Dawn Stern

Dawn was born into drama on a US Air Force base in Tachikawa, Tokyo, Japan. She was raised in a small town in Southern Illinois- the land of barns and farms. Books were her salvation. Shakespeare her first love. Dawn wrote her first play in 5th grade using the story of Snow White to explain the importance of trees for an Arbor Day celebration. Honor society meant St. Louis Cardinal tickets and a chance to go to the 'big' city. She caught the acting bug getting a laugh on her high school stage playing Hedy La Rue in "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying". She felt the energy exchange between herself and the audience and reports it was intoxicating. Off stage, she was a shy outsider but on stage she felt like she finally belonged somewhere.The biology major she spent two years working on went out the window as she graduated from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville with a BS in Theatre Performance and Broadcast Communications (TV/Radio). She earned her AFTRA card doing commercials and Equity card with the St. Louis Repertory Theatre. Then, Dawn moved to the 'windy city' upstate in search of a SAG card.In Chicago, she watched Jordan win three championships and 'refrigerator' Perry run one in for a touchdown. Dawn scored a breakthrough, earning her SAG card with national commercials for 7-Up, McDonalds, and Sears. After five years,a hundred industrials, fifty conventions, eleven wins on Star Search, one of nine finalists in Revelon's Unforgettable Women Campaign and one divorce later, she was off to conquer Los Angeles.In Los Angeles, Dawn came into her own. Her credits won't fit on her resume even when using small font. After six pilots, three television series regular gigs, and over twenty-five guest star appearances, the most important aspects aren't listed on there at all.Los Angeles is where she traveled, experimented, loved, lost, learned, and matured into a multi-faceted person and a multi-talented actor. She's paid her dues and earned the respect of her peers. Her professional code of conduct boils down to getting to set on time, knowing her lines and saving the drama for behind the camera. The rest of the work is pure play to her. She traveled across the country to marry the boy next door. Dawn and her husband run a not-for-profit for veterans called The Veterans Center for the Performing Arts. They mentor veterans teaching them Shakespeare and producing their original works to aid their transition from service life back to civilian. Thrilling work. She is proud of her journey, loves being an artist and could be seen tooling around Hollywood on Cleo -her purple 600 cc motorcycle. Dawn continues her work in theater and the VCPA and currently resides in New York with her husband. Show less «