The below interview is taken from this summer issue of Glass Man, released shortly before the tragic passing of Cameron Boyce on July 6, 2019 at the age of 20. A talented actor, dancer and philanthropist, Cameron will be sorely missed by those he touched not only with his talent, but his constant kindness and love. Here Glass looks back on his humility and passion for life, expressed with the utmost gratitude, class, and optimism.
Glass talks to actor Cameron Boyce on his journey from Disney child-star to multi-faceted star
I wouldn’t describe Cameron Boyce as your average Hollywood actor. An actor, dancer and avid philanthropist, the 19-year-old star has proven to be as compassionate as he is talented. Raising over $27,000 for the Thirst Project in just 40 days in 2017, the Los Angeles native is a child star who keeps himself firmly grounded.
For Boyce, fame came calling at eight years old, landing small-screen roles until making his big break on the Disney channel show Jessie. Even at the age of 11, Boyce seemed to possess a certain star quality. In fact, the producers of the show recreated the role of Luke for him, deciding to find a role for him in the show even though there was no part for him in the original script. Since then, he has made great strides in the industry, and 2019 marks an exciting year for his career. Starring in upcoming HBO sitcom Mrs Fletcher, and headlining indie thriller Runt, Boyce is taking a step beyond his Disney roles, stretching his acting muscles more than ever.
A multi-faceted talent, Boyce doesn’t want to be pigeonholed as playing only one kind of character. Stating he can see himself acting in a variety of genres and multitude of roles, needless to say it’s going to be an incredible year for the actor.
Glass talks to Boyce about his charity campaign, his first passion dance, and his perception of purpose.
Cameron Boyce. Photograph: Heidi Tappis
Your philanthropy is something which is very important to you and I know that in just 40 days you raised over $27,000 for the Thirst Project which helps you bring clean water to underdeveloped countries. What first interested you in raising money for the cause?
Yes, with the Thirst Project – the first couple of times, before I actually linked up with them to do a campaign – honestly just the energy of their organisation was really inspiring, but it stems from a realisation that as long as you are active in your pursuit of changing things, you can do a lot of stuff. You accomplish a lot, it doesn’t take much to get a conversation started, to get something going and to reach out to people. And that’s what translates into this really fulfilling pretty intense campaign that we did, and it snowballed from the initial realisation that it doesn’t take that much to get started. It just takes passion and it takes a little bit of execution, but once you get past that, you find yourself raising money and making change.
Yeah that is really great. I know as well you are starring in the upcoming film Descendants 3, which is so exciting. What first attracted you to the role of Carlos?
That was a long time ago. I think I was like 14 and I was still in the middle of my Disney prime [laughs]. Fourteen is about when you are prime age, but the thing that sort of really drew me to it was the director. His name is Kenny Ortega, and he had worked with every legend that you can think of in music. I was in all of his wisdom and then eventually I was drawn in also because he was interested in me. He had said to me that he was looking for Carlos for seven months and the only person he could picture in the role was me, which was a crazy thing to hear from him, especially for a 14-year-old. The combination of him and also his level of interest in me was sort of the mutual respect we had for one and another and we never met each other. It just seemed perfect.
The franchise has been going on for a long time now – it has been almost five years. I remember when we were doing the film in 2014 and the release days was for 2015, and 2015 sounded like it was so far away, and now we are about to be in 2019. It’s crazy how far it has come.
Cameron Boyce. Photograph: Heidi Tappis
That’s crazy. This year is going to be quite busy for you because I know you have also been announced a star in the upcoming HBO Comedy series Mrs Fletcher. Can you tell me anything more about your role?
Yes, I am honestly super excited about it. It’s very different from anything anyone has seen me in. It’s different and I think it’s going to be a little shock to some people. My character is the roommate of the main guy in the show and he has some interesting “new generation issues” things that people even ten years ago wouldn’t necessarily talk about the way we do now. We touch on a lot of issues that are very relevant to today, a lot of subjects that people didn’t necessarily want to touch on. We talk about some stuff that are not so easy to talk about which excited the heck out of me but people take to it.
As you were saying, the role is different from anything you have done before. What kind of roles do you see yourself attracted to in the future?
I am a very open person, everyone who knows me knows that I just really like art. I am attracted to things that are different and weird and fun, but at the same time I can see myself to doing some weird strange Indie stuff and I also see myself doing a Marvel movie. I am not super closed off. I want to do stuff that means something and that is solid good work, but I see myself in a lot of situations.
Cameron Boyce. Photograph: Heidi Tappis
So you are talking about indie films. I know you are going to be starring in the film Runt. How would you describe the film?
Runt is one of the most interesting experiences I’ve had. I have been really lucky in my career to do projects and I have never done anything like this. And so, doing an Indie, it really gave me a whole new perspective on film making in general. We had a pretty small crew, one of the most passionate crews, because it was coming straight from the source, there were no outside opinions. It was just the writer who was also the director and me really every day, what we wanted, and working really hands-on with each other and so that was as draining as it was exciting and fulfilling but also one experience I was super lucky to be able to do.
Apart from acting, I know you are also interested in dancing. You are in Hozier’s new music video Almost, which came out this April. How did you first get started dancing?
I started dancing at three, I was really young. It really started in pre-school. There was a lady who came and taught there and I guess I was just better than the other kids at first, so my parents put me into dance class. Dance is my first love; the first thing I was really attached to when I was really young. I could picture myself being a dancer for ever and obviously that translated to other things but I still love dancing as much as I did then. When I find time and the energy but also the creative support of other people, I try to find ways to sort of being cooperated in what I am doing. But yes, I want to dance for the rest of my life.
Cameron Boyce. Photograph: Heidi Tappis
And you are also into breakdancing. You have been a member of the Crew Ex mob? As someone who knows absolutely nothing about breakdancing, can you tell me what is the most important part of being a breakdancer?
The culture. The things they can do with their bodies. I never really got to that level where I was spinning on my head and doing crazy stuff. For me it was more about the atmosphere and the vibe that I got from it. When you see hip-hop culture, a lot of people seeing from the outside in see a different version from what it really is, which is so much more centred around love than anything else. One of the things that I remember everybody saying when I used to go to jams was “one love”, or “Bob Marley”.
It was always one love, that was the culture. It was like we are coming together to do this thing, which is based in positivity and uplifting each other which you wouldn’t necessarily know unless you are in it. That’s where the passion for that really comes in. It’s just the community and I think that is translated also to other parts in my life. That’s what I love about it the most.
Cameron Boyce. Photograph: Heidi Tappis
The theme for our summer issue is purpose. How would you define purpose for yourself?
Purpose changes with growth and with time and with reaching some of your goals. But I think the thing that constantly drives any person, any artist really, is the love you have for something, and that never changes when you talk about purpose. For a lot of people, it’s money, fame, whatever, but I think what keeps a person’s purpose constant is love.
Final question, 2019 is going to be a big year for you. Can you tell us something about your future?
This year I have a minimum of three things coming out. I am just excited to see how other people and I react to my own projects coming out and obviously I am working on other stuff just trying to push myself into the deepest corner of what it is I want to be doing in my life. The future is certain and uncertain in so many ways. I am certain I am going to be doing my love and I am uncertain how my love is going to be. Artists always change their love, I guess you could say, their purpose. I am going to make stuff – that is always what I wanted to do and stay creative: film, television and hopefully more stuff. I am trying to stretch in different ways, challenge myself in different ways. We will see what is waiting for me.
by Emma Hart
From the Glass Archive – Glass Magazine, Decade, Issue 38, Summer 2019
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Photographer: HEIDI TAPPIS
Stylist: SISSY SAINTE-MARIE
Grooming: CANDICE BIRNS
Photography assistant: ALLEGRA MESSINA
Styling assistant: BECKY BARNES
Talent: CAMERON BOYCE
Look 1
Top, trousers: FENDI
Look 2
Top, boxers, trousers: GOODFIGHT
Necklace: DIOR
Look 3
All: DIOR
Look 4
Coat: GIVENCHY
Look 5
Top: DRIES VAN NOTEN courtesy of MR PORTER
Jacket, trousers, shoes: LOUIS VUITTON