It sounds like a stage name, but unlike, say Whoopi Goldberg (who was born Caryn Elaine Johnson), Kalama Epstein isn’t faking it. Nineteen-year-old Kalamakahaola Epstein, Hawaii born and raised, is Native Hawaiian on his mother’s side. From his father, he inherits a Jewish European-American heritage; Epstein jokingly describes himself as a “Jewaiian.”
In 2014, Epstein played Billy Davis, one of the good guys in “Under the Blood Red Sun,” an indie film about the experiences of a Japanese-American family in Hawaii after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. His breakthrough role outside Hawaii followed when he was cast as Noah, an openly gay teen and a recurring character, in Freeform’s hit series, “The Fosters.”
Epstein is currently starring as Jeremy, an overachieving high school sophomore, in the Netflix comedy/drama, “No Good Nick.” Described by Netflix an “edgy tween sitcom with a twist,” the first half of the show’s first season began streaming on April 15. The second half will premiere sometime between September and November.
There’s been elevated concern in recent years about casting actors according to the race, ethnicity or sexual orientation of the character they’re playing. Was that an issue for you as in Hollywood?
That’s a pretty big discussion right now (and) it’s definitely been an interesting topic. I understand why people are for (casting gay actors to play gay characters) but at the end of the day sexual orientation shouldn’t limit (casting). It is an interesting conversation as to where to draw the line.
I don’t think anyone who watches “John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum” leaves the theater thinking that Keanu Reeves is a professional hit man in real life, but do you find people who enjoyed your work in the “The Fosters” assuming that you’re gay?
I think that audiences tend to want to believe that the actor is the character that they watch them play and so I still get a lot of questions about whether or not I’m gay, or whether or not I have a boyfriend or whether or not I’m dating my co-star (Hayden Byerly) in “The Fosters.”
I know you can’t say anything about the second half of “No Good Nick,” but how is it going?
We spent seven months working on the show and we’re super, super proud of everything we did with it. The rest of the season is going to be just as good.
Going back to “Under the Blood Red Sun” — what got you interested in doing the film?
It was actually a book that I read in grade school way before I auditioned for the movie. It’s this incredible story of a family and these two friends and the prejudice that existed during that time, and everything that came after it that this Japanese-American family has to face in the days after Pearl Harbor. I auditioned for the character of the villain (first) but they didn’t think I could be mean enough.
When did you know you wanted to become an actor?
When I was in sixth grade I did “Seussical Jr.” at Mid-Pac (Institute). Even before then I’d discovered I had a passion for directing and writing, and through that I found acting. The musical definitely brought it out a little more with me.
What are your plans for the future?
Last year I shot my first short film that I wrote and directed. This year I’m hoping to do another short film before the year ends. I’ll write as much as I can and try to get as many short films done as I can.
