George Cantero

George Cantero was an "Army Brat" born at the United States Military Academy, West Point New York. He started his acting career as a child in Augusta Georgia where his father served in the U,S. Army. His mother was part of an acting group called the Augusta Players. They needed a child for a scene in Teahouse of the August Moon. His older sister was cast. He wanted to be included and after acting up the director cast him as well as his little brother. The production was seen by President Eisenhower so the children were given a lot of attention by the local media. At the age of eight his mother divorced his father and they relocated to New York City. While there he was cast in a T.V. series as an autistic child called "Eastside, Westside" which stared Cicely Tyson, George C. Scott and Martin Sheen. Playing autism was not a stretch for him as he had a vivid imagination and lived in his own little world. He had difficulty communicating; He was often tongue tied and the only way he could express himself was through the words of playwrights. He did few plays Off-Broadway and then when he was in sixth grade was shipped off to Sacramento California to live with his father. He did one play there then he became dormant. After completing a tour of duty as a medic in Viet Nam George did a play at Fort Sill Oklahoma where he was recruited for Special Services for the rest of his time in the Army performing in dozens of productions. After he got of out the Army he decided to study acting starting with American Academy of Dramatic Arts and finally finding his home with The Lee Strasberg Theater Institute in Los Angeles. He broke into films with a small role in Apocalypse Now. He became a contract player for Zoetrope Studios, then he moved to New York doing more theater; most notably he was a founding member of VETCO (Viet Nam Veterans Ensemble Theater Company). He's a graduate of USC's Warrior Bards (an acting workshop for Veterans). He also performs Shakespeare with the Warriors For Peace Theater Company in Los Angeles, California. When he's not acting you can catch on stage playing his harmonica with local bands.