Acting is a necessity for Los Angeles native Austen Parros. “It’s how I breathe. It’s how I eat. It gives me rest at night. It’s everything. I don’t know what I would do without it,” he says.
From the moment he first stepped on stage at 13 in The Pirates of Penzance, acting became the foundation of his life’s purpose. Over the years, he has refined his craft across theater, television, and film, earning notable roles such as Nadab in “The Chosen” (2023), Sean Miller in “South of Nowhere” (2005–2008), and Marcus in “NCIS” (2021).
Parros’s love for storytelling started in Aurora, Colorado, where he immersed himself in musicals and stage productions. In 2002, after serving as a jet engine mechanic in the Air Force, he returned to Los Angeles to pursue acting professionally. The transition was inspired by his uncle, actor Peter Parros of “The Haves and the Have Nots,” and “Knight Rider.”
Austen embraced the industry head-on. His early television work included “What Should You Do?,” a reenactment-style show, followed by a breakthrough role on “Judging Amy,” which earned him his Screen Actors Guild card.
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“It was unreal,” he recalls. “It was new, fresh—but it was like, ‘I’ve arrived.’ It was a dream come true.”
Though acting remains his first love, Parros considers himself a creative in every sense. “I’m creative. That’s how I consider myself,” he says.
“Mainly an actor, but I draw, I used to dance, and even in my own business—contracting work like electrical, plumbing, flooring, drywall—all of it requires creativity.” His artistic instincts stretch beyond performance, shaping every aspect of his professional and personal life.
Despite his passion, Parros is no stranger to the financial realities of an artistic career. As a father of four, he understands the weight of responsibility.
“My youngest is 17 now. That’s the weight. The weight is I have to provide for them. Acting—that’s not the weight,” he explains. His contracting business allows him the freedom to pursue acting without financial strain, keeping his artistic ambitions alive without compromise.
Yet even with stability, the creative journey comes with its own burdens. “The affirmation is me getting the job. If I don’t get the job, that voice in your head goes, ‘I’m not good enough.’”
But over time, he’s learned to quiet that doubt. “It doesn’t matter who hires me. It doesn’t matter how much I work. If you want to play, we can play.”
As an actor, Parros admires performers who bring depth and range to their roles. “Jamie Foxx does a lot of character work, and he can bring everything—musical ability, comedy, drama. That’s what I admire,” he says.
Known for his cool and confident on-screen presence, he’s often compared to Christian Keyes, a similarity he hadn’t considered before but appreciates. Still, even with experience, he sometimes questions his place in the industry.
“If I don’t believe I’m the character, that’s when I don’t feel confident,” he admits.
His recent work includes playing Nurse Wilson in Jonathan Rowan’s short film “The Knowing” (2024). But despite his success in TV, his heart still longs for the stage. “That was heaven,” he says of his past theater performances. “I’d love to get on stage again.”
For Parros, acting is also more “like spirituality,” he reflects. Through character analysis, he explores the depths of human emotion, relationships, and identity, gaining a profound understanding of humanity.
“It makes me appreciate life even more,” he says. It challenges him to grow, to empathize, and to step into perspectives beyond his own. “Every character teaches me something,” he says. “About myself, about the world, about who I want to be.”
In many ways, acting transcends the performance and connects him to something greater than himself, shaping not just his career, but his very existence.
Follow Austen’s creative journey on Instagram @austenparros_.
