Summary
Overview
Dax Shepard and Monica Padman interview actor Chase Crawford, best known for Gossip Girl and The Boys. Chase shares stories from his early life moving between Texas, Oklahoma, and Minnesota, his journey into acting, the wild New York City nights during Gossip Girl's heyday, navigating fame and career challenges between shows, and his transformation playing The Deep in The Boys. The conversation covers everything from his people-pleasing tendencies to his relationship patterns, work ethic, and appreciation for the unexpected success of The Boys.
Texas Roots and Early Years
Chase discusses growing up with young parents—his mom was 21 when she had him—and moving between Lubbock, Oklahoma City, and Minnesota during his father's medical school years. He reflects on the identity crisis of constantly relocating, his mother being the "cool substitute teacher" who won students over with candy, and eventually settling in Plano, Texas for middle school. These formative moves taught him to be a people pleaser and chameleon, survival skills that would serve him throughout his career.
- Chase's parents were very young—mom was 21, dad in medical school—when they had him and his sister
- The family moved from Lubbock to Oklahoma City to Minnesota and finally to Plano, Texas
- His mother was a teacher who became known as the 'cool substitute' who brought candy and games
- Moving frequently taught Chase to be a people pleaser and make new friends quickly
- His sister Candace, 17 months younger, was Miss Missouri and is now a sports journalist
" I can't believe having like two kids and not a lot of money before he became a doctor and then trying to get through med school and then going up to Minnesota. Those were some of the best times. "
College, Valet Life, and Breaking Into Acting
Chase attended Pepperdine University in Malibu, where he took a gap year and worked as a valet at Geoffrey's restaurant on PCH. Despite lying about knowing how to drive stick shift, he thrived in the job, making good money and meeting celebrities like Orlando Bloom. A friend's recommendation led him to a Meisner acting class, which he loved despite having no pressure to become an actor. This naive, pressure-free approach helped him land his first agency representation and eventually The Covenant in 2005.
- Chase worked as a valet at Geoffrey's in Malibu, lied about driving stick shift, and damaged a car door
- He made excellent money from tips and saw celebrities like Orlando Bloom and Suge Knight
- His parents encouraged him to take an acting class, leading to a serious Meisner class he loved
- Being naive with no pressure to become an actor actually helped his auditions
- He landed The Covenant in 2005 with Taylor Kitsch, Sebastian Stan, and other future stars
" I lied. I said I could drive stick. Did not know how to drive stick. I was like, oh, you're amazing. "
" I loved it, actually. It was a weird little fraternity. There were like eight dudes. There was a hierarchy. Some guy was like 45 and total Venice, like, long-haired stoner with like dog in the truck. And he was like the head guy. "
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