M E R I D I A N     M A G A Z I N E

After playing countless roles in commercials, television, live theater and on the big screen for more than fifty-five years, veteran actor Bryce Chamberlain now stars in his favorite role so far — and this role has nothing to do with the acting industry.

Currently, Bryce Chamberlain is serving a mission in Nauvoo, Illinois. Of his mission, he freely admits, “It’s a real thrill just to be here.”

Born and raised in Cedar City, Chamberlain says of his initial beginnings in acting, “I was quite bashful and introverted.”

Then, while a student at the University of Utah, Chamberlain took a class in communications and learned, “how to identify feelings and share them.” This opened up an opportunity in theater and, from there, Chamberlain decided to go into broadcasting. From there, he introduced himself into theater.

After performing in the stage production, Hollywood Sings, Chamberlain moved to the Hollywood market in the 1950s and worked with NBC studios appearing with such notable names as Groucho Marx and Dinah Shore. He also performed in Disney movies and many other popular television shows.

Returning to Utah, he became involved with many Utah productions, working in both television and radio broadcasting. After marrying his wife, they moved back to Glendale where he was asked to play a role that has made him a legend in the LDS film industry; the role of the father in, Man’s Search for Happiness, which was one of his first big screen films.

“I was asked to be in that film during the time my wife and I were to be on our honeymoon,” he recalls, “so a lot of that film was actually shot while we were on our honeymoon.”

Bryce Chamberlain spent his honeymoon portraying the father in the LDS film
Man’s Search for Happiness.

This was in 1964, when gas was only 30 cents a gallon and the average home cost only $20,500. During this time, the New York World’s Fair was kicking into high gear, and so were exciting new plans for missionary work for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. According to Steve Evan’s article, The 1964 World’s Fair, “1964 was a year near the end of a golden age of LDS public relations, and the Church’s participation at the World’s Fair held in Queens, N.Y. goes down in history as one of our most celebrated efforts.” (bycommonconsent.com)

The first film ever produced by the LDS Church, the thirteen-minute film called Man’s Search for Happiness was shown to visitors at the World’s Fair. It covered three life questions: Where did we come from? Why are we here? Where are going after we die?

According to Taylor Petrey’s article, “New York 1964 World’s Fair: Mormonism’s Global Introduction,” that appeared in The New York Historian, “The 1964 World’s Fair was a major turning point for the birth of modern Mormonism:

• The program for the tour was the basis for the visitor’s centers for the next two decades.
• Missionary nametags were first used here.
• This was the first mixed language mission in the world, because the Church realized that one-fourth of their visitors were Spanish-speaking.
• The statue of the Christus was purchased for this event, and many of the other famous statues in LDS iconography were commissioned for this.
• There was a special edition of the Book of Mormon produced.
• Church membership was about 2.5 million, so almost 3 times as many visitors came to the site (6.5 million) as there were members.”

And what does Chamberlain say about being a part of this exciting new angle for the missionary efforts of the LDS Church? “This film had such a strong association with life. People were drawn to the gospel through this film. Literally thousands of individuals have acknowledged not just the creative aspect of this film, but that people’s lives were changed.”

Following the filming of this movie, Chamberlain moved back to Utah, where he became comfortable with theater. He chuckles as if in disbelief. “I’ve been involved in theater now for 55 years.”

Some of the more than 200 theatrical productions he has performed in include My Fair Lady, Hamlet, The Glass Menagerie, and A Christmas Carol. He also had roles in The Merchant of Venice (with George C. Scott), Tiger at the Gates (with John Ireland) and The Wings of Eagles (with Loraine Day).

One-man portrayals of well-known historical people have also been a major part of Chamberlain’s theatrical experience. He has portrayed Christopher Columbus, George Washington, Johann Gutenberg, Thomas Jefferson, Joseph Smith, Brigham Young and Moroni.

If you think Bryce Chamberlain looks like Christopher Columbus, George Washington, or Brigham Young, you are partially right.

Now, in the sunset of his life, Chamberlain has gone from playing the father in Man’s Search for Happiness to portraying the grandfather in Chris Heimerdinger’s upcoming film, Passage to Zarahemla. Of his experience acting in this film, Chamberlain says, “Working with Heimerdinger reminded me a little bit of working with Wetzel O. Whitaker, the director of Man’s Search for Happiness. It was essentially that kind of environment; very friendly with a nice spiritual rapport.”

And what does Chris have to say about working with Chamberlain?

“Bryce is a consummate professional. He doesn't play the violin, but he plays a violin maker in the movie. He spent several days with Kevin Lee, our on-set violinist, learning the moves so that he would come off believable. The scene where he is actually playing the violin is very short, but Bryce's dedication as an actor demanded that he do the homework. I was so proud to have Bryce involved, knowing his history with LDS movies. I'm convinced, as far as his career in LDS film is concerned, his most memorable and beloved work may well be judged to be his very first film, Man's Search for Happiness, and this film from forty years later, Passage to Zarahemla."

From onscreen acting to real life missionary drama, Chamberlain embraces the life he has been given and all of the roles he’s been able to portray.

“I spent thirty years portraying Joseph Smith, Brigham Young and other characters,” he said. “Joseph Smith’s life is rooted here [in Nauvoo]. Again, I’m just thrilled to be part of this environment that I’ve read so much about.”

For more information about Bryce Chamberlain’s latest role as Grandfather Lee in Passage to Zarahemla, go to www.passagetozarahemla.com 

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