Meet Jeffrey Bigger of Fort Collins, Colorado

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeffrey Bigger.

Hi Jeffrey, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My story wanders quite a bit. I worked as an actor for a long time and then fell into a full time real job to pay bills and find some stability. During this time of stability I continued to work in local theatre. I was cast in the show Children of a Lesser God many years ago and didn’t know any sign language so the director introduced me to a deaf family and I went to their home and they taught me sign language and that lit a path I never knew existed for me.

I quit my full time job and went back to school to become a sign language interpreter. I finished my program acquired my national certification and went to work as a full time sign language interpreter. The interpreter job has taken me into many interesting environments, classrooms, doctor’s offices, movie sets, etc.

I still work as a full time interpreter but am jumping back into acting again. I’ve gotten myself an agent and am making the leap from stage to screen as we speak.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There are always challenges in any endeavor. I left a good job to go back to school full time to become an interpreter. I went back to waiting tables to help put myself back through school. So going to school full time and then working at night was a challenge to finish homework and have a life.

I was lucky enough to have someone at home that was 100% supportive of my dream and shouldered a lot of the financial burden to make this dream come true. So it wasn’t only challenges for me but for my entire family.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I love that my work as an interpreter blends so well with my acting background. I am able to use my acting skills to enhance my interpreting work. I also get to interpret shows which brings both of my worlds together beautifully. It is the stage background that helps me interpret shows. Having an audience of people watching me feels like so comfortable.

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Follow your heart and never let anyone limit you. You are in control of your destiny…no one can take that away from you.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jeffreybigger.com

Image Credits
First photo: headshot Eric Weber Second: sunglasses photo Capas Jones Third: overalls photo Bill Cotton