By Police1 Staff
LOS ANGELES — A former Stafford County, Virginia, deputy is taking Hollywood by storm with his acting, writing, directing and producing.
Jim Klock, 41, has produced movies starring Kate Beckinsale and acted alongside Jamie Lee Curtis and Matthew McConaughey, The Free Lance-Star reported. He’s directed films in the horror, comedy and drama genres and is a contributing writer for the website “Funny or Die.”
“My goal was always to make a living as an actor, a producer, a director,” Klock told the Washington Post. “The biggest blessing is I am making a living doing what I love to do.”
His 13-year career in law enforcement began shortly after graduating high school. He started out as a corrections officer before becoming an officer with the Alexandria police.
During his time as an officer, Klock attended classes at a local community college and enrolled in a drama class.
When he wasn’t patrolling the streets, he was being mentored by a professor who encouraged him to pursue acting, according to the Washington Post.
His first attempt at full-time acting in 2003 lasted only eight months before he returned to Virginia, where he was promoted to detective. After a two years bouncing between policing and acting, he moved to California full-time to pursue his acting dream.
Klock splits his time between Stafford and Los Angeles, but law enforcement is still a large part of his life. He returns to Stafford a couple of times a year to visit his family, friends, and wife and continues to serve as a volunteer officer.
“It’s my home. It’s just a place for me to come back and just for a little bit, I’m grounded,” he said. “And I still love being a part-time cop.”
When he returns to Virginia, Klock is working with Sheriff David P. Decatur to create “Operation L.E.A.D.” The program would give at-risk youth a chance to produce and act in short films with law enforcement and community members, the Free-Lance Star reported.
“I see it as a way for young people and the community to get a better understanding of law enforcement, and giving them a vehicle to share that with the community,” he said.
Klock told the Washington Post that he has the freedom to live out his dream, but knows he can always fall back on law enforcement, his first love.
“At no point do I have to sell my soul for fame or a role, getting a script done or whatever, because I will come back and run a scout car,” he said. “The badge in my back pocket keeps me from selling my soul.”