MacCallister wears jacket HUGO BOSS
On the set at our cover shoot we sat down with the fearless MacCallister Byrd who plays Calvin Derne in the new series Dredgewood. A spirited man, MacCallister shares his most proudest accomplishment to date, who he’d like to walk into the room at this moment and what makes The Perfect Man.
MR. MAC CALLISTER BYRD
Are you a Coffee or Tea man?
Coffee – black, hot or cold.
What's your first thought when you wake up?
I need more sleep.
Cat or dog?
Dog – I’ve had a PitBull for a year now and I have never had a better dog. Her name is Koda.
If you had a choice, where would you choose to spend your last day on earth?
A full day in summertime Chicago.
A quote that speaks to you?
It ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward. –Rocky Balboa
What accomplishment are you most proud of at the moment?
Moving to LA straight out of college knowing no one out here.
THE PERFECT MAN
“Imperfections are sometimes the best parts of things.”
MR. MACCALLISTER BYRD
What are you working on now?
Currently I’m cast in two movies that begin filming over the summer and fall. I play “Calvin Derne” in the new show “DREDGEWOOD” that I can’t wait to start filming soon as well. I’m also in the second season of the CBS ALL ACCESS show “STRANGE ANGEL” that comes out June 13th.
What actor or actress (or anyone) do you admire the most, and why? Who would you like to walk into the room right now?
That’s a loaded question haha, it’s like asking Gordon Ramsay his favorite food or Bono his favorite artist – there are too many to narrow down one. But recently I’ve come to admire Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael B. Jordan. The way they work with their scripts and characters is something I’m attracted to. Their work ethic is amazing, on and off camera.
What’s your thought on Hollywood’s ever expanding shift from full feature to series?
It’s where the work is at. Honestly, you gotta adapt to the environment you’re in as an actor. Of course, I love movies and the big Hollywood blockbuster attraction, but with shows you get to flesh out certain characters and story arcs over a season instead of a 2 hour movie.
An awkward moment on set you can remember?
Hahahahaha yes. My first filmed sex scene was on Strange Angel. I won’t get into it too much but the actual awkward moment happened because of the height difference between Laine Neil and myself, not because of the scene content itself. I had to “cheat” the camera and ended up making love to an office desk while bottomless...
THE PERFECT MAN
MacCallister wears red polo CALVIN KLEIN, pants HUGO BOSS
MacCallister wears short sleeve shirt HUGO BOSS, pants KARL LAGERFELD
Where have you traveled recently?
Chicago.
What’s your favorite city in the world?
Once again, Chicago.
Where do you go to switch off?
Malibu, there is a great canyon that I hike often that has no cell reception and the air quality there is refreshing. It’s nice. Quiet.
What are your favorite spots in LA?
Arts District – great coffee, sick shops.
Culver City – slowed down suburban life within LA.
Hollywood – where most of the sets I worked on are.
A country?
Italy – I could spend a month walking around the city of Rome alone. Great food. Great people. (Close second is Spain for the same reasons)
A restaurant?
Crisp on Broadway in Chicago- Korean fusion fried chicken (definitely a candidate for a death row meal).
THE PERFECT MAN
MR. MACCALLISTER BYRD
Any great movies you watched lately?
Avengers – Endgame. This movie was 11 years in the making, it’s half the reason why I wanted to become an actor in the first place. Robert Downey Jr. delivers an amazing performance as always. Cried 4 times.
What's your favorite body part on you? And your least favorite?
Ooof. My favorite might be my arms and shoulders. I can get them toned pretty fast and have some strength too.
My least favorite are my abs. I always think they could be better. They are so hard to train the right way and then once you have a six pack maintaining them is pretty hard too.
THE PERFECT MAN
MR. MACCALLISTER BYRD
Are you a perfect man? In your opinion, what does it take to be The Perfect Man in 2019?
No. If I was I don’t think I would be quite interesting. Aren’t imperfections sometimes the best parts of things? What I strive for is to be the best man, actor, friend, son, boyfriend, I can be everyday. I think what it takes to be perfect is all internal too and is personal to everyone’s inner being. Perfection is all a matter of perspective.
Boxers or briefs man?
Both.
Shower or bath?
Shower.
How would you describe your grooming routine?
I’m one of those who grew up having terrible acne. I clean my face when it feels dirty, and don’t over-clean because it actually does more damage. Find a good water-based lotion, it hydrates the skin. I prefer EltaMD – PM Therapy and benzoyl peroxide for breakouts and mederma for scars, it does the job.
“What it takes to be perfect is all internal too and is personal to everyone’s inner being. Perfection is all a matter of perspective.”
THE PERFECT MAN
