Michael Vaccaro Interview - Over The Years, My Idea Of Success Has Definitely Changed

Michael Vaccaro was recently interviewed by RootsAndRoutesMag.com and below is the Q&A session we had with him.

Briefly describe your background, interests, and significant life experiences.

I was born and raised in New York City, specifically The Bronx, in an Italian-American family, so that absolutely made me the man I am. When I was a tiny little boy, I had a sarcastic sense of humor, and I spoke like Joe Pesci in a mafia movie. I had a foul mouth! But, let me tell you, native New Yorkers get a bad rap. People say we’re rude. When I was growing up, New Yorkers were generous, exciting, interesting, fun, electric! It’s just that we have places to go, and things to do, and if you go slow on the sidewalk, we’re going to tell you about it. I’m so glad I grew up there, and I feel that I have a distinct advantage. New Yorkers learn quickly how to navigate the world, how to negotiate, how to survive.

I became a child actor. My mother paid for singing, dancing, acting, piano, guitar lessons. I got rid of my very-pronounced Bronx accent. I got my first professional job when I was 8.

What has been a major challenge in your life and how did you handle it?

Growing up gay in the 1960s and ’70s wasn’t easy. I hit my 18th birthday in the summer of 1982. A year earlier, the New York Times published the now-famous article about a “Rare Cancer Seen in 41 Homosexuals.” I was so ready to be a young, cute gay man in NYC, and then THAT happened. For the next 15 years, I watched all my male friends die. My first boyfriend, a beautiful boy named Brian from New Jersey, was one of the first. It got the point where we were all going to funerals every single weekend. As soon as someone started coughing, you were terrified that they were going to be gone soon. You don’t go through something like that without being traumatized, feeling PTSD. I guess I had to figure out how to take everything day by day, minute by minute really.

Share a personal or professional achievement you are proud of.

Just lasting this long is an achievement, I think. Being a working actor for five decades! I’m pretty proud of that! Over the years, my idea of success has definitely changed. Now, I see myself as a huge success just for staying in the game. For not allowing myself to give up, to listen to all the voices telling me that I was being unrealistic. To wake up every day and do the thing that I love, no matter how frustrating it might be at times.

What keeps you motivated and inspired each day?

My love for the arts. Theatre, film. Acting. Dancing and singing. There are moments – on stage, especially – when I believe in The Divine, when I can feel a Higher Power that gave me this wonderful gift.

How do you actively give back to your community or support others?

Coming up during the AIDS crisis forced me to be political. I fought everyday alongside ACT UP(AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power), GMHC(Gay Men’s Health Crisis), Queer Nation, Larry Kramer, David Drake, and many others. Art and theatre became political. Ronald Reagan was the enemy. Rallies, protests, the March on Washington. That feeling doesn’t just go away. We all continued with fighting Bush W, and the Iraq war, the fight for marriage equality and reproductive freedom and civil rights. I’ve marched with BLM and Antifa, and now, of course, it’s American Fascism, Trump, Christian Nationalism, and the Zionist genocide of the Palestinians.

What message or advice would you like to share with our readers?

The last year has been particularly tough. The zionist genocide of the Palestinian people, and the devastating realization that many people who I know and love support it. And the new convicted felon in the White House… it’s all been a lot. And I’ve felt helpless. Hopeless. In despair. But, it hit me one day, I can’t afford to feel hopeless. I can’t give up. I can’t ignore it. The stakes are all way too high. So, my advice to others, and to myself, is to wake up each day, and fight. Yell, scream. Be heard. Whatever they throw at you, throw it right back. Stay angry. But still try to keep the message positive. Take care of yourself. Support your real friends, support artists. We will survive this. #Freepalestine