Oliver-born actor Travis Turner is playing Aster Vanderberg on the new YTV show “Some Assembly Required.” The show, a live action comedy series, is shot in Burnaby. Photo submitted
Most performers know a thing or two about persistence. Twenty-six-year-old Travis Turner certainly does.
The Oliver-born, actor/musician, who’s currently starring in the YTV series “Some Assembly Required,’” recalls years of making countless trips to Vancouver for auditions and callback sessions while growing up in Penticton.
Turner, like most film actors, honed his craft in the theatre, cutting his teeth in local productions of Peter Pan, Lord of the Flies, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, before landing his first on-screen roles in the short-films Henchin and Scars, followed by a role in an episode of the TV series Caprica, the prequel to Battlestar Galactica, in 2008.
That led to more serious inroads into the acting business, garnering him several roles in television shows such as Battlestar Galactica, Supernatural, Fairly Legal, and Tower Prep.
Turner finally got his big break in 2010, after nearly two decades in the entertainment business, when he was selected for the role of Bodi Grogan in Marley and Me: The Puppy Years, the sequel to the popular feature film starring Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson. He went on to realize a childhood dream when he walked the red carpet after playing a major role in the made-for-TV film, A Princess for Christmas, with Roger Moore.
Last May he took on a role in the popular Nickelodeon original movie, Rags, which is described as “a gender switched, musical version of the Cinderella story,” and features high-profile performers Keke Palmer, Max Schneider, Drake Bell, Avan Jogia and Nick Cannon.
The multi-platform performer credits his success to his parents, who got him involved with the theatre and drove him to more than 80 auditions during those early years.
“They planted the seed,” he told the Chronicle during a recent phone interview while waiting to catch a flight home to Vancouver, where he is also heavily involved in the music scene as a hip-hop artist. He has performed with acts like Warren G, Swollen Members, Kyprios, B-Real, D12 and Lil’ Kim.
“My mom has been really supportive. She’s my biggest fan. She still proudly waitresses at The Bears Den in Penticton and she tells everyone how proud she is. She’s been amazing.”
With the launch of Some Assembly Required on January 6, 2014, Turner celebrated another career milestone.
“I used to watch YTV when I was growing up so getting the opportunity to be on it as an adult is very surreal. And it’s a great show,” he said.
The series, which is shot in front of a live audience in Burnaby, follows an eclectic and mismatched group of kids who operate Knickknack Toys. Surrounded by doubters, including the former owner, the team tries to prove to the world that not only can they run the company, they can make it better than ever, restoring the honour to the name of the company’s founder.
Turner takes on the role of Aster Vanderberg, the fashion conscious, graphic designer of the group.
Turner says being in front of a live audience is one of the many reasons he was drawn to the show.
“When you get to perform in front of a live audience, there’s a great energy and it brings that much more to us as performers. I love it.”
Though the show and his burgeoning music career don’t leave much time for vacations, Turner says he tries to get back to the area to see his friends and relatives when he can.
“The Okanagan is my home,” he added.
“I love the valley. I love the beaches. You really can’t beat it.”
Some Assembly Required airs Monday evenings at 6:30 E/P on YTV. To be part of the studio audience viewers can email [email protected] to reserve seats.
Erin Christie
Oliver Chronicle
