Yes, Connor is an actor with a disability. He lives with Trisomy 21, also known as Down syndrome, Celiac disease, and scoliosis. Connor doesn’ t want to be treated any differently than anyone else – he doesn’ t want people to feel sorry for him and he certainly doesn’ t want people to underestimate him. He just wants to have the same opportunities as everyone else. And he pushes himself to always do better and to do more. While he hasn’ t formally gone to college, he has taken a number of non-degree and online certificate classes. Covid isn’ t making things easier, but Connor says,“ I am enjoying a number of online classes and events, including several arts and acting classes from NYU( New York University).” As if all of this wasn’ t enough to fill is day, when he is at home Connor likes to cook – mostly pasta dishes, play video games, watch cooking shows, singing, and talent shows, and he likes to watch musical theater and action / adventure movies. I need to hang out with Connor!
I asked Connor when he became an advocate for the rights of people with disabilities and what motivated him to do so. Connor replied,“ I think I have always been an advocate because my parents became active in Down syndrome, disability, education and inclusion rights after I was born.
When my family struggled to achieve appropriate access and services for me, we also did it for others who might face similar challenges. I was awarded the Arc’ s Catalyst Self-Advocate award in 2016 and I am proud to be one of the people helping to shape the future. I really enjoy being a speaker and love to keynote at conferences.”
As we continued through our conversation, often filled with approving nods from Brian, Connor told me how he became interested in acting and about his roles AND awards! Connor became interested to be an actor during his youth in Maryland. Participating in church and school plays and then taking some acting classes and going to camp at the BlackRock Center for the Arts in his hometown, Germantown, Maryland. He adds that he“ loves Shakespeare and hopes to act with the Colorado Shakespeare Festival Professional Company one day!”( We hope so, too!)
Connor’ s first role in film was when he played“ Radek” in the award-winning short film,“ Menschen”, a story by Writer / Director Sarah Lotfi about the Nazi T-4 eradication program during WWII. The T-4 eradication program was an attempt by the Nazi’ s to kill children and adults with physical, mental, and intellectual disabilities by placing them in gas chambers disguised to look like shower stalls or by lethal injection. This was one of the worst atrocities committed by the Nazis in World War II. Connor played a young man with a disability who was hidden from harm by his mother. He says,“ It was a great opportunity to combine my love of acting with the advocacy opportunity of talking about a tragic time in history.” Menschen is available on several major streaming services. To Table of Contents
Other film projects include the award-winning short film,“ Learning to Drive,” by Writer / Director Roderick E. Stevens. The film was screened and awarded at several disability-themed festivals around the world, including Cannes and Moscow.“ I was fortunate to be invited to Moscow to speak at the US Embassy for a cultural exchange program and to receive the Breaking Down Barriers international film-festival’ s Best Actor Award.”