Nick Young (actor)

This article is about the American actor. For the British actor, see Nicholas Young (actor).

For other people named Nick Young, see Nick Young (disambiguation).

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.

Nick Young
Young in 2024
Born	Nickolas Ray Young Tucson, Arizona, U.S.
Nationality	American
Other names	Nickolas R. Young Nickolas Young
Alma mater	Palo Verde High Magnet School Pima Community College
Occupations	Actor firefighter
Years active	1985–present
Known for	General Gore in Friend of the World
Notable credits	The Diary of Anne Frank Hemet, or the Landlady Don't Drink Tea The Other Place Touch
Parents	Duain Francis Young (father) Elois Roain Drayfahl (mother)

Early life

Young was born to Elois Roain Drayfahl and Duain Francis Young in Tucson, Arizona.^[1][2] He became interested in performing arts while in grade school,^[3] was on the track team^[4] and played American football as an offensive lineman at Palo Verde High Magnet School.^[5] After high school, Young majored in drama at Pima Community College.^[3] While there, he qualified for the National Junior College Athletic Association championships^[6] after winning the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference for the discus throw but he was unable to place.^[7]

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.^[3] He was appointed to the Tucson Fire Department on June 16, 1980.^[8] In 1981, Young received an electric shock while working with another fireman who suffered steam burns. Both were treated for non-serious injuries.^[8][9] Young was promoted to engineer on May 8, 1988, and retired on February 28, 2008.^[8]

2011–2023: Return to acting

After retiring as a fireman, Young relocated to San Diego County^[3] where he performed in stage plays such as The Diary of Anne Frank,^[10] The Other Place and Kimberly Akimbo.^[11] He was cast in films such as Hemet, or the Landlady Don't Drink Tea,^[12] The Case of: Dakota Moore,^[13] I Brake for Caterpillars^[3] as well as a Filmapalooza qualifying 48 hour short film called Con Boys.^[14]

2020: Friend of the World

Main article: 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.^[13] Several film critics admired his performance^{[15][16][17][18]} and he was nominated for Best Actor at the San Diego Film Awards. The film was distributed by Troma Entertainment.^[13]

Ally Ham at Video Librarian said Young's chemistry with co-star Alexandra Slade was engaging but also out of place at times.^[19] Rob Rector at Film Threat and John Noonan at FilmInk noticed his character seemed to be inspired from Dr. Strangelove.^[20][21] Film critic Daniel M. Kimmel said Young proficiently expresses his character's thoughts^[22] and Cheryl Eddy at Gizmodo claims he has an "unhinged aura of someone who's been alone too long."^[23] Young's performance has been compared to John Goodman,^[24] Bruce Campbell and Sterling Hayden^[25] while director Brian Patrick Butler said his character is like John Wayne, casting him for his "grimness and humor."^[13]

Stage credits

Year	Title	Role	Location	Notes
2011	Pride and Prejudice	Mr. Wickham	OnStage Playhouse, Chula Vista, California	[26]
	The Diary of Anne Frank	Mr. Dussell	OnStage Playhouse, Chula Vista, California	[10]
2012	The Sugar Witch	Grandaddy Meeks	OnStage Playhouse, Chula Vista, California	[11]
2013	The Sugar Bean Sisters	The Bishop Crumley	PowPAC, Poway's Community Theatre, Poway, California	[27]
	Kimberly Akimbo	Buddy	Point Loma Playhouse, San Diego, California	[11]
2014	A Discourse on the Wonders of the Invisible World	Reverend Peck	Moxie Theatre, San Diego, California	[11]
2015	Trouble in Mind	Bill O'Wray	Moxie Theatre, San Diego, California	[11]
	Love Letters	Andrew Makepeace Ladd III	Point Loma Playhouse, San Diego, California	[28]
2016	—	—	La Jolla Theatre Ensemble, La Jolla, California	[29]
2019	Return Engagements	Joe Bristol	Scripps Ranch Theatre, San Diego, California	[11]
2021	A People's Cuban Christmas Tale	Various	OnStage Playhouse, Chula Vista, California	Herbert Sigüenza adaptation of A Christmas Carol[30]
2022	The Other Place	Ian Smithton	OnStage Playhouse, Chula Vista, California	[11][31][32]
	Rest	Gerald	OnStage Playhouse, Chula Vista, California	by Samuel D. Hunter[33]
	It's a Wonderful Vida	Saint Nick	OnStage Playhouse, Chula Vista, California	by Herbert Sigüenza[34]

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1992	The Vagrant	Guard	[15]
2013	Speechless	Ethan	Short film
2016	Con Boys	Herman Hill	Short film[14]
2020	Kirby	Alex	Short film
	Friend of the World	General Gore	[3][13]
2021	The Case of: Dakota Moore	Detective Harris	[13]
2022	Mike & Fred vs The Dead	—	[35]
	Touch	Detective Hooper	Short film[36]
2023	Hemet, or the Landlady Don't Drink Tea	Tank	[11][37][38]
	I Brake for Caterpillars †	Police Chief	[3]

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"
	Jesse	Sheriff	TV movie, uncredited
	One Life to Live	Investigator	1 episode
	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
	Telling Secrets	Highway Patrolman	TV movie, uncredited