# Nick Young (actor)

Nickolas Ray Young is an American actor who appeared in the films Friend of the World (2020) and Hemet, or the Landlady Don't Drink Tea (2023), television movies El Diablo (1990) and Geronimo (1993), and OnStage Playhouse's productions of The Diary of Anne Frank (2011) and The Other Place (2022). Young began working on television in Arizona throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s before moving to San Diego County for film and theater work in the 2010s.

## Early life

Young was born to Elois Roain Drayfahl and Duain Francis Young in Tucson, Arizona. He became interested in performing arts while in grade school, was on the track team and played American football as an offensive lineman at Palo Verde High Magnet School. After high school, Young majored in drama at Pima Community College. While there, he qualified for the National Junior College Athletic Association championships after winning the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference for the discus throw but he was unable to place.

## Career
### 1980–2008: Acting and firefighting career

Young acted in many television movies and shows in Tucson and Phoenix while pursuing a career as a firefighter. He was appointed to the Tucson Fire Department on June 16, 1980. In 1981, Young received an electric shock while working with another fireman who suffered steam burns. Both were treated for non-serious injuries. Young was promoted to engineer on May 8, 1988, and retired on February 28, 2008.

### 2011–2023: Return to acting

After retiring as a fireman, Young relocated to San Diego County where he performed in stage plays such as The Diary of Anne Frank, The Other Place and Kimberly Akimbo. He was cast in films such as Hemet, or the Landlady Don't Drink Tea, The Case of: Dakota Moore, I Brake for Caterpillars as well as a Filmapalooza qualifying 48 hour short film called Con Boys.

### 2020: Friend of the World

Young auditioned for Friend of the World by submitting a mobile video and he was cast as Gore, a lead role. Several film critics admired his performance and he was nominated for Best Actor at the San Diego Film Awards. The film was distributed by Troma Entertainment.
Ally Ham at Video Librarian said Young's chemistry with co-star Alexandra Slade was engaging but also out of place at times. Rob Rector at Film Threat and John Noonan at FilmInk noticed his character seemed to be inspired from Dr. Strangelove. Film critic Daniel M. Kimmel said Young proficiently expresses his character's thoughts and Cheryl Eddy at Gizmodo claims he has an "unhinged aura of someone who's been alone too long." Young's performance has been compared to John Goodman, Bruce Campbell and Sterling Hayden while director Brian Patrick Butler said his character is like John Wayne, casting him for his "grimness and humor."

## Stage credits

| Year | Title | Role | Location | Notes |
| 2011 | Pride and Prejudice | Mr. Wickham | OnStage Playhouse, Chula Vista, California | |
| 2011 | The Diary of Anne Frank | Mr. Dussell | OnStage Playhouse, Chula Vista, California | |
| 2012 | The Sugar Witch | Grandaddy Meeks | OnStage Playhouse, Chula Vista, California | |
| 2013 | The Sugar Bean Sisters | The Bishop Crumley | PowPAC, Poway's Community Theatre, Poway, California | |
| 2013 | Kimberly Akimbo | Buddy | Point Loma Playhouse, San Diego, California | |
| 2014 | A Discourse on the Wonders of the Invisible World | Reverend Peck | Moxie Theatre, San Diego, California | |
| 2015 | Trouble in Mind | Bill O'Wray | Moxie Theatre, San Diego, California | |
| 2015 | Love Letters | Andrew Makepeace Ladd III | Point Loma Playhouse, San Diego, California | |
| 2016 | — | — | La Jolla Theatre Ensemble, La Jolla, California | |
| 2019 | Return Engagements | Joe Bristol | Scripps Ranch Theatre, San Diego, California | |
| 2021 | A People's Cuban Christmas Tale | Various | OnStage Playhouse, Chula Vista, California | Herbert Sigüenza adaptation of A Christmas Carol |
| 2022 | The Other Place | Ian Smithton | OnStage Playhouse, Chula Vista, California | |
| 2022 | Rest | Gerald | OnStage Playhouse, Chula Vista, California | by Samuel D. Hunter |
| 2022 | It's a Wonderful Vida | Saint Nick | OnStage Playhouse, Chula Vista, California | by Herbert Sigüenza |

## Filmography

Film :
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1992 | The Vagrant | Guard | |
| 2013 | Speechless | Ethan | Short film |
| 2016 | Con Boys | Herman Hill | Short film |
| 2020 | Kirby | Alex | Short film |
| 2020 | Friend of the World | General Gore | |
| 2021 | The Case of: Dakota Moore | Detective Harris | |
| 2022 | Mike & Fred vs The Dead | — | |
| 2022 | Touch | Detective Hooper | Short film |
| 2023 | Hemet, or the Landlady Don't Drink Tea | Tank | |
| 2023 | I Brake for Caterpillars † | Police Chief | |
Key :
| † | Denotes film or TV productions that have not yet been released |
Television :
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1985 | Gus Brown and Midnight Brewster | — | TV movie |
| 1988 | The Legend of White Gold | Fred Talbot | TV movie |
| 1988 | The Highwayman | M.P. #1 | Episode: "Summer of '45" |
| 1988 | Jesse | Sheriff | TV movie, uncredited |
| 1988 | One Life to Live | Investigator | 1 episode |
| 1988 | Probe | Elder | Episode: "Untouched by Human Hands" |
| 1989-1990 | The Young Riders | James Crowley / Customer | 2 episodes |
| 1990 | El Diablo | Deputy | TV movie |
| 1992 | Sunstroke | Cop | TV movie |
| 1993 | Geronimo | Purlington | TV movie |
| 1993 | Telling Secrets | Highway Patrolman | TV movie, uncredited |