Wooster native Adam Kirk lands role in HBO’s ‘The Gilded Age’ after years of stage success

For Wooster native Adam Kirk, a long-held dream recently led to notable screen time in a highly ranked TV series. He appears in the most recent season of "The Gilded Age," a critically acclaimed drama on HBO Max. The achievement was a pinnacle for the Wooster High School graduate who first acted during eighth grade in the play "And Then There Were None."

“I instantly loved performing,” said Kirk, son of Joe Louis Kirk Jr. and Jodi Kirk of Wooster.

The acting bug was planted long before that, however, when his mother, who had acted and directed throughout Northeast Ohio, took the 7-year-old to the theater and to summer theater camps. Kirk was captivated, as it built on his lifelong affinity for storytelling, playing pretend and entertaining.

Following high school, during which Kirk also sang in the choir, he completed two years of musical theater training at Kent State University. He then left for Cleveland to pursue professional work and soon landed a gig at the Near West Theater, followed by performing and directing at Chagrin Falls Academy for the Performing Arts. He also was a cast member at the Great Lakes Theater in "Much Ado About Nothing" and "As You Like It," the latter including a month-long run in Boise, Idaho. In the meantime Kirk was involved with the Ohio Light Opera during summers.

“My OLO experience assured me that acting could be a real career, not just a pipe dream,” he said.

They say if you can make it in New York City, you’ll make it anywhere, and Kirk decided to test that theory in 2023 by moving to Brooklyn.

“That was a big leap,” Kirk said. “But living in Cleveland first gave me experience in functioning independently in a city."

Initially, Kirk found everything in New York challenging including getting around without a car and procuring groceries and other necessities.

“But I figured I’m here, I’ve worked hard for this, I’ve just got to do it,” he said.

According to Kirk, seeking work in the entertainment industry is similar to any job search.

“You put out feelers virtually and hope you make it to the in-person interview — in this case, the audition,” he said.

Kirk subscribes to Backstage and Actors Access, job sites that match individuals to jobs requiring their voice, body and/or character type. The next step is submitting a resume and perhaps a video. Another option is to attend open calls, which involve showing up early morning and waiting in line, hoping to be seen after the day’s appointments are completed. One audition stood out for Kirk. He applied for "Ain’t Too Proud," a musical about The Temptations, and subsequently performed for Otis Williams, the group’s founder, and television personality Gayle King.

Kirk’s efforts landed him roles in the operas "Aida" and "Moby Dick" at the Metropolitan Opera. "Moby Dick" involved the most animation for him, including climbing 30 feet up the ship’s mast, wearing a harness while covered in fake whale blood.

“It was surreal being on that stage, and even though I was just the guy climbing the pole, the standing ovation at the end was incredible,” he said.

Kirk’s parents traveled to New York to watch their son in "Moby Dick."

“Seeing him at that venue was exciting,” Jodi Kirk said. “It’s been a joy watching Adam step into his gift.”

Dad feels the same. 

“I’m very proud of Adam,” Joe Kirk said. “It’s great seeing him performing on stage and screen because it’s truly what he loves to do.”

Then came "The Gilded Age." The series is set in New York City in the 1880s, a time of significant economic growth and new money competing with old money. After landing the role, Kirk went for two costume fittings and soon found himself on a bus at 3:30 a.m. on its way to the set. His two scenes were filmed last autumn, a few miles north of the city and on Long Island. Kirk’s appearance came in season three, episode five. Although he played a background character with no speaking, he appeared in close proximity to the lead actors.

Each scene involved a one-day shoot of 14-16 hours. Kirk took advantage of the substantial downtime by observing how the director and the videographer worked, always wanting to learn. The days were hot and humid, and the rigid construction of Kirk’s costume limited his mobility.

“It wasn’t the most comfortable experience, but it was really fun,” he said.

Kirk’s side hustle in the city is bartending. He also has worked as a production assistant, operations manager, box office staff member and arts educator.

“I’m trying to learn from all the art and artistry New York has to offer,” Kirk said. “I hope I’ll be able to mash those experiences with the ones I’ve had closer to home and become a smarter, more complete actor/director."