Obituary for Elois Roain, 1930-2005". Arizona Daily Star. 2005-08-25. p. 14. Retrieved 2023-11-30 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Stone, Ken (2020-07-25). "San Diego's Spielberg? Q&A With Director Brian Butler Near Sci-Fi Film Premiere". Times of San Diego. Archived from the original on 2020-08-10. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  4. ^ Petruska, Dave (1977-06-04). Godbout, Walker head track team. Tucson Citizen, 12.
  5. ^ Betterton, Bill (1976-08-26). "PV Talented But Green". Arizona Daily Star. p. 44. Retrieved 2023-06-18 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ (1981-05-31). Four join Pima track team. Arizona Daily Star, 26.
  7. ^ (1981-02-26). Distance crew PCC strong point. Arizona Daily Star, 6.
  8. ^ a b c "Tucson Fire Department X, Y, Z—Firefighters & Staff Support 6th Edition" (PDF). Greater Tucson Fire Foundation (6th ed.). pp. 34–36. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2023-11-27. Retrieved 2023-11-27.
  9. ^ (1981-05-15). Three fires in two days laid to arson. Arizona Daily Star, 14.
  10. ^ a b Davis, Carol (2011-11-09). "OnStage Playhouse mounts first-rate 'Diary of Anne Frank'". San Diego Jewish World. Retrieved 2023-04-12.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h "'The Other Place' Cast" (PDF). San Diego Story.
  12. ^ a b c d e f Elling, Regina (2022-10-18). "Sunset Cliffs adds touch of beauty to apocalyptic San Diego-made film 'Friend of the World'". Point Loma-OB Monthly. Retrieved 2022-11-08.
  13. ^ a b "Nick Young | Gore – Friend of the World". Charybdis Pictures. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  14. ^ a b Brewer, Mac (2022-05-19). "Friend of the World (Review)". Horror Society. Archived from the original on 2022-05-20. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  15. ^ Hannon, Melissa (2021-07-31). "Review: 'Friend of the World' (2020) is a Bizarre Apocalyptic Film". HorrorGeekLife. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  16. ^ Davidson, Douglas (2022-05-05). "Paranoia seeps through every frame of surrealist, absurdist sci-fi thriller "Friend of the World."". Elements of Madness. Archived from the original on 2022-05-09. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  17. ^ Propes, Richard (2022-04-23). "The Independent Critic - "Friend of the World" Gets Troma Release". The Independent Critic. Retrieved 2022-07-17.
  18. ^ Ham, Ally (2022-04-25). "Friend of the World". Video Librarian Magazine. Archived from the original on 2022-06-13. Retrieved 2022-06-10.
  19. ^ Rector, Rob (2020-08-29). "Friend of the World | Film Threat". Film Threat. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  20. ^ Noonan, John (2023-04-21). "Friend of the World". FilmInk. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  21. ^ Kimmel, Daniel M. (2022-06-03). "Review – Friend Of The World". NorthShoreMovies.net. Retrieved 2023-04-12.
  22. ^ Eddy, Cheryl (2023-02-17). "Apocalyptic Film Friend of the World Explores the Price of Survival". Gizmodo. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  23. ^ Strouse, Kristy (2022-10-13). "Cinematic Nightmare Candy: The Hole in The Ground & Friend of the World". Wonderfully Weird & Horrifying. Archived from the original on 2022-10-13. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
  24. ^ Parker, Sean (2022-05-11). "Friend of the World: The Divine Comedy of Body Horror - Horror Obsessive". Horror Obsessive. Archived from the original on 2022-05-11. Retrieved 2022-06-13.
  25. ^ Brents, Phillip (2011-09-23). "'Pride and Prejudice' now playing at OnStage Playhouse". The Star-News. Retrieved 2023-11-27.
  26. ^ Himchak, Elizabeth Marie (2013-07-24). "Review: Strong cast, attention to details boost PowPAC's new show". San Diego Union Tribune. Retrieved 2023-11-27.
  27. ^ "Past Performances". Point Loma Playhouse. 2016-10-13. Archived from the original on 2016-10-13. Retrieved 2023-08-30.
  28. ^ Mackin-Solomon, Ashley (2016-01-28). "La Jolla Theatre Ensemble brings staged readings to local venues". La Jolla Light. Retrieved 2023-05-24.
  29. ^ Launer, Pat (2021-12-05). "Dickens Goes to Havana in Herbert Sigüenza's Tale of Cuban Redemption". Times of San Diego. Retrieved 2023-11-27.
  30. ^ Dixon, David (2022-04-07). "Mystery at OnStage Playhouse Leads to Dark Reveals – San Diego Story". San Diego Story. Archived from the original on 2023-04-27. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  31. ^ Dixon, David. "Talkin' Broadway Regional News & Reviews: San Diego - "The Other Place" - 4/8/22". Talkin Broadway. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
  32. ^ Kragen, Pam (2022-09-06). "Review: Onstage Playhouse's 'Rest' an unsettling look at seven lives on the edge". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  33. ^ Guthrie, Cassiopeia. "Satire 'It's a Wonderful Vida' brings telenovela and sitcom vibes to Chula Vista's OnStage Playhouse". San Diego Story. Retrieved 2023-11-27.
  34. ^ "Mike & Fred vs The Dead (2022)". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 2023-11-27.
  35. ^ Brewer, Mac (2022-07-05). "Teaser & Poster for Short Horror Thriller 'Touch' by Justin Burquist". Horror Society. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
  36. ^ Bitel, Anton (2024-01-24). "Hemet, Or The Landlady Don't Drink Tea (2023)". Projected Figures. Archived from the original on 2024-01-24. Retrieved 2024-01-25.
  37. ^ Brewer, Mac (2023-11-15). "Charybdis Pictures Releases Trailer for Horror Comedy 'HEMET' Ahead of Premiere". Horror Society. Retrieved 2023-11-22.