WORCESTER—Since he didn’t become a cop, the next best career choice for Adrian M. Mompoint was to be an actor.
Now with credited roles in several films, including “Spenser Confidential,” and “Free Guy” — which was partially filmed in Worcester — and an uncredited role in “Honest Thief” (also partly filmed in Worcester), and now his newest, “Good Burger 2,” Mompoint said he decided to give acting a whirl when his efforts to become a police officer, state trooper or firefighter did not pan out.
Mompoint, a Holy Name Central Catholic High School (now Saint Paul Diocesan) and Quinsigamond Community College graduate, also earned his Bachelor’s degree from the University of New Haven majoring in criminal justice. He continues to land roles in major productions with his latest, “Good Burger 2,” the sequel to 1997’s “Good Burger,” alongside actors Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell.
“I’ve always loved movies,” Mompoint told the Worcester Guardian. “I have seen a lot of them at the theater for free, since my father worked at Showcase Cinema Worcester North for many years. I worked there myself from 2004 to 2018. It was my first job. I decided to give acting a try when my efforts of being a police officer, state trooper and firefighter weren’t met. I would either fail a test or pass and be put on a list and not hear anything back.”
Maybe it was a silver lining. Being a police officer perhaps wouldn’t have made his mom as happy as hitting the red carpet one day.
“The 2013 Academy Awards were on TV, and I was watching it with my mom as we always do,” said Mompoint, “and she looked so happy seeing the actors and actresses out there and I said to myself, ‘I want my mom to experience that one day.’ So I looked up ‘acting classes near me’ and C.P Casting in Boston came up first. That’s where it started. Basics of acting with Bates Wilder. My first audition was at C.P Casting and I landed my first role ever for the film ‘November Criminals.’”
While Mompoint continues to pursue bigger and more roles in movies and TV, he’s pursuing this dream from the bright lights of Worcester, where he was born and raised and continues to live.
“I’ve never left the beauty of living in Central Massachusetts,” Mompoint told the Worcester Guardian. “I am fortunate I can travel to Boston and NYC for work easily.”
Mompoint plays “Tough Goon” in “Good Burger 2,” which dropped on Nov. 22; he receives significant screen time in the new film.
“I landed the role of ‘Tough Goon’ through Boston Casting,” he said. “I envisioned him as a character who tries to be tough and mean but he’s really a big nerd, which I am myself. I’m obsessed with Batman to the point I have the 1989 Batman symbol tattooed. I auditioned for a few characters in the film. I wasn’t sure who I was going to play but I knew I would be part of the film. I had a good feeling. I told my manager even before I auditioned that I was going to earn a part. I wanted it bad. I grew up watching Kenan and Kel and Nickelodeon was all I had growing up for entertainment. I wanted to earn this role for my younger self.”
He names his favorite actor as Michael Shannon because he “plays characters who look like they could snap at any moment,” and said a dream role for him would be as a henchman in a Bond film.
“Those characters are so badass and they stand out,” said Mompoint. “Production wouldn’t have to find a stunt man, since I am one. My dad loves James Bond films and it would be cool for him to see his son in one.”
Charlene Arsenault can be contacted at carsenault@theworcesterguardian.org
