Merrill Capps is an actor and filmmaker in Los Angeles.  His work has been featured in movies, television, theater, commercials, music videos, print, and the internet.  Before getting professionally involved in entertainment, he found a dusty-but-solid Pentax K-1000Camera in his grandparent’s sauna-like New Orleans attic and taught himself still photography.  He quickly began shooting for numerous local and national newspapers and magazines.  Though he was born in New Orleans, he spent his younger days moving frequently with his family – Maryland, Colorado, Louisiana…

Capps grew up on the stage in various plays and musicals (Crazy for You, Rumors, Into the Woods, Little Shop of Horrors, and many others).  Being from New Orleans, he studied the saxophone for 15 years and played in a few jazz bands.

While his first passion has always been (and continues to be) acting, he became enamored with the entire process of filmmaking and writing.  In 2004, he opened an independent production company with his friend and colleague, director Britt Pitre, called Doorway Entertainment.  To date, the company has produced two award-winning feature films: the psychological-thriller Feral, and a movie adaptation of Jean-Paul Sartre’s No Exit starring Blanchard Ryan (Open Water) and Edoardo Ballerini (The Sopranos).

After Hurricane Katrina said hello to his neighborhood (he was living on the same street as the infamous 17th St. Canal Levee Break), he moved 7 times all over the US in less than a year.  Even though, like countless others, he lost his home and car, he was incredibly fortunate to not lose any friends or family to the storm.  He ended up in Shreveport, LA for a couple years and finally made the trek to California.

In 2008, Capps co-founded the film and television company White Oak Films, with writer Todd Klick (Something Startling Happens), publicist Dale Olson (American Beauty), and director John Dayton (Sultanat).  They quickly made international headlines by breaking the news that they, along with Canada’s leading production company Reunion Pictures, are to produce The Bradbury Effect – a television event in which Hollywood’s top directors will bring their visions to their favorite short-story by iconic author Ray Bradbury (Fahrenheit 451, The Martian Chronicles).  They have many other projects in development.

In late 2010, Capps became involved with Enter Namaste – a not-for-profit production team dedicated to bring awareness to worthwhile humanitarian causes.  For their first journey, they went to India to make a promo-documentary for the Manav Kalyan Trustwhich runs three schools for Special Needs Children: the School for the Hearing Impaired, the School for the Visually Impaired, and the School for the Mentally Challenged.

His most recent acting endeavors include several short films, a feature-length horror film, and a supporting role in a WWII film starring John Rhys Davies.  He has also begun a YouTube channel (“merrillcapps”) where he posts funny videos he makes with some of his friends.  All comments are welcome!

Some of his other credits:  Ray, Motor Mouth, A Love Song for Bobby Long, Wild West Tech, Return to the Hiding Place, Broken Promise, The Hunt for Outer Space, Abita Beer, and The Zurich Classic.

Capps can be seen currently on stage in North Hollywood, CA as 'Doc' in James Domine's Original Play 'The Dogs of War'

 *Note from Merrill:

Thank you for visiting my website!  I value your time and I wish you only the best in all that you do!

Reviews:

“... fine performances given by Capps..”

     – Peter Bauer -- MicroCinemaScene

"... [Capps] holds his own against the seasoned pros for a great and believable  performance.”

     – Scott A. Johnson – Dread Central

Accolades:

2004 ALPHA AWARD XIX

2006 Best Lead Performance – Broken Promise

2009 Best Feature – No Exit