Actor Eric Close Recalls His Moment of Surrender to God: ‘I Miss You’
Michael Foust
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By Michael Foust, Crosswalk.com
The actor, best known for his roles in American Sniper and Nashville, as well as a growing slate of family-friendly projects, says his personal faith has guided his career and that he feels called by God to be an actor. Eric Close had a supporting role in the Oscar-winning film American Sniper and a major one in the NBC series Nashville from 2012 to 2017—and in recent years has become a staple in family and faith-based films, including a series of Hallmark projects.
His latest family film is All is Merry & Bright, which releases in theaters on Nov. 7 and tells the hope-filled story of a mom striving for a perfect Christmas when chaos ensues. In the end, she finds peace in the true meaning of Christmas. It’s a comedy-family holiday film starring Close, Emily Rose (Haven), John O'Hurley (Seinfeld), Shari Rigby (Overcomer), Vanessa Benavente (The Chosen), and Sally Struthers (All in the Family, Gilmore Girls).
“We always need stories that uplift us, that bring us hope, that bring us joy, you know, and I think [All Is Merry & Bright] is really needed right now— just in our current climate,” Close told Crosswalk Headlines. “It's a fun movie. It doesn't take itself overly serious or too serious.”
Close starred in Average Joe (2024), The Mulligan (2022), and Indivisible (2022)—as well as in the 2024 Hallmark movie To Have and to Holiday. Faith has been central to his life, he said. He grew up in a family of faith and made a decision for Christ at age 13 but didn’t get serious about the subject until he was out on his own.
“I was kind of running wild a bit,” he said. “And when I graduated college and I was now pursuing a career, I remember having a pivotal moment just sitting in my apartment in downtown Los Angeles, and I felt pretty empty and kind of lost, and I just remember saying a simple prayer. I just said: ‘God, I don't know if you want to have anything to do with me, but I miss you.’
“... And everything changed from that point forward. And it's been an incredible journey. … [Faith] became real to me as an adult. When you're younger, you're under your parents’ house and influence. And when you go out in the real world and suddenly you're making decisions for yourself, you have to make that choice. And I made that choice to say to God, ‘Hey, I want You in my life—as myself doing it.’ And that was very powerful.
Acting, he said, “has been an amazing gift to me and my family.” He hopes his latest movie, All is Merry & Bright, encourages audiences during a season that is often filled with loneliness.
“We really do need each other in this life. And you know, sometimes you hear that there's an epidemic of loneliness in the world. … And I think that this movie reminds us that we need each other—we need to come together and lift each other up.”
Photo credit: ©CollideMedia/EricClose
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
Listen to Michael's Podcast! He is the host of Crosswalk Talk, a podcast where he talks with Christian movie stars, musicians, directors, and more. Hear how famous Christian figures keep their faith a priority in Hollywood and discover the best Christian movies, books, television, and other entertainment. You can find Crosswalk Talk on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an interview that will be sure to encourage your faith.
