Ferrari Brown
After hearing about his many creative endeavors, it is easy to see why he is a Gemini. Greg Thirloway, an accomplished actor, artist and furniture designer is just as unique as his Scottish-Irish last name.
As a child he was drawn into art after his mother took him to the Los Angeles County Museum almost 35 years ago to view Pablo Picasso Retrospective exhibit.
“She hated it and I loved it,” said Thirloway who found himself fascinated by the beauty of the piece.
His eye for art did not stop there.
“I liked plates. The patterns on the China were beautiful,” said Thirloway, admitting it was not something he could tell his childhood school friends.
As he got older other “beauties” such as plants also interested him.
“I knew all the names of the plants,” said Thirloway.
The same kid who could tell a carnation flower from a tulip would go into his father’s unused collection of tools and make “structures.”
“I don’t know what else to call them, they were just wood structures,” said Thirloway.
Once again, interest in one creative outlet led to another. In his Huntington Beach high school, Thirloway recalls taking dance.
“I use to run from my ballet class to my automotive mechanic class, tights and all. Then throw on my overalls.
“Being a straight male they didn’t know what to think of me,” said Thirloway with a reminiscent chuckle.
Thirloway, who considers his, “major as being creative,” came to Pierce College for the horticulture program.
His wife of almost nine years, Heather Lee, already has a degree in horticulture. Thirloway then decided to get his certificate from Pierce while building up and establish his portfolio and transfer to UCLA’s two-year design program.
Both he and his wife have a company called Inside Out Design which is a non-architecture company, and a film production company, Temerity Entertainment.
His wife who is also multifaceted has been a Broadway performer for more than 20 years and has performed in productions such as Grease and The Rival of Gypsy as well as on television.
She feels her husband is an “amazing artist in all aspects of his life.”
The couple who bounce from coast to coast are in love with each other and the arts.
“He likes staying in one place,” said Lee. “I have the travel bug.” But she admits that, “we balance each other out.”
“He’s the true Renaissance Man!” said Lee.
Her husband agrees he was “never really happy until [he] diversified [his] talents.”
Thirloway, who has flawless hair penetrating eyes and a pleasant voice, could easily continue adding on to his 35 movies and TV shows list, but has decided to go back to school.
“School makes you see things in a defined way,” said Thirloway. “I’m a life learner.”