Marcus Woollen

ANCIENT HISTORY:

I was born in a Navy Hospital near Seattle, and grew up in Canoga Park and Ventura, CA; Ohain, Belgium; Windham, NH. I went to Pomona College in California; The American Musical and Dramatic Academy and The New School (BFA - Theatre Performance) in New York.

After 15 years living in Midtown Manhattan, I live in Jackson Heights, Queens, in a fantastic building near the new dog park. I've got a wonderful partner, a wonderful dog, and I'm willing to call one of the two cats wonderful. I've enjoyed taking photos ever since I borrowed my father's old Spotmatic when I was 7. I still haven't returned it.

PERFORMANCE CAREER

My career as an actor has taken me across the United States three times, and throughout western Europe. Tours include 42nd Street, Zorba, Meet Me in St. Louis, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. In New York, I've has performed Moliere’s The Miser, Shaw’s Candida, Strindberg’s Dream Play, and Euripides’ Medea. I've has appeared on HBO, MTV, and in several independent films. I'm also on the cutting room floor for Zoolander, perhaps because I can, in fact, turn left.

I helped give birth to two theatre pieces, which I'm very proud of with the now defunct West 50th Street Productions: Dear George, Letters to the President which played over 40 theatres coast-to-coast on the eve of the 2004 presidential election, and Slap&Tickle with playwright David Parr which continues on without me.

I've settled at a theatrical licensing agency and build and maintain their websites and social network presence.

BIKING AND WEIGHT LOSS

I've recently been featured in the local NY press regarding bike riding and weight loss. In the 15 months since I purchased a bicycle and started riding, I've lost 50 pounds.

If you've googled me because of this, yes, you've found the right person - see NY Daily News article linked below. Or follow my daily training on DailyMile.

BRAKING THE CYCLE

Biking has given me what feels like a new lease on life, and in that spirit, I've decided to participate in a 3-day bicycle ride from Boston to New York City to raise money for The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Center of New York, an organziation that has been on the frontlines in the fight against AIDS since its founding in 1983. BRAKING THE CYCLE is the single largest fundraising event for the center, and remains crucial to their ongoing education and outreach efforts in New York City.

Please consider sponsoring me for this ride with a tax-deductible donation here using the link below.