Bridgeport native Germar Terrell Gardner, who plays corrections officer Charles Ford in the hit Netflix series Orange is the New Black, won a coveted 2014 Screen Actors Guild Award for outstanding performance by an ensemble at the organization’s gala last Sunday. If you’ve not seen the series, you gotta check it out. It rivals city politics for pure comedy.
Gardner, a graduate of Central High School, joined the show last year in what was supposed to be a single appearance. The producers liked what they saw and brought him on as a recurring character. He is the son of OIB friend Glover Gardner.
More about Gardner:
Born and raised in Bridgeport, Gardner was introduced to the arts early by his father, who recited poems from Langston Hughes and the writings of W.E.B. DuBois to his children. At first Gardner thought football would be his ticket to stardom. But then a high school class in creative writing changed his mind.
Gardner went on to graduate from college with a double major in print journalism and television production. After working part-time for Aquarion Water Company–where his mother was and still is employed–he landed a job with New Haven’s ABC affiliate, WTNH News Channel 8.
In 2011, while taking acting classes and honing his craft with the Alan Gordon Acting Studio in New York, Gardner stumbled upon an audition notice. It led to him being named to his first starting role, playing in an Off-Broadway production of August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play, The Piano Lesson.
In 2014 came the invitation to join the cast of Orange is the New Black. In December, he and the rest of the ensemble learned they’d been nominated for a 2014 Screen Actors Guild Award. There hasn’t been much time for celebration, though–Gardner just completed shooting the show’s third season, due for release on Netflix this summer.
Now this is a good story, Bridgeport based. A creative writing course in high school, respecting his voice in the writing process and practicing the tools of written expression. Then on to college, and a job with a Bridgeport employer, then TV, acting classes and roles and then a break. Lucky? Not necessarily, for his desire, preparation, and an opportunity aligned and he was there for a role he did not comprehend while a Bridgeport student. Will his parents and teachers please take a bow and keep encouraging current students to press on and make their own “luck?” Time will tell.
Germar Terrell Gardner, is what his family is about, hard work and learning and look at the fruits of their effort. He is also what Bridgeport is about, a proud young man who never gave up.
Very impressive!
Yesterday, Feb 1, marked Langston Hughes’ 113th birthday.
In honor of that, that February is Black History Month, and Germar Terrell Gardner (a Hughes fan) and his SAG honor, here are two, of many, powerful poems by Langston Hughes:
Democracy
Democracy will not come
Today, this year
Nor ever
Through compromise and fear.
I have as much right
As the other fellow has
To stand
On my two feet
And own the land.
I tire so of hearing people say,
Let things take their course.
Tomorrow is another day.
I do not need my freedom when I’m dead.
I cannot live on tomorrow’s bread.
Freedom
Is a strong seed
Planted
In a great need.
I live here, too.
I want freedom
Just as you.
Dreams
Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.
Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow.
Pete Spain, thanks.