From Queens to Reality Dating Show

It was in Howard Beach that Michael Chadwick first took the stage.
The 28-year-old, who now lives in Woodside, was recently cast on the Country Music Television (CMT) Reality Dating Show “Sweet Home Alabama,” in which he vies for the affections of Devin Grissom, a southern girl from Alabama.
“She hit me like a ton of bricks,” he said.
Born in Buffalo, Chadwick was raised in Rochester and Howard Beach.
He went to P.S. 232 and took tap, jazz and ballet lessons at the Joe Stanford school of dance.
“To this day I still think La Villa Pizzeria & Restaurant has the best pizza in New York City,” said Chadwick.
His first play was “Bye Bye Birdie” at P.S. 232.
Bitten by the acting bug, he and his family moved to Rochester when he was 10, and he graduated from the University of Buffalo with a BA in Theater in June 2009; he moved to New York City a month later to become an actor.
“When I first came to the city I was really struggling financially,” said the model and musician. “After a few unsuccessful attempts at restaurant work I got into catering and have since met dozens of celebrities all over the city. I’ve served Ashton Kutcher; Demi Moore; Jimmy Fallon; Barbara Streisand; Hugh Jackman and Sara Jessica Parker and countless others.”
Being around those stars – and influenced by his family — Chadwick auditioned for a role in “The Stranger Inside.” He landed the lead.
He has also done re-enactments on the Biography channel’s hit shows “Celebrity Ghost Stories” and “Celebrity Close Calls” and he booked the lead in a pilot about former Howard Stern intern Steve Grillo. Recently, he was an extra in the CW’s show “Beautiful Life,” which filed at Kaufman Astoria Studios.
“But what got me in front of 5 million households was not an acting job, but playing myself in the new dating reality show,” said the real estate agent by day.
Chadwick explained that “Sweet Home Alabama” is about 10 city and 10 country boys who fly to Alabama from all over the country to compete for the heart of southern belle Devin Grissom. The first episode aired Thursday, July 14 and “has become wildly successful, breaking all kinds of records.”
So what’s next for Chadwick?
He just booked a national print ad for Verizon Wireless and will have a full spread in YRB Magazine in the fall.
And, he said, he’s hoping to “have a partner come with me on my journey” as he pursues his acting and music careers.