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Posted on Thu, Sep. 04, 2008

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FAST LEARNER: Roles roll in for Culpepper

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Bruce Culpepper is an actor.

But he's not one of those guys who started acting young and followed his dreams by going to New York or Los Angeles.

Nope. He married, had children and worked in the Florida department of juvenile justice.

Let's back up a little. When he was in grammar school in Columbus, his first television experience was on "The Col. Chick Show."

"I was picked to deliver the birthday notices," Culpepper said. "The seed was planted."

But that seed lay dormant until he turned 51. That's when he wanted a change.

Culpepper lives in DeFuniak Springs, Fla., which is near Sandestin.

"Why did I start to do this so late in life? I was always an athlete. I didn't care anything about performing. When I was 51, I went to a Shakespeare show with my girlfriend. I wanted to try myself with performing on stage."

So he sat down and made a three-year plan of goals.

Now 56, he's met those original plans and he's now on his additional two-year plan.

"I've been in 20 professional community theater productions," he said. "I finished my seventh indie feature film. I've been in national commercials. I've been blessed with meeting the right people that have helped me with my acting."

Among his credits: roles in shows on the Weather Channel, A&E and TLC. On stage, he's been in "Gypsy," "Twelfth Night," "Crimes of the Heart," "Anything Goes," "The Merry Wives of Windsor," "Annie Get Your Gun," "A Midsummer Night's Dream," "You Can't Take it With You" and "The Mousetrap."

His mother, Virginia Culpepper Maddox, is a big supporter.

"She came to see me in 'Gypsy.' I put some roses in her seat with a note that said, 'Rose, I love you.' Rose is her middle name. She cried and cried and cried."

One of his goals in life is to come back to Columbus and perform on Mainstage in the Springer Opera House.

But in the meantime, he's auditioning for some roles for Lifetime and Hallmark channels.

Let's hope we can get Culpepper on the Springer stage one day soon.

River Raffle

Mark your calendar!

The first "What Progress Has Preserved" $10,000 River Raffle will be Sept. 25 in the Eagle and Phenix Mill Complex, 1201 Front Ave.

I know I'm anxious to see the condos in that renovated mill. And I'm sure you're curious, too.

So why not help out the Historic Columbus Foundation and satisfy your curiosity at the same time?

It's $100 to buy a raffle ticket, and even if you don't win the cash, there are other prizes like jewelry, trips, football tickets and the like to ease your pain.

The best part of the raffle ticket? Two people can go on that one ticket. So if you have a date or spouse or best friend who wants to see the place, split the price of the ticket.

And there will be great food from some of the top chefs in town. Well, in Jamie Keating's case, one of the best in the world. He's on the U.S. Culinary Olympics team and they don't let just anyone be on that team. Music will be by the Chattahoochee Pine Beatles. And you don't have to dress up. It's a casual affair, mainly because it's still a construction site.

If you have questions, call HCF at 706-322-0756.