Marshal Hilton
Born in Long Beach California, this Southern California native has been working in Music, Film & Television since the age of 13. As a child, Marshal was immersed in the Ventura County Surfing and Skateboarding culture of the 1970's, spending much of his youth chasing waves, Skateboarding, and playing Rock-n-Roll between Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles California.
Marshal began playing Drums and Guitar at an early age and had a gift for music. After High School he enrolled as Music Major in college and dabbled in Theater while attending Santa Barbara City College in the early 80's, eventually changing his major to Marketing and Advertising while attending San Diego State University. Looking for a change of scenery, Marshal transferred to San Francisco State to work on his Masters, all the while continuing to be creative in the Arts. Marshal ended up studying acting again with legendary Bay Area acting coach Jean Shelton, widely regarded as one of the finest Method acting teachers in the country. Mrs. Shelton had worked with Stella Adler, Harold Clurman and Lee Strasberg in the heart of the New York stage community, and had worked with the likes of Danny Glover and Howard Hessman, so Marshal figured he was in good hands. While living in the San Francisco Bay Area, Marshal continued to study acting and working on independent films before relocating back home to Southern California in 1991.
Over this 26 year span since returning home to Southern California, Marshal has appeared in approximately 50 plus independent feature films as well as landing a Co-Staring Series Regular Role in the Fox Kids #1 daytime series Beetleborgs Metallix. Beetleborgs was in production from 1996 through 1998, airing in approximately 13 million homes daily, and shot approximately 100 episodes, as well as a DVD Movie before going into syndication. During the rest of the 90's with appearances in independent features, The Honorable, Straight Right, The Doorman, N-4, Southern Man, The Herdsman, Beetleborgs the Movie, Sorceress II, Mona, The Prayer, Mr. Lucky, Blood Revenge and Self Sanction, Marshal has definitely cut his teeth in the world of independent filmmaking.
...It's often not pretty in the Indie Film world, but there's no better place to learn the reality of the craft of acting as it relates to Filmmaking, and most usually under very difficult conditions. At some point you've gotta quit bitching, jump in the ditch, grab a shovel, and start digging. Filmmaking is Team Game, not Me Game. The Indie Film world teaches you that very quickly. If you can't hack it there, you might as well not even start...
An entrepreneur at heart, and needing to recharge his artistic battery, Marshal decided to take a break from professional acting when the series ended and focus on his first creative love, Music. With the formation of 3 Deep Records & Entertainment in 2000, Marshal put his musical skills to work composing, producing and developing artists. From 2000 to 2005 he produced two Hip Hop records, "J-Tripz, Chicken Wingz, Grits & Spitz" (2005), "PoBaby, Act Like You Know Me", (2004), an Alternative Rock CD, "Latitude Zero", (2003) and the Experimental House Dance CD, "Das Bicth, Metal Haus" (2002), all under his 3 Deep Records Label.
After his six year long hiatus from professional acting, Marshal returned to Film with a laser like focus and a new appreciation of his Craft. Since is return, Marshal has been as busy as ever, and a consistent presence in the Independent Film world. Having completed 28 films since 2006, and several TV Pilots that are currently being shopped for distribution, Marshal continues to bring his brand of thoughtful, mature, and unpredictable perspective to the characters he performs. As Marshal puts it
...my time away gave me a new perspective, an appreciation for what a gift it is to have an opportunity to be creative with no expectations, and share experiences in the characters I create as an Actor...
In 2013 Marshal completed filming his Supporting Role along side Eric Roberts, John Ratzenberger, and Robyn Lively in the faith based Feature Film "The Ten: Vain" for Danny Roth's Parkside Pictures, and wrapped filming his Supporting Role in the Road/Action/Drama Feature Film "Monumental" in June.
Also for 2013, Marshal completed filming his Co-Starring Series Regular Role on the Martial Arts Action Drama Fantasy TV Series Pilot "Clandestine", finished filming his Co-Starring Role on the Film "Vilified", and his Supporting Role on the Independent Noir Drama Thriller "Coiled".
Also in 2013 Marshal was Featured with an Artist Interview in January Issue of "Shine on Hollywood Magazine" - "Top Film Industry Professionals". The issue was an overwhelming success reaching more than 4.5 Million readers.
In 2014 Marshal completed filming his Co-Starring Lead Role in the apocalyptic drama "I Am Alone" with Gareth David-Lloyd and Gunner Wright, reprised his Supporting Role as the hard boiled "Sheriff Clint Baxter" in the Thriller "Bunnyman 3, Co-Starred in Mark Savage's Dark Dramey "120/80" with Armand Assante and Bill Oberst Jr., his Supporting Role in the Political Thriller "False Colors", filmed his Supporting Role in the TV Pilot "Resolved", and completed his Co-Starring Role in the Action Drama Feature Film "Executive Protection" with Olivier Gruner.
When not acting, Marshal spends much of his free time assisting with several different charitable causes and manages his various business interests through his company Media1 Inc. His favorite charitable cause is his association with veteran Casting Director and Animal Advocate Victoria Burrows and Star Paws Rescue, an organization dedicated to saving and fostering displaced, abused and unwanted dogs. As he puts it
...It's been a treasure in my life that she allows me to continue to show up and help. She's an amazing woman and her kindness and dedication is inspiring...
At some point I'd really like to share some of my experiences and observations with the new, younger talent, just now beginning their journey into our business; the Reality verses the Myth. There's no loss of information around this town, or folks trying to sell you advice. I'm just an old dog, experienced working Actor that has learned in the trenches, worked for a while, experienced some success and failure, and witnessed some crazy stuff. I like to see folks succeed and if I can assist in that endeavor, then so be it. It's enjoyable to share war stories and hopefully dispense some of what I've learned. We artists all need to support and share more with one another. This business can be so self indulgent that we forget our time here is quite short.
Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.