Today we’d like to introduce you to Tipville USA.
Hi Tipville, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My introduction to the acting industry was an unconventional one. It was a Thanksgiving 2021 and my cousin Sarah asked me to be the red carpet host at her daughter Layla J co-birthday celebration. At the time I didn’t know my little cousin was an actor and a young music artist in Houston. I heard a voice that told me to do it and it will be a game changing moment in my life. So I did the event and there was a lady by the name of Joan Montreuil that was doing the red carpet hosting as well. She gave me a compliment on my work and we started talking. I told her “Do you want to know something?” She said “Yeah!” I told he it was my first time, which it was because I’ve never done that before. I started telling her how I wanted to be in the industry rather it’s acting or doing interviews like this. She then tells me I’m an Indie film director and she would love for me to be apart of her movie “Trapped”. (You can see Trapped on Amazon Prime and Tubi.) From the table read I met a few actors I would later work with such as Courtney Bryant, Ronson Hawkins, and Dolores Harvey. When the movie was put on pause I didn’t know what to do because I was new into the acting industry and I had no prior knowledge or experience in this field. So I seen a post on Instagram from Niecy Dobbins, who I also met at the table read. She had a casting call for her stage play “All Eyez on Me”. I heard that voice again to audition and I did. I didn’t know what a self tape was so I use oh so trusted google and sent in my first audition and self tape. I went in my apartment and told my Goddess I’m going to get a part and a couple of days later I was offered my first role of Rex the fictional brother of Tupac. On Feb. the 11th 2023 I made my acting debut. From that day I have not stopped. I’ve been on tour with the stage play “Black Boys Cry” with Harold Jay Trotter from 2023-2026 as the principal understudy/host. A fun fact I performed in the first three Black Boys Cry show in Houston. I performed in the “Fade to Black” festival in 2025 in the stage play “Valentines Day Murder.” Also in 2025 I had my breakout role where I played Gabriel Maxson in August Wilson “Fences” director by Jim Wadzinski at Baytown Little Theatre. For the role of Gabriel Maxson earned me the honors of Houston Broadway World Best Supporting Actor in a Stage Play. In 2025 I earned my first lead role in the stage play “Nine” by Jamye Clark where I played Ike Turner from “What’s Love Got to Do with It”, Mister from “The Color Purple”, and Jangle Leg from “Life”. In 2026 I performed in Chicago and Baltimore in the stage play “Black Boys Cry”. Also in 2026 I got my first solo Lead Role as I played George Albert Kelly in the stage play “Athletes” by Vincent Victoria. I was able to accomplish all these things with hard work, and actors teaching me how to just my natural God giving gift because again I zero experience in this field. No training just a gift, hard work, and dedication.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not been a smooth road at all. In 2023 I thought I was going to get fired because I had the worst show in my life. Like I said I was the understudy in Black Boys Cry but I actually got to do more shows than a normal understudy gets. We had a show in Atlanta and I was suppose to go on as one character but got switch to the character I already did before last minute to make me more comfortable. It sounds good right? The funny thing is I wasn’t prepared for a switch like and I failed big time. I froze on stage and I had a deer in a headlights look because I forgot my place. I was in and out of character it was just bad. I apologize to the cast and my director after that show. That show is exactly what I needed because before that moment I wasn’t faced with adversity and it made me lock in and fall in love with what I do.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a Swiss Army knife. I do a lot, I have my own Podcast called “Take You On A Journey Podcast”, I cover poetry around the city, and I have my own clothing brand Tipville USA, which means “Making Doubters into Believers.” I’m most proud of my growth as a person, father, and husband. What set me apart from others is that I’m ME. We come from one person but we are all different and I embrace being different. I don’t want to be no one but me and I’m happy with that.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Gratitude makes me happy. In 2025 I was having my breakout year while going through financial and mental struggles because this industry isn’t for the weak. As I was going through that I found gratitude for all the things I do have and I focus on that because as people we always focus on what we don’t have and take for granted how rich we really are. With gratitude I found peace.
Pricing:
- Shirts 25.00
- Joggers/Sweats 35.00
- Hoodies/ Sweaters 40.00
- Weird Na🌳ured Hoodies 50.00
- Slides 30.00
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tipville_usa?igsh=cXhvdmVzZHJxbDhx&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18jHm2rXDS/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Twitter: https://x.com/actortipville?s=21
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@tipvilleusa?si=CuQtpwflZx_6yknv
