Joshua Triplett Talks About Cedric The Entertainer And Musical-Drama ‘Pursuit of Happiness’

An underrated performer!

From acting to music, Joshua Triplett is a multi-level talent that you need to know about. When not making scene-stealing cameos in your favorite shows, including ABC’s ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ and CBS’s ‘The Neighborhood’, he’s creating his very-own projects, with his latest being ‘Pursuit of Happiness’.

We had the absolute pleasure of speaking with Joshua about his Residual Actor program, raising the next generation of talent, and more!

You are a natural when it comes to being on screen! What first made you want to pursue a career in entertainment?

J: “Honestly, it started with believing there had to be more for my life. I grew up in Youngstown, Ohio, and entertainment felt far away, almost impossible. But I always had this pull toward performing, storytelling, making people laugh, and connecting with people. At first, I didn’t know exactly what lane it would be. I just knew I wanted to create something meaningful and build a life doing what I loved. Over time that dream turned into commercials, television, music, producing, and now creating my own projects. It all started with faith, curiosity, and being willing to bet on myself before anyone else did.”

Congratulations on your amazing project ‘Pursuit of Happiness’! How did this musical-drama come to be?

J: “Thank you. Pursuit of Happiness was born from real life. It’s inspired by my personal story, relationships, mistakes, growth, fatherhood, heartbreak, and the journey of trying to become a better man. I spent over ten years building it because I didn’t want to rush something that honest. I wanted it to feel cinematic, emotional, and different. Instead of traditional dialogue, I used music to tell the story. Every song carries emotion and moves the narrative forward. It’s probably the most vulnerable thing I’ve ever created because I’m not hiding behind a character. A lot of it is me.”

We have got to talk about this music, your voice is amazing! This isn’t your first released music, but it’s been almost 10 years since your album ‘In Development’. What inspired you to go back to creating and releasing music?

J: “I appreciate that. Music never really left me. Even when I wasn’t releasing publicly, I was still writing, recording, feeling things through music. Life gave me more to say. Growth gave me more depth. Pain gave me honesty. Fatherhood gave me perspective.
I think when I made In Development, I was talented and hungry and it was more of an EP, not really a cohesive body of work but a way to release my songs in a group. With Pursuit of Happiness, I’m wiser. I understand emotion more. I understand storytelling more. So returning to music wasn’t about chasing the industry. It was about expressing truth at a higher level.”

If you had to choose, do you have a favorite song from the ‘Pursuit of Happiness’ album/project (‘Lost In You’ is our favorite!)?

J: “That’s tough because every song represents a chapter of my story. But if I had to choose, Lost In You is definitely special, and is a fan favorite so it’s always a great pick, it explores the true story of how I met my wife in NYC. I’d also say Commitment means a lot to me because it deals with growth, accountability, and wanting to become the man you should’ve been sooner. It was actually the first song to come out of the project. We did commitment in 2016 and if you pay attention the full story is jam packed into this one song. Some songs entertain you. Some songs expose you. That one does both. “Look me in my face” was probably my favorite to write, it’s one of the most vulnerable on the project.”

There’s only a few more parts left! What can you tease about what fans can expect from the end of Act 3?

J: “I can say this: the story gets deeper, more emotional, and more honest. A lot of people think they know what kind of story they’re watching early on, but the final chapters force you to reconsider everything. There’s pain, reflection, consequences, and truth. I wanted the ending to feel earned, not convenient. So if people stay on the journey, I think the payoff will hit in a real way. The next chapter, #14 is going to be an emotional shift. A part of the reason it has not come out yet, is because it’s so personal. I’m still nervous to share. It’s heavy for me!”

We first became a fan of you through your hilarious recurring character in ‘The Neighborhood’. Looking back on the series which just wrapped on its eighth and final season, what was your experience with the show?

J: “It was a blessing. That cast and crew created something special, and I’m grateful I got to be part of it. The role of Jeremiah will always have a special place in my heart! Comedy looks easy when it’s done well, but there’s real skill behind timing, chemistry, and consistency. Being around talented people at that level sharpens you. Cedrick the Entertainer gave me a lot guidance during that time and his words really impacted me. Forever grateful. What I’ll remember most is the energy. It felt like family on set, and anytime you can work in an environment like that while making people laugh, you appreciate it. Being on sets like that also reminded me how much knowledge actors never get taught about the business side of the industry. That’s actually part of why I created my new program Residual Actor, to help performers understand how to build sustainable careers, not just chase
roles.”

When it comes to your next role, what kind of character have you always wanted to play?

J: “I’d love to play a layered dramatic lead. Someone complex, intelligent, vulnerable, dangerous, maybe all at once. I think people know me from comedy and commercials, but I’d love the chance to surprise people with something darker, deeper, and unforgettable. A role where people finish watching and say, “I didn’t know he had that in him.”

With your daughter Jaidyn Triplett about to embark on a middle school tour, you’ve done a great job of mentoring her through her own career in Hollywood. What advice can you give to other performers who are interested in supporting their children to join the industry?

J: “Thank you. First, protect the child before the career. A lot of parents chase opportunity and forget the child’s emotional wellbeing matters most. Confidence, joy, safety, education, balance, all of that has to come first. Second, treat it like a business. Learn contracts, learn how the industry works, learn who to trust and who not to trust. And lastly, let it be their dream too. Guide them, support them, but don’t force them. Talent grows best in love, not pressure. That mentorship mindset is a big reason I created Residual Actor too. I wanted to give actors and families the kind of real guidance I wish more people had when starting out.“

Make sure to watch all episodes of ‘Pursuit of Happiness’, available now on YouTube!

Je’Kayla Crawford– Founder and Director– Je’Kayla has been a journalist for years and decided to start a publication of her own, New Scene Magazine, back in October 2020. When not helping her team and working on their print issues, you can find her watching a movie on Netflix or baking using a viral TikTok recipe.