Damian Maffei

Damian Paul Maffei (born June 27, 1977) is an American actor known for his work on stage and in independent movies. Maffei is especially heralded for his work in horror films, including the highly touted Closed for the Season.

Biography

Early life

Damian was born in Maspeth, Queens in New York City, where he spent the first four years of his life. He and his family — which included his parents Mary and William along with his brothers John and Jeremy and his sister Jennifer — then moved to Levittown, New York, where he attended Abbey Lane Elementary School and Wisdom Middle School. But it was during his years at Division High School that he first felt the urge to try his hand at acting. He took his first theatre class there and auditioned for the school musical, Little Shop of Horrors. He won the part of the voice of Audrey 2. Damian was officially now a thespian. Up to that point in his life, baseball had always been his first love; but he promptly realized that his future vocation and new life’s passion was destined to be in the performing arts. He no longer had time for baseball, now devoting all his time and energy into learning his newfound craft. For the remainder of his high school years, he was the lead actor in all the school’s plays and musicals, including Prince Dauntless in Once Upon a Mattress and Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof.

Upon his graduation, Maffei attended Nassau Community College, where he studied under Victor Abravaya. Damian’s first role was Alec in Raft of the Medusa. This undertaking was a turning point in Damian’s career, as Abravaya, the play’s director as well as a lifelong student and advocate of the Sanford Meisner acting technique, pushed Maffei to bring additional depth and development to his character and to his artistry. At Abravaya’s behest, Damian entered the highly respected William Esper Studios in Manhattan. It was there that Maffei studied the Meisner technique, honing and refining his acting skills.

Career

Damian began his career by taking on the demanding role of Professor Harold Hill in The Music Man at the Cultural Arts Playhouse in New York. A rousing success, Maffei continued his stage work, taking on roles in such diverse works as Einstein in Picasso at the Lapin Agile and, most recently, The Narrator in A Night of Joe R. Lansdale.

Seeking to further expand his acting repertoire, Damian became involved with his first independent film, Ghost Lake. Having become a fan of horror films by the age of nine, Maffei pulled out every stop to become a part of the Ghost Lake project. Not only was he rewarded with the part of the Young Fisherman in the film, but Maffei also proved to be a hard worker on the set by taking on the additional duties of grip and props.

In 2008, Maffei was honored to win a first-of-its-kind internet competition for his acting prowess. Prevailing over thousands of fellow actors, Damian's remarkable reputation helped him land the lead role of Jack in the totally internet-based acting competition, LiveMansion: The Movie. All the characters for this about-to-be-made major movie were chosen by their fans via internet voting. Damian's audition, in particular, was singled out for special recognition by one of the judges.

Maffei’s resume continued to grow, as he added the role of Michael in the indie film, 7 Couches, the story of a young man couch-surfing his way to the meaning of life. In 2009, Damian and writer/director Brian James Fitzpatrick optioned the movie rights to Mister Weed-Eater, an adaptation of a story by the same name from celebrated horror and crime author Joe R. Lansdale, who took on the title of executive producer for the screen adaptation. Maffei signed on as one of the main actors and co-producer for the project. In March 2010, the long-anticipated Closed for the Season premiered at the widely acclaimed horror convention, Monster-Mania 14. A supernatural thriller set in an abandoned amusement park, Closed for the Season starred, in addition to Maffei, Aimee Brooks and Joe Unger. In July of the same year, the first-ever theatrical screening of Damian's film Ext. Life played at the Long Island International Film Expo.

In between his busy movie schedule, Maffei continues his stage appearances. In the Spring of 2010 Damian appeared as Ted in the highly successful run of the world premiere of Miracle Day at the Bleecker Street Theatre in Manhattan. Damian's next venture is scheduled to be playing Hank, the lead in Suckerfish, a play produced by famed actor Thomas Jane, star of HBO's Hung.

Personal life

Damian is married to Erin (2006–present) and, together, they have one son.

Although a lifelong resident of New York, Maffei is unequivocally a more-than-enthusiastic fan of the Tampa Bay Rays and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

At the age of five, Damian would frequently stage his unique impression of Godzilla, stomping stuffed animals while roaring like the famed monster.

Damian is a huge admirer of actor Clu Gulager, who starred in The Return of the Living Dead, one of Maffei's favorite horror films.

Credits

Film