UCLA alumnus Kahlil Joseph shines as guest on NBC's well-known daytime soap

From New Delhi to Los Angeles. From prime time to daytime. From Bollywood to Hollywood.

Kahlil Joseph left a successful acting career in India to make the shift from Bollywood to Hollywood, receiving his MFA in acting from UCLA’s School of Theater, Film and Television last spring. Now, just out of school, he has begun forging a successful career with jobs such as guest starring on the popular soap opera “Days of our Lives.”

On set, it may be his characters that take center stage, but behind the scenes UCLA alumnus Kahlil Joseph has found himself in the spotlight with a flurry of acting work — including his current guest stint as Dr. Myers on legendary soap opera “Days of Our Lives.”

After completing his master of fine arts degree in acting from the School of Theater, Film and Television this past spring, Joseph is currently in the midst of a 12-episode arc as Dr. Myers, helping famed characters Steve and Kayla fight off a deadly toxin in their systems.

Although he was able to receive steady acting and voice work throughout his time at UCLA, “Days of Our Lives” is still a new high point for the India-born actor.

“‘Days’ was one of my favorite gigs so far because everyone has got to be ready to work,” Joseph said. “The stereotype is that it’s a lot easier than stage because you get to do multiple takes. (However), on a soap, you’re shooting an entire scene in one take.”

Because soap operas air new episodes five days a week, actors get a maximum of two takes per scene, whereas episodic television comedies and drama run scenes many more times.

“I love the fact that you have to be on your toes working in your craft and really have your stuff together,” Joseph said.
Joseph’s rise to the challenge was noticed by producers, who were quick to extend his contract to 12 episodes and keep him in Dr. Myers’ shoes. “It was a very long time for what was supposed to be a guest star role,” Joseph said. “They just kept writing me in; it was very flattering.”

While the daytime method might have been an obstacle for some, Joseph enters the role with a long pedigree of work from both his early career in India and a number of acting and voice-over jobs he received during the span of the MFA program.

“Most MFA acting programs keep you under lock and key, but it was just a matter of good time management,” Joseph said. “I wanted to work steadily ever since I got here, and that’s just been happening nonstop.”

Joseph’s mentors credit his personality for his current wave of success.

“The thing about Kahlil is that there is a truth to him and an honesty that is sorely lacking in a lot of American students. When he says he’s going to do something, he follows up and does it,” said UCLA assistant theater professor Ed Monaghan, who specializes in martial arts training. “Besides acting, Kahlil also used the MFA program to explore his interests in both combat and voice and speech technique.”

“He’s really dedicated to growing and improving, and that makes such a big difference in getting ahead,” said Kahlil’s so-called ‘voice and speech guru,’ assistant theater professor Paul Wagar.

Without such traits, Joseph might not have fulfilled his lifelong dream of coming to Hollywood and studying at UCLA, let alone receiving such high profile work straight out of graduate school.

In New Delhi, Joseph had success playing the part of Ronaldo on the popular Indian prime time drama, “Khwahish.” However, Hollywood offered a range of work hard to match in the Bollywood Indian film industry, so Joseph packed his bags and relocated to the States in 1999.

Rather than immediately pursuing acting, Joseph enrolled in undergraduate classes at Concord University in West Virginia. “I thought about just heading to Los Angeles, but on the other hand I thought if I bide my time a little more as a student, I can relearn the ropes and how the industry works out here,” he said.

After earning his bachelors of arts degree in communications, Joseph applied to graduate acting programs across the country, including his first-choice school, UCLA. “UCLA had always been a dream school of mine,” Joseph said. “If there is one school in the world, in America, that everyone is very familiar with, it’s UCLA.” The campus also offered the right location for Joseph to finally jump-start his American career. “UCLA was a legitimate reason for me to pack up and move to this city, and it offered the strongest base for my career,” Joseph said.

With other recent work such as commercials for the U.S. Army and Chrysler, an episode of “Untold Stories of the ER,” and a guest-starring role on the season premiere of “24,” the future looks promising for Dr. Myers’ alter-ego.

“I wish more students were like him,” Monaghan said. “He has tenacity (and) … a dedication above and beyond the call of duty.”

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"ed monaghan" "kahlil joseph" "paul wagar" 

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