Hometown talent flourishes in Hollywood

SANDUSKY — With some prominent appearances on the silver screen, Tim Murray seized a golden opportunity to capitalize on his comedic career. Most notably, the 2006 Sandusky High School graduate received a role as a minor character in "Swan Song." The movie, filmed in Sandusky, follows a former city resident's odyssey about rediscovering a life's passion while confronting the ghosts of his past. The main character briefly interacts with Murray. And, more recently, he starred as a supporting character in an episode of "The Other Two," a TV series streaming on HBO Max. "It's a super-funny comedy about two siblings whose little brother becomes famous overnight," said Murray, who lives in Los Angeles, California. While Murray's road to fame might not come overnight, for years, he's tirelessly worked behind the scenes at possible household stardom. And his big break might come soon. These roles and others, including in an off-Broadway musical, gave him more confidence and additional credibility to write a script for his aspiring short film, "Everybody's Fave." Last week in Sandusky, he hosted a fundraiser for the movie in development. Among those in attendance: his dad, John, and mom, Susan, who both still reside in the city. "I really like making people laugh, and I really like storytelling as a means to helping people escape their lives," said Murray, who's performed in dozens of renowned comedy clubs across North America and Europe. While his personal and professional lives do center on being a funny guy, Murray does take on a more serious tone when digging deeper into his drive for film. "I'm all about supporting the LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) community," said Murray, who's gay. "Growing up, I never saw the kind of gay stories I wanted to see. I want to write gay stories for gay people." Beyond making "Everybody's Fave" a reality, his ultimate goal revolves around creating, writing and starring in his own TV show. During his rare spare time, he's also writing a second script for a potential pilot. "It would be a comedic outlet for gay stories in a way that 'Friends' really helped people escape their lives," Murray said. "I want to have something like that for gay people." Murray encouraged young people with dreams of acting or performing to get involved in local productions. For instance, as a teenager, he took part in shows at the Sandusky State Theatre. "It's great to see another Sandusky talent succeeding in the arts," said Chris Parthemore, the state theater's executive director who also served as a producer for "Swan Song." Parthemore vouched for Murray to act in the movie because of his "wonderful sense of humor and creative ability." "We've had so many hometown talents do great things," Parthemore said. "I'm thrilled Tim is adding to that tradition."