Question: Do agents look for minimum heights when it comes to signing male actors? --Adam
Answer:
Hi Adam,
Some certainly do. Of course, the limits are imposed less by performing arts
agencies than by modeling agencies. Modeling agencies will have height
minimums (usually 5'8" for women, 6' for men) for print ads, runway
modeling, and other non-acting appearances.
For acting, most agencies are much less concerned with height than they are
"total marketability." Are you someone whose talent they feel they can get
behind and market to casting directors? If so, that's really key.
That said, there ARE agencies that specialize in commercial acting, and
there are some restrictions on height in that market (though not nearly as
many as there are in straight-out modeling agencies). A friend of mine is
6', but his agent told him to put 5'11" on his resumé because--get
this--Japanese car companies will not consider men over 5'11" for their auto
ads that will run internationally. A man of that height is considered too
tall to sell their product.
So, don't try to be any height other than the height you are. If there's a
market for your talent, you'll find the right agent to represent you, at
whatever height!
