Michael Carbone knew he wanted to be an actor the moment he stepped into a Broadway theater at the age of 6. His parents were less than thrilled by his career choice, but success seemed to be in the cards as young Carbone added national commercials, films, radio and television shows to his resume.
In 1985, Carbone was cast by Dustin Hoffman in his made-for-TV movie of Death of a Salesman. “I was just a kid,” Carbone recalled, “but Dustin Hoffman treated me like one of his own. I remember that while we were in the recording studio, he pitched grapes to me which I tried to catch in my mouth. He was a really cool guy to a really nervous little boy.”
Another cool guy in Carbone’s estimation was Soupy Sales. “We were making a commercial in which I played the young Soupy to his adult Soupy,” he said. “We were dressed alike in navy blue suits, white shirts and yellow silk ties. When the shoot was over, Soupy took the tie from around his neck and placed it over my head. He said, ‘One day, you’re going to be too big for the tie you are wearing. Take this one and remember me when you wear it.’ I’ve never forgotten him.”
When he was 7, Carbone opened in the stage play Sundown Beach, which was being presented at Sanford Meisner’s famed Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in Manhattan. Little did he know that 30 years later, he would return to New York to pitch his TV comedy series, Unconventional, a top selection in the prestigious New York Television Festival.
Carbone received a degree from the University of Miami in 1999 and immediately set out for California. He quickly realized that acting was not his true passion — writing was. While attending Wellington High School, Carbone was an award-winning debater in original oratory with many of the ideas for his speeches coming from his mother, who coached him prior to competitions.
“My mom is my sounding board, and I am hers,” he said. “We always bounce ideas and dialogue off each other.”
Along with his business and writing partner, Jason Huber, Carbone created Unconventional, which follows the life of failed comic book writer/artist Nate Jacobs and his misfit employees as they try to mount their own monthly pop culture, sci-fi and comic book convention.
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This year, the NYTVF will celebrate its 10th year with festivities being held Oct. 20 through 25 at Tribeca Cinemas.
“I was supposed to be on my honeymoon during that week,” Carbone said. “Luckily, my fiancé thinks New York in the fall is a great place to visit.”
ABOVE: Michael Carbone
