Live Theater was the
learning ground!

Bobby Mardis approached his mother and told her that he wanted to change his major from Pre-Dent (Dentistry) to acting. She practically lost her mind and stated, "I'm not paying for that shit!" So Bobby compromised with a degree in communications. He
started taking elective classes in theater at UCLA and would hang out at McGowen Hall (theater department). Once he caught the acting bug, when he went to USC (The school on the other side of town) he performed many nights in Bing theater and variety shows in Bovard Auditorium. A show called "Evening of Soul" directed by Perry Brents was a training ground for the variety show genre where he would sing, dance, act and do stand up. He later trained at the American Academy of dramatic Arts and then with number of private instructors like Don Richardson. When he discovered the Inner City Cultural Center, he hung out to continue his training and was featured in many shows from "Anna Lucasta" to "Nifty Fifties". He was blessed to be recognized with his talents by receiving an Image Award for Nifty Fifties. He went on to perform in "Somethings Rockin' in Denmark where he continued his plight of performing in dramas and musicals. Bobby would watch legends like Brock Peters, Beah Richards, Ted Lange, Laurence Hilton Jacobs, Glynn Turman and of course, Marla Gibbs who he looked up to and studied. Once Bobby got an agent, the ball started rolling from there. He started out with bit parts, walk-ons, and day player work, however, his first significant parts came from relationships that he gained during his acting travels. As they say, "It's who you know that counts." Once he me Robert Townsend, his world opened up with possibilities and expanding roles. Robert even took Bobby back to the variety show type settings that he started out with at USC when he was cast as Robert's twin brother in "The Bold, the Black and the Beautiful."