Merlin Bell
- Actor
Merlin Lorenzo Bell was born on May 28, 1992 in St. Louis, MO. Merlin is the middle child of nine children. His mother, Jeanine Clay, is a saleswoman for hair products and his father, Lendell McAlpine, works odd jobs. Merlin knew he wanted to be an actor since he was 6 years old, after being mesmerized by numerous character actors he watched as a kid. Such as, Robin Williams, Jim Carrey, and Johnny Depp, just to name a few. Merlin would often times act out and perform in class, which more often than not would get him into trouble. When Merlin wasn't trying to perform in class he would perform in front of his family often mimicking other family members or characters he saw on TV.
In 2007, Merlin started high school at Williams's Ninth grade academy. After only doing a semester there, he transferred to Central Visual and Performing Arts high school where he focused on acting. Merlin did several supporting roles in Aladdin and The Wiz, as well as doing technical work in Dream Girls. It was Merlin's junior year that Merlin experienced some of his first professional acting experience. In the early part of his junior year, Merlin got a slot in a National Boys Town Commercial PSA, and towards the end of his junior year and also his entire senior year in high school, Merlin was hired at the Missouri History Museum as an actor. Merlin was able to get hands on experience writing and character development with other young actors as well to act in historical dramas to numerous visitors and school groups who came to the museum daily.
In the fall of 2011, Merlin started attending Denison University in Granville, OH where he majors in Theatre. Merlin has been active in Theatre at Denison University since he has been a freshman with A Midsummer Night's Dream as Thisbe. This lead to other plays in the Denison Theatre department with A Streetcar Named Desire as the Doctor, Theatres of War as Baker, The Adventures of a Black Girl in Search of God as Abendigo Johnson, and The Malvolio Project as Sebastian. This past fall Merlin was in two musical productions, the first was Little Shop of Horrors as Voice of God/Customer/Police Officer/ Patrick Martin. The other musical was Rent, where Merlin played the waiter.
Besides performing on stage Merlin has also participated in a couple student films. He has starred in or play-supporting characters in such films as Charades; This Vacuum is Too Loud, Sweet Dreams, The Last Hurrah, Postmortem Jam, Hitchhiker and the Driver, and Midnight Man. Merlin plans on moving to Atlanta, GA to pursue a career in an intermediate market as a film/TV/voice-over actor, then once he establishes himself as a professional actor he plans on moving to Los Angeles, CA. Merlin's experience at Denison, Central Visual Performing Arts, and the Missouri History Museum whether it was working on a stage play or acting in a film has been truly enjoyable and humbling and has been, and continues to be the greatest education Merlin has had in his life thus far.
In 2007, Merlin started high school at Williams's Ninth grade academy. After only doing a semester there, he transferred to Central Visual and Performing Arts high school where he focused on acting. Merlin did several supporting roles in Aladdin and The Wiz, as well as doing technical work in Dream Girls. It was Merlin's junior year that Merlin experienced some of his first professional acting experience. In the early part of his junior year, Merlin got a slot in a National Boys Town Commercial PSA, and towards the end of his junior year and also his entire senior year in high school, Merlin was hired at the Missouri History Museum as an actor. Merlin was able to get hands on experience writing and character development with other young actors as well to act in historical dramas to numerous visitors and school groups who came to the museum daily.
In the fall of 2011, Merlin started attending Denison University in Granville, OH where he majors in Theatre. Merlin has been active in Theatre at Denison University since he has been a freshman with A Midsummer Night's Dream as Thisbe. This lead to other plays in the Denison Theatre department with A Streetcar Named Desire as the Doctor, Theatres of War as Baker, The Adventures of a Black Girl in Search of God as Abendigo Johnson, and The Malvolio Project as Sebastian. This past fall Merlin was in two musical productions, the first was Little Shop of Horrors as Voice of God/Customer/Police Officer/ Patrick Martin. The other musical was Rent, where Merlin played the waiter.
Besides performing on stage Merlin has also participated in a couple student films. He has starred in or play-supporting characters in such films as Charades; This Vacuum is Too Loud, Sweet Dreams, The Last Hurrah, Postmortem Jam, Hitchhiker and the Driver, and Midnight Man. Merlin plans on moving to Atlanta, GA to pursue a career in an intermediate market as a film/TV/voice-over actor, then once he establishes himself as a professional actor he plans on moving to Los Angeles, CA. Merlin's experience at Denison, Central Visual Performing Arts, and the Missouri History Museum whether it was working on a stage play or acting in a film has been truly enjoyable and humbling and has been, and continues to be the greatest education Merlin has had in his life thus far.