Anthony Michael Hobbs Plays Young Frederick Douglas in New PBS Series

Eight-Year-Old Anthony Michael Hobbs Plays Pivotal Role of Young Frederick Douglass in the Emmy Nominated PBS Series

THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE: The Abolitionist”

Baltimore’s Rising Star Child Actor Cast in Several Current and Upcoming Projects for Summer

Photo by Tony Gibble Photography

New York, NY August 12, 2013 –Eight-Year-Old rising star child actor, ANTHONY MICHAEL HOBBS was cast as the young Frederick Douglass, at the age of six in the PBS Series: The American Experience: The Abolitionist. It recently received an Emmy Nomination for “Outstanding Documentary or Non-Fiction Series. The Emmy Awards will air ‘live” from The Nokia Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, September 22nd at 8pm ET on NBC. In addition, you can currently see Anthony in a national Comcast On-Demand segment, Xfinity “Summer of Kids” campaign, airing this summer.

Bringing to life the intertwined stories of Frederick Douglass, William Lloyd Garrison, Angelina Grimké, Harriet Beecher Stowe and John Brown, The Abolitionists takes place during some of the most violent and contentious decades in American history, amid white-hot religious passions that set souls on fire, and bitter debates over the meaning of the Constitution and the nature of race. The documentary reveals how ordinary individuals with extraordinary passion turned a despised fringe movement against chattel slavery into a force that literally changed the nation. In his role as a young Frederick Douglass, Anthony witnesses his aunt being savagely whipped by her master. The Baltimore native managed to capture an “emotional” range for the scene that few children of his age can match.  It is that scene that probably changed a young Frederick Douglass forever.

It’s not something most six year olds (at the time of filming) have experienced or can convey. To find a child actor who could do it was a very nice surprise”. Says Rob Rapley, Director, Writer and Producer of the PBS Series, via the Catholic Review.

Anthony Michael’s scenes in “The Abolitionist” were so profound it is used in the trailer and promotions of the series as well as having a featured individual website  on PBS’ The American Experience website (Frederick Douglass Begins to Understand Slavery: www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/bonus-video/abolitionists-frederick-douglass-understands/ ). The docu-series premiered January 8, 2013 and stars Actor/Director Richard Brooks (“Law & Order,” The Crow), who plays an adult Frederick Douglass.

The Xfinity “Summer of Kids” program offers more than 1,000 On-Demand choices this summer by showcasing family-friendly content from top brands such as Nickelodeon, Disney, Sprout, Cartoon Network, Angry Birds Toons, PBS KIDS, the HUB Network, Dreamworks and NBCUniversal.

Anthony also appears in a United Way PSA and a Norwegian Cruise-Line extended version of one of their commercials that airs during the cruise-line voyages.

Anthony Michael’s big moves don’t stop there.  He stars in the PBS Sprout Network current mini-segment on the ‘Sunnyside Up Show,’ that started airing in March, 2013. He also co-stars in two other PBS Sprout Network segments, “Claritin Kids Allergy Medicine” and “Good Night Show”.

On top of that, the talented young actor stars in a PSA spot for the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC). As a voice over actor Anthony’s voice can be heard on an instructional video for advertising firm TBWA World Wide – the largest advertising holding company in the world. On top of that, the talented young actor stars in a PSA spot for the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC). As a voice over actor Anthony’s voice can be heard on an instructional video for advertising firm TBWA World Wide – the largest advertising holding company in the world.

Hobbs also stars in the Dreamworks documentary “How to Train Your Dragon: Dragons and Dinosaurs” that premiered at “Live Dragon” shows, (http://dreamworksdragonslive.com/) throughout Australia (2013) ending in the United States. The Dreamworks documentary is also available on DVD.

You can also see Anthony in the “SkWids” Kids’ on-line Internet show at www.SkWids.com, an on-line version of such children oriented shows as “Sesame Street.” Produced by Southwestern Advantage, “SkWids” is a program designed to entertain and educate children (ages 6 – 10). Hobbs is seen in the national classroom program called KinderRhyme. KinderRhyme is a program of Success for All Foundation (SFAF), which appears in over 2600 preschool, elementary, middle and high school programs.

Other acting projects include the film Waiting for Godot; an industrial commercial for the U.S. National Parks Services; a Baltimore County Recycling commercial; a Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger commercial, and Hobbs appeared in USDA’s Healthy Kids 2011 print campaign.