At the young age of 17, Andre Robinson can do it all. He acts, does voice-overs and even hosts — all before he’s considered a legal adult!
The star-in-the-making went from growing up watching DCOMs to being a Disney Channel star. Currently, he can be seen playing DJ, in the Disney+ reboot of Cheaper By The Dozen with Gabrielle Union and Zach Braff, which dropped on the streaming giant earlier this spring.
Additionally, he’s played roles in Doc McStuffins, Niko and The Sword Of Light, The Loud House Movie, and more.
Robinson sat down with Celeb Secrets to let us in on what it’s like working with Gabrielle Union, voice-over acting, and what we can expect from him in the future!
Read the full Q&A below and let us know your thoughts on the Disney+ Movie, and what you want to see from Robinson next! Leave a reaction below or tweet us @celebsecrets.
You can connect with Andre by giving him a follow on Instagram at @andrerobinson2.
Celeb Secrets: You grew up in Los Angeles. Home to famous movie productions and actors. When did you know you wanted to be an actor?
Andre Robinson: “When I was six years old, my mom quit her job to stay home with me. Her friend, who managed children, encouraged her to put me in the entertainment industry and she decided to give it a try. In the beginning, I remember just having lots of fun. As I grew older—around age 9—I fell in love with the business. It’s what I want to do for the rest of my life!”
CS: Did you have a notable experience that sealed the deal… and solidified that you wanted to act?
AR: “Yes! It was when I booked the role of Donny McStuffins on Disney’s Doc McStuffins. It was my first series regular and I loved the cast and director. I learned so much about the technique of voiceover on that job. It was life-changing.”
CS: Now, you can be seen in the Cheaper By the Dozen reboot on Disney+. Did you grow up watching Disney?
AR: “I definitely did. My cousin and I have watched almost every Disney movie and we literally, even now, play guessing games with characters, movies, and shows. We are die-hard Disney fans.”
CS: How does it feel to be part of this production? And just on a Disney+ show in general?
AR: I am honored and humbled to be a part of such a talented cast. I was beyond grateful when I booked the role of DJ and can’t thank Gail Lerner enough for believing in me. I’m a big kid at heart on a Disney+ show!
CS: Tell us about your character, DJ. Do you feel like you relate to him, and why?
AR: “DJ is loveable, super smart, and nerdy. Comic books and superheroes totally excite him. That was easy to play because I actually love comic books and superheroes in real life. My dad and I are Marvel fans! DJ struggled with his relationship with his biological father, yet he has a strong bond with his stepfather.”
CS: You’re 17! And have worked on numerous roles, and in this one, you’re working with Gabrielle Union and Zach Braff. How does it feel working with them?
AR: “Honestly, I was in awe when I discovered who was playing my mother and step-father. They’re both very seasoned, and I would literally glean from their work on set. I admire them both.”
CS: Has working with Gabrielle Union, Zach Braff, or any of your co-stars taught you anything?
AR: “By watching them alone, they taught me to take my craft seriously, be professional, and have fun. They’re both such naturals! And Zach Braff is the most hilarious actor I’ve ever met. He made being on set so much fun.”
CS: Since this is a family comedy… do you feel like the cast has developed a family relationship? How are your interactions with your co-stars?
AR: “We definitely became a family. It didn’t take long for us to bond. I continue a very close relationship with all the teens on set. We still talk almost every day.”
CS: Was there a funny moment on set that you can share that you would remember forever? Either something you or your co-star did?
AR: “My scene with Zach Braff was the best. He’s so funny and I kept laughing—breaking my concentration. I just love him. He’s a natural comedian.”
CS: You’ve had a lot of voice-over roles. Can you talk about the difference between acting on film vs. voice-overs?
AR: “There’s a lot of moving parts and interactions with people when acting on film. With voiceovers, I’m in a booth with a microphone—interacting with just the voice director. Many times I’ve been alone in the booth, but there were three series regular jobs that we recorded as an ensemble together. Those records were always great.”
CS: Do you prefer voice-over roles, on-camera roles or both? Why? I truly enjoy both, but my greatest passion is voice acting.
AR: “I really love bringing characters to life with voiceovers. My adrenaline rises when I receive voiceover auditions or coach kids and teens (which I’ve done a lot lately). I feel like I was born to do it. And the best part is that I don’t have to memorize the lines. LOL. I truly enjoy on camera roles but it takes more work for me, so I take classes and get coached on some roles.”
CS: Aside from acting, I see you host your own show called Voice Views on your Instagram. What made you decide to start interviewing people?
AR: “I always get questions about voice acting from fans and friends. I thought it would be fun to get the answers to their questions from the best. Also voice acting is an amazing craft that doesn’t get a lot of recognition (in my opinion). The goal of Voice Views is for the audience to learn about the nature of voice acting from the best and the beauty is that I’m learning from them too!”
CS: How has your experience been on your Voice Views show? Is there something we can expect for your next interview?
AR: “I loved the show last year. I learned so much from the voice actors who appeared on the show. I was very busy the first quarter of this year so I couldn’t schedule interviews. However, I have a long list of voice actors, including Tom Kenny, that I need to schedule very soon.”
CS: Are there any actors or voice actors you really look up to? Who would you LOVE to work with one day?
AR: “My female and male voice actors that I look up to, admire, and aspire to be like are Tara Strong and Tom Kenny. I’ve had the honor of working with both of them and I’m praying I get the opportunity again! I’d also love to work with Miles Brown. We’re the same age, have a similar look, and I love his style and overall swag.”
CS: Are there any new upcoming projects that you’re working on that you’re allowed to share and would like to talk about?
AR: “Currently, I work behind the scenes with looping on two television series and various movies. Happily, I’ll be working with ‘The Loud House’ again soon in a guest star role. I’m also waiting to hear if I booked a lead role in an animation film. Fingers crossed!”
CS: Since we’re Celeb Secrets, do you have any secrets from filming Cheaper By The Dozen that we wouldn’t know just by watching?
AR: “Yes! The hip-hop move that the twins and Zack Braff did in the movie, all the kids learned it, but it was an entire piece! A professional group came in to teach us a hip-hop dance at the beginning of shooting. It was hilarious and that’s where we bonded. Half of us (including me) had two left feet!”
