Rocky Star Terence Archie on His Transformation from Alien in Pink Tights to Heavyweight Champion

Age: 38

Hometown: Detroit, MI

Current Role: A breakout performance as high-rolling heavyweight champion Apollo Creed in Broadway's Rocky, after originating the role in the German production.

Stage & Screen Cred: Archie made his Broadway debut in the 2009 revival of Ragtime; he has appeared on the small screen in Law & Order and One Life to Live.

“Growing up in Detroit, you have to have a tough skin, a good poker face and a plan. And if the city could be summarized in the body of a woman, it would be my mother.”

“In high school I got a small role on the soap opera Loving. When my school learned this, they turned on all the TVs in class when the episode was airing—I couldn’t take it! I left school; it was too embarrassing.”

“My first job when I moved to New York was at Mars 2112, across the street from the Winter Garden Theatre. I had to dress up in pink tights and a latex mask and act like an alien. I got a lot of pinches on my ass.”

“After learning German for only two months, we recorded the cast album for Rocky Das Musical. It put me in a very humble and vulnerable place. I had no choice but to soak it all in.”

“The fight scene is gonna hurt a little bit, and I’ve had to accept that from the beginning. Andy [Karl] has hit me, I’ve hit him, and there’s really not much you can do about it.”

“To stay fit for the show, I eat as much protein as I can muster. But you better believe nothing’s gonna stop me from eating bacon and doughnuts. And I will have my ice cream. That’s non-negotiable.”