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  1. Home
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  3. Damon DiMarco
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Damon DiMarco

MFA
Author, Speaker, Creative
Self
Country or state 
United States (New York)
Available to 
Global
City 
New York
Fee 
Languages 
English
Volunteer
No

Personal Details

Bio

Damon DiMarco is a professional writer and actor with a lifelong interest in creativity and the integration of ancient wisdom to everyday living. He has appeared as a guest on CNN, Fox, the National Geographic Channel, and the Premiere Radio Networks.

As an actor, Damon trained under William Esper, the legendary teacher of Meisner Technique. Damon and Bill wrote two books together, "The Actor's Art & Craft" and "The Actor's Guide to Creating a Character," both of which outline Bill's approach to actors training. Among many other books, Damon also wrote "My Two Chinas: The Memoir of a Chinese Counterrevolutionary" with Tang Baiqiao, who helped organize the Tiananmen Square pro-democracy protests of 1989. And "The Brown Agenda: My Mission to Clean Up the World's Most Life Threatening Pollution" with Richard Fuller, who founded Pure Earth, an NGO dedicated to cleaning up the world's worst instances of man-made toxicity in the Global South.

Damon adapted his two books of interviews, "Tower Stories: an Oral History of 9/11" and "Heart of War: Soldiers' Voices from the Front Lines of Iraq" for the stage. He has written other plays besides, plus television pilots and screenplays.

He created, founded, and taught the Writing for Public Intellectuals workshop for PhD students in the History and Culture Program at Drew University's Caspersen School of Graduate Studies. Damon has also taught acting in Drew's undergraduate Theatre Arts Department, at the New York Film Academy, and in private coaching sessions. His acting resume includes roles in daytime and primetime television, independent film, and regional theater.

Since 2019, he has worked with the Compass Needle Think Thank, a foundation committed to exploring new paradigms for living based on ancient wisdom, non-duality, and the feasibility of non-zero sum games.

Damon collects, restores, and uses vintage manual typewriters.

Current position (3)

Author, Speaker, Creative

Self

Consultant

CompassNeedle Think Tank

International Speaker

Self

Degrees (2)
Professional Actors Training
Rutgers University, Mason Gross School of the Arts
1993 to 1996
Theatre Arts, English Literature
Drew University
1989 to 1993

Presentations

Presentations (5)
Together We Live or Together We Die - From 9/11 to COVID-19: The Interdependence of Crisis

If the coronavirus were here for our good, what lesson would it be trying to teach us?

Americans asked this question after the terrorist attacks of 9/11. The answer, it turns out, is the same. When a crisis affects one of us, it affects us all. This happens because we are connected to each other in ways we cannot possibly comprehend. Ways that only become revealed to us when our very survival is at stake.

When we elevate each other, we are, in fact, elevating ourselves. History shows us time and again that the values of diversity, inclusivity, and respect are the keystones to resilience for communities of any scale regardless of what challenges they face. But many still cling to alikeness, exclusivity, blaming the Other. Even those with the best intentions sometimes fall into this trap.

Author and 9/11 historian Damon DiMarco presents this rousing lecture aimed at student bodies, leadership teams, and those who search for meaning when meaning seems to be lost.

The Hidden Lesson of 9/11 (that No One Should Ever Forget)

It’s been nearly 20 years since the terrorist attacks of 9/11 ... and what have we learned? Our economy shot up, collapsed, shot up again, and collapsed again. War continues in the Middle East. Advances in technology have brought us together while pushing us farther apart. Americans are now more polarized than ever along political, economic, and sociological lines.

This is our post 9/11 world. So what the hell was 9/11 for?

NBC’s Today Show called DiMarco’s book, Tower Stories: an Oral History of 9/11, "Arguably the most successful attempt at capturing the enormity of of the events of 9/11 … DiMarco's sprawling oral history [presents] human stories . . .with a raw candor a thousand times more affecting than any cold statistic offered by a commission ... a riveting and disarmingly emotional read."

In this presentation, the author of Tower Stories reminds us that the tragedy of 9/11 is obvious. But an even greater tragedy would be to miss its silver lining.

The Artist’s Master Key to Success

Every creative person Gets Stuck. Writers call this writer’s block. Some actors call it actors block. Painters, dancers, musicians, sculptors … every creative person knows what Getting Stuck feels like. If creating something is Heaven, Getting Stuck is surely hell.

In this presentation, Damon DiMarco outlines his eight ‘Be Attitudes’ for getting Unstuck. Material from this presentation is sourced from Damon’s forthcoming book The Artist’s Master Key to Success. It’s the perfect keynote speech for any institute or university program in the arts -- writing, dance, theatre arts, filmmaking, music, fine arts, and sculpture. Since the essence of leadership and entrepreneurialism is creativity, this material is also valid for MBAs, leadership institutes, government training and urban planning programs, or any curriculum where problem solving is highlighted.

Only the Shadow Knows

What is the shadow aspect of our personality? How did it come to be born? What is its purpose? What happens when we ignore our shadows? And, perhaps most importantly, how can we derive incredible, long-hidden creative potential from this much-misaligned entity?

Only the Shadow Knows is the perfect keynote lecture or speech to open seminars and workshops in the arts, business retreats that focus on creativity, or any conference on ethics. This material has also been applied with great efficacy to an interactive course for artists (with special emphasis on writers and actors) as well as open-minded corporate communities looking to smash through previous cultural boundaries and create a richer, more creative environment that values the thickness of human relationships.

Personal Alchemy 101

For centuries, people stood in awe of the alchemists — those mystical men and women who claimed they could turn lead into gold. Such efforts were whispered to be the road to riches. How was it possible, and what sacred knowledge was required to turn base metal into something priceless?

Sadly, people missed the joke. Turning lead into gold wasn’t meant literally but allegorically. Just as heaven and hell are states of mind, the concepts of lead and gold are really allusions to states of spiritual development. The art the ancient alchemists attest to this, as do the many sacred texts they left behind.

In this presentation, Damon DiMarco introduces the art of personal transformation from scientific, spiritual, and historical perspectives. This is a must-see presentation for anyone in any field looking to embark on a personal and lifelong journey of self-development.

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  • Videos
  • Photos (1)
  • Slides (1)
This speaker hasn't uploaded any videos yet.
Damon DiMarco on the National Geographic Channel
Damon DiMarco on the National Geographic Channel
Odyssey Network Interview with Damon DiMarco
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Books & Articles (7)

Tower Stories: An Oral History of 9/11
Santa Monica Press,
2007
The Actor's Art & Craft
Anchor Books/PRH,
2008
The Actor's Guide to Creating a Character
Anchor Books/PRH,
2014
My Two Chinas: The Memoir of a Chinese Counter-revolutionary
Prometheus Books,
2011
The Brown Agenda: My Mission to Clean Up the World's Most Life Threatening Pollution
Santa Monica Press,
2015
Heart of War: Soldiers' Voices from the Front Lines of Iraq
Citadel Books,
2005
Out of Bounds: Coming out of Sexual Abuse, Addiction, and My Life of Lies in the NFL Closet
Carroll & Graf,
2007

Expertise (17)

Entertainment & Art
Social & Political
Leadership
Book Writing 911 Creativity Finding motivation Acting Writing Playwrighting Interviewing Skills Prose Motivation Teenagers Fatherhood Personal Transformation Inspiration
Recommendations
Why choose me? 

Damon DiMarco synthesizes ideas like an intellectual Reese's Peanut-butter Cup. Delicious!

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