Actor David Kohlsmith Sheds Light on Iconic Character in ‘Chucky’ Series
David Kohlsmith first started acting when he was only five years old. At the time, he loved to watch movies and pretend to be the people he saw on television. However, unlike many children just playing pretend, David would memorize the script line by line until he could perform the entire movie.
“I wanted the opportunity to tell the stories of the characters I saw in movies and TV in my own way. Acting allowed me to explore the lives of different characters: I could be a superhero or a murderer, a robot or a puppy, things I could never be in reality,” said David.
David is now living that dream as one of Canada’s top child actors. At ten years of age, he has achieved what many industry veterans can only dream of, taking home a Joey Award for his performance as Miles in The Prodigy, working alongside Emmy nominee Taylor Schilling, he was nominated for another Joey Award for his work on the web series According to Kids and a Young Artist Award for his work on Shazam!, one of DC Comics most successful movies to date. But it isn’t the awards and recognition that drive David, it is simply doing what he loves.
“As an actor I get to meet so many funny, smart and interesting people. The interaction, both on set and in between takes, is something I really enjoy. Everyone on set works together – from the drivers to the grips to the actors to the executive producers, and we each bring a piece to the puzzle that will become the finished product of a project that is meant to be shared with the whole world. I love watching the other actors and listening closely to the directors, polishing my existing skills and learning new ones. I always feel like I am a better actor when the project is wrapped than I was when I first stepped onto the set,” he said. “I also really like the snacks.”
One of David’s most recent successes is the horror series Chucky, based on everyone’s (scariest) favorite doll. Similar to the iconic franchise, the story begins as a vintage Chucky doll turns up at a suburban yard sale, and an idyllic American town is thrown into chaos as a series of horrifying murders begin to expose the town’s hypocrisies and secrets. Meanwhile, the arrival of enemies and allies from Chucky’s past threatens to expose the truth behind the killings, as well as the demon doll’s untold origins as a seemingly ordinary child who somehow became this notorious monster.
David was cast as the young Charles Lee Ray. The role reminded him of his role in The Prodigy, where a child with loving parents turns evil. He knew how to capture that essence and deliver, so he brought that energy to Charles Lee Ray, also known as the Lakeshore Strangler and the origin of the entire Child’s Play movie series. In Chucky, they look to the past and reveal how the Lakeshore Strangler got his taste for murder when he was just a boy. Chucky fans have long wondered how Charles Lee Ray became a murderer, and David helped shine a light into the life of this character and his murderous streak by putting on a performance audiences around the world connected with.
“Working on this project was an immense privilege as I love the horror genre and Chucky is such a huge part of that. I got to work directly with Don Mancini, the creator of the Chucky universe. He spent time telling me how he came up with the idea and how the Chucky story developed over time, and even gave me a rare glimpse into the secret room full of all the animatronic Chucky dolls they use to make him come to life,” said David.
David’s vast experience and innate talent made for an enthralling performance that has been pivotal to the ongoing success of the series, now in its third season. On top of outstanding weekly ratings for Syfy, USA Network, and Prime Video for streaming, Chucky has impressed critics. It holds an incredible 91% on Rotten Tomatoes and has won three of its eleven award nominations thus far.
“Chucky has always been successful, with millions of fans around the world, so when I found out that I was not only going to be part of such a huge franchise but play the key role of young Charles Lee Ray, I felt incredibly lucky and grateful to Don Mancini for trusting me with such a role that was so close and dear to his heart,” David concluded.
