Interview with Male Model Jason Olive
The term “Supermodel” – done to death in the media – usually brings to mind impossibly beautiful woman from Sports Illustrated or the latest TV competition hosted by Naomi Campbell. Rarely does the word bring to mind anyone male.
But there are male supermodels, and certainly one of the best is Jason Olive. Called “one of the most photographed men in the world,” Jason has been an actor and model for over two-thirds of his life.
His exotic looks and nearly flawless physique have helped to make him an international success, landing him in magazines and on billboards around the globe – but it’s his confidence, drive to succeed, and determination to remaining true to himself that makes Jason Olive a star on the rise.
These last traits of Jason’s personality came through loud and clear even from the first question I put to him, asking Jason – basically – what his life was like growing up âÂ?¦ what he wanted to be.
“As a kid I never so much had dreams as desires. I still do not know that I ‘will be.’ But I do know who I am. I am willing to take chances and I am not ashamed to get my hands dirty in order to experience or learn life’s ways.
“From a very young age I have felt a certain responsibility to live up to the gifts I have been given âÂ?¦ one of those gifts I consider to be my very unique family lineage. In my family line we have slaves and racists, buffalo soldiers and Native Americans. When you grow up being intimate with these things there is a certain wisdom that is shone upon you âÂ?¦” Acting, for Jason, was one way to share that wisdom.
At the age of nine he was attending Jane Fonda’s camp in Laurel Springs, where the creativity and fun that acting allowed Jason is the mentality he brings to his craft to this day. After graduating from the University of Hawaii on a volleyball scholarship (with a major in English Lit and a minor in theater), Jason caught a break when he read for the role of “Sugar” Hill in the hit soap opera “The Guiding Light”.
Here, however, Jason also learned one of the harder lessons every struggling actor has to face: “I did a couple of episodes and they didn’t like what I was doing – and did not want to take the time to teach me – so they fired me.” But with a face and body like Jason’s, “soap opera hunk” was a moniker he could easily have been stamped with, as he’s also worked on “Passions” (1999) and “All My Children” (2002).
When asked about his impressions of working in daytime, Jason provides the usual thoughtful reply. “I do not like that work so much, but I like the lessons it teaches you. Working on camera. Working with very tight schedules. Having to put up a lot of material quickly, and mostly how to make it palatable.”
Jason, however, was destined for more as an actor. Indy film Punks and a leading role playing Richard Lermontant in Anne Rice’s “Feast of All Saints” followed âÂ?¦ along with more of Jason’s education as a learning actor âÂ?¦
“Punks was short, I did not work on the film much but I thought it was an important film in its small way and wanted to help it. ‘Feast’ was my first experience playing a lead in that kind of project. The project broke down because of fights with production but the piece was salvaged and came out fairly well.”
Jason calls the miniseries a “great project” that “never really recovered” from its initial release, which occurred just as the 9/11 disaster happened in NYC âÂ?¦ but his memories of the project are obviously good ones, highlighted by a “one on one” dinner with co-star Peter Gallagher that Jason recalls as a “fun night” to this day.
All this, and modeling too? When asked about the “up” side of being a supermodel, Jason immediately pinpoints “The high is the world education. Traveling the world well beyond your means and associating with truly great – even genius – talent from all over. Fashion and photography require no interpretation, so the entire world is able to enjoy what these mediums have to say simultaneously.”
Also a published poet (though he admits writing has taken a back burner lately to his acting), this triple threat of actor/model/writer hit me with a surprise when I asked him about his response to being asked for an autograph. Again, with typical (and VERY cool) Jason Olive frankness, he truly proved he is indeed a “famous fan”:
“I understand wanting an autograph – I have asked for them myself.” His friend Tony – the Revlon makeup artist who has done many of the print ads featuring Halle Berry and many other famous ladies – one night signed a Revlon bag for Jason, who at one time dated his sister. That night began Jason’s fashion collection, which also now includes pieces done of (and for) Jason from Karl Lagerfeld, Bruce Weber, and Richard Avedon.
And Jason sums up his feelings on collecting perfectly, being most definitely a fan himself: “I think it’s a sign of respect. The selling of autographs is something else. That’s why I make people give a donation to the Jayo Foundation; then it is doing something for someone I don’t know, who is doing something nice for someone else they don’t know.”
Already showing great taste in fashion and photographer icons, when asked who else he’s a fan of – who, maybe, he’d like to work with some day – Jason is quick to list Hollywood heavyweights like Denzel Washington, Ang Lee, Juliette Binoche, Robin Williams, and “many many people” as well. Smart guy, good tastes – AND a fellow collector; who could ask for more?
Jason does indeed ask for a simple $10 donation to the Jayo Foundation in exchange for his autograph, and you can tell the charity is close to his heart because it involves his greatest loves – teaching kids physical fitness and camaraderie âÂ?¦ and volleyball!
“Each college that plays the sport has 12 women’s and 4 men’s scholarships available. This is a great way for kids to pay for college and learn some vital lessons in being part of a team/organization. We help raise money for charities that help children in areas of general health and welfare, and also to help them get better at the sport and get scholarships to play at college.”
Jason’s goal is to bring more African-American kids into the sport and, in general, to get more kids interested in the game itself, so that they might play it all through their school years and right onto the U.S. Olympic team. In fact, you can learn more about The Jayo Foundation – and about joining a team or playing in the country’s largest Pro-Am celebrity tournament in the country – by checking out www.jayoinvitational.com.
But back to Jason Olive the actor � when asked of long-term goals or plans, his answer somehow comes off as both factual and philosophical at the same time:
“I don’t know who I will play. You have to understand. I walk into a casting room and they say ‘He’s not black enough’ – or I walk in and they say ‘We are casting white today.’ It is like the fashion business. What I end up doing will be unique and my career will be unique. But I will approach everything with the same integrity and honesty âÂ?¦ I always give it all I can.”
And short term, he certainly has; Jason’s just wrapped a hilarious role in Margaret Cho’s new film, Bam Bam and Celeste âÂ?¦ and this summer can be seen backing up no less than uber-Friend Lisa Kudrow in her new HBO series “The Comeback.” When asked about his experience shooting the new series, Jason expresses his appreciation for the chance to work with a live studio audience, adding “the chance to work with and learn from Lisa is wonderful.” As of this writing, the show appears slated to premiere on HBO in June.
For a guy barely in his thirties, who’s traveled the world and tasted several careers (yet somehow has managed to keep his head on straight), it’s a nice surprise that this Famous Fan is an approachable and sweet guy. With beauty and brains in equal measure – along with an integrity and honesty not often found in the entertainment industry – you get the feeling that what you’ve seen so far is just the beginning of a long and successful road for this chameleon-like man of many talents.
For a nine-year-old just having fun at acting camp � who grew up to become one of the most sought-after supermodels in the fashion industry � and is now also on the brink of the same level of international stardom as an actor �
Jason Olive still pushes for more. But then again, he always will – he expects no less of himself than the best, and is always learning as well as teaching.
The guy puts the “super” in supermodel, for sure.
You can reach Jason at www.jasonolive.com.
