Taylor Kinney Reflects on His “Frustrating” First Hollywood Job — And the Pizza Nights That Kept Him Going
Before Chicago Fire made him a household name, Taylor Kinney was just another young hopeful navigating the grind of Hollywood. Long before he stepped into his firefighter gear as Lieutenant Kelly Severide, he was working behind the camera — as a low-level production assistant — and learning that chasing a dream in Los Angeles meant starting from the very bottom.
The Frustration Behind His First Hollywood Gig
In a recent interview, Kinney revealed that his very first job in the industry was anything but glamorous. As a production assistant, or PA, he spent long days fetching coffee, filing paperwork, and running endless errands.
“It was frustrating,” he admitted. “I wanted to act, not staple scripts or grab lunch orders. But I also knew this was the price of being close to the industry I loved.”
For anyone who’s ever worked on a film or TV set, being a PA is a rite of passage — one that tests patience, humility, and endurance. Kinney quickly learned that even though he wasn’t in front of the camera, the experience was shaping him for what was to come.
Pizza and Blockbuster Nights: A Simple Escape
After long, exhausting shifts, Kinney found solace in two comforting constants: pizza and Blockbuster. His modest paycheck didn’t stretch far, but it covered the essentials — a hot pizza and a movie rental or two.
Those quiet nights became his routine. “I’d crash on the couch with pizza and a stack of movies,” he recalled. “It was my way to reset — to remind myself why I was doing this in the first place.”
While others might have seen it as downtime, for Kinney, those movie marathons were fuel. Watching great performances reignited his determination to be on screen one day. It was his way of turning frustration into inspiration.
Lessons in Perseverance
Looking back, Kinney now sees that tough period as one of the most important stages of his career. It taught him resilience, patience, and the value of staying grounded.
“The discipline I learned back then — showing up early, staying late, doing the small things right — all of that carried into acting,” he said. “You don’t forget the hustle. You just move it to a different stage.”
His story underscores a truth many actors share: success often begins in moments of discomfort and doubt. Sometimes, the smallest routines — like a movie night with pizza — can keep the fire burning through the hardest times.
From Blockbuster Nights to Chicago Fire
Today, Taylor Kinney is one of NBC’s most beloved leading men. His portrayal of Kelly Severide has earned him critical praise and a loyal global fan base. Yet behind that success is a story built on persistence and perspective.
What began as a frustrating job and a simple coping ritual turned into the foundation for a career defined by passion and perseverance.
And while Blockbuster may be gone, the lesson from those nights endures — find joy in the small things, and never lose sight of the dream that started it all.