Why He's Interesting: This North Ridgeville youngster is quickly compiling an impressive acting resume with credits for Miss Meadows and The Fault in Our Stars. McClure also became a YouTube sensation alongside Brice Evan Fisher on their interview show Between 2 Phat Kids. He currently has a recurring role as Billy Sparks, the childhood neighbor of Sheldon Cooper on the CBS hit Young Sheldon.
Not many actors begin their careers at age 5 by appearing in a movie starring Katie Holmes, then follow it up with another film where they befriend Shailene Woodley between takes. But Wyatt McClure is not your typical child actor.
“I didn’t realize how much work and dedication acting was,” says McClure from the Studio City apartment he shares with his father, Gary, when they are in LA. “I thought it was going to be super-duper easy. It opened a new world for me.”
McClure spent July through October in California, auditioning for roles and filming episodes of Young Sheldon.
Besting more than 100 actors for his Billy Sparks role was a breakthrough for McClure. He auditioned for The Big Bang Theory’s Jim Parsons, who serves as the show’s narrator.
“It was really cool knowing how big he is in the acting world,” says McClure. “I was really nervous but I put that behind me. When I finished he said, ‘Great job, Wyatt.’ ”
While auditions are often nerve-wracking for even the most jaded actors, McClure has his own special method to stay grounded. “I have a little technique that I use before I go in [to audition],” he says. “I rub my chest. It seems to calm me down.”
Things weren’t so peaceful during the pilot episode of Young Sheldon in which McClure’s character carries a chicken when talking to Sheldon. “The funniest part was when the chicken went wild,” he says. “I like eating chicken but I don’t like it when they peck me.”
An avid Cleveland sports fan, McClure follows the Indians, Browns and Cavaliers by watching games on his iPad. “I’m pretty familiar with all the stats,” he says. “I like the Cavaliers best and the Browns the least — the Browns are horrible.”
So it’s no surprise that he’s up for auditioning for another role when he’s older. “I really want to be a sports player,” he says. “A quarterback.”
Interesting Fact: McClure practiced taekwondo for 2 1/2 years.
