If anyone knows Curry Barker‘s success wasn’t built overnight, it’s Anthony Pavone.
Years before Obsession became one of 2026’s biggest success stories, the 29-year-old actor was collaborating with writer-director Barker and his creative partner, Cooper Tomlinson. While Barker and Tomlinson were best known as the duo behind the sketch comedy YouTube channel That’s a Bad Idea, there’s another creative living in their Los Angeles townhouse: Pavone, Barker’s longtime collaborator, roommate and friend.
Pavone starred in Barker’s 2023 horror short The Chair, playing Reese, a man whose decision to bring home an abandoned antique chair sends him spiraling into paranoia and a terrifying unraveling of reality. The short earned recognition on the festival circuit before amassing more than 10 million views on YouTube, helping introduce producers Mark Lane and James Harris to Barker’s work and ultimately paving the way for his feature directorial debut.
That debut came with Obsession, Barker’s breakout horror film, following Bear (Michael Johnston), a young man who wishes for his crush, Nikki (Inde Navarrette) to love him. It premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival before becoming a box office phenomenon. Barker wrote and directed the film, Tomlinson starred as Ian, and Pavone made an appearance as Reggie during the film’s unforgettable party scene.
As Obsession arrives on streaming, The Hollywood Reporter spoke with Pavone in his first feature-length interview about watching Barker’s career take off from inside their shared home, the early days of making The Chair, auditioning for Obsession and Barker’s followup, Anything But Ghosts, and why he’d rather earn a role than receive one because of his friendship with Barker.
How did you meet Curry and Cooper? Did you also go to film school with them?
So I did not go to NYFA. I met Curry first in an acting class where I was actually working as the acting coach’s assistant when I first came out to Los Angeles about seven years ago. When the class wrapped, Cooper came to the [class wrap] party because he’d actually recommended it to Curry after taking it himself a year earlier. The coach introduced us, we hit it off and that was right before COVID. We shot their first short film, Meanwhile Outside the Bank and I helped produce it. The rest is history.
What’s it been like living with them while all of this success has been happening?
It’s been pretty awesome. I’m just really happy for these guys, because a lot of times you’ll see online, “Oh, it’s overnight success.” But they’re always working. So, that’s really motivating and inspiring for me. These guys are doing it in a way that hasn’t been done before in this new world of entertainment media, online internet [culture]. They’re setting some serious ground rules for people who actually want to be successful.
Did you ever audition to play Bear or Ian?
I auditioned to play Bear, just because I was like, “Why not put up a tape? See if Curry likes it. See if Skyler [Zurn, Obsession’s casting director] likes it.” They obviously went a different route, which is the right choice. I thought Michael did an unbelievable job. But that was just me trying to get an audition as an actor and say, “Hey, this is what I can do.”
Curry even wrote some of Obsession and edited it at your place. So, did you get an early sneak peek?
Oh yeah. We are in a townhouse, and Curry has literally been editing Anything But Ghosts in our basement. (Laughs.) Cooper and I always joke about how he’s editing these huge movies down there. But I think I’ve seen every cut of Obsession. We had an early screening at one of the producers’ houses, and I’ve seen clips nonstop since he started editing the film. I’ve seen it one too many times.
Even though it was a brief appearance, what was it like being a part of Obsession?
It was so cool. I was only on set for a day and a half, and I remember it was a crazy day, in the middle of the shoot, and it’s a bigger production, so things are a bit stressful. I go up to Curry and I say, “So what do you need me to do?” And he said, “Just do what you do.” And then that’s it. It’s nice that he trusted me to do the smallest part of a huge scene. It’s good to have a friend like that behind the camera, because you don’t have to worry about anything else. You just need to make sure you say your lines, deliver what you need to do, and then he can focus on Nikki’s character, Bear’s character, or whoever the camera’s pointing to. It was super fun to be a part of. Having one of your really good friends yell “action” and have you act in front of him is just the best. You can’t ask for more.
Was your Jell-O shot line improvised, or was that written?
That was written. He came up with the Jell-O shot line. I think maybe at a couple of July 4 parties we took a couple, so he’s probably like, “Yeah, Anthony can say that line.”
You visited set when you werent’ working. What scenes were you on set for?
I was there for the Obsession title card on the bed frame scene, some of the pickup days, the diner scene and then some of the stuff in the bar at Barker’s Pub. I actually think that sign is still hanging up in his room right now.
Since Obsession was such a big hit, have you been getting more opportunities in the industry, more auditions, people reaching out, that kind of thing?
Definitely, which is a dream come true. Any actor just wants to be a working actor. A lot more auditions have been coming in. A couple of new management companies have reached out. It opens doors and validates your work. People want to talk about what they’re working on or what you just did, that way it’s not a one-sided conversation. I think Obsession is going to continue to do great for everybody involved, and I’m going to do my best to capitalize on the success while making sure I have something to offer for the next project.
Speaking of that, what are some of your career goals and dreams you want to achieve?
Ideally, what I’d like to do is just be an actor who produces his own stuff. Whether that be with a production company I start one day, or finding the passion to write projects. But at the end of the day, it is just about finding good material to work on and enjoying the people I’m working with, whether that’s big or small projects. I just want to provide good art to the masses, and if that touches somebody or millions of people, then that’s what I’m happy to do.
Did you also audition for Anything But Ghosts, and do you plan to work with Curry on any future projects?
I auditioned for Anything But Ghosts, one of the smaller supporting roles and didn’t get it. So, as of now, I will not making an appearance in Ghosts. But I would work with Curry and Cooper on anything they do if they ever wanted to cast me in it. I’m really excited to see it. I told Curry, I don’t want to see any cuts of Anything But Ghosts until it’s almost done. I want to see a Curry Barker film for the first time without seeing a cut of it where it’s like, “OK, and there’ll be VFX here.” I want to see the whole movie.
Because you and Curry are friends and roommates, how does he break the bad news if you’ve auditioned for something and it goes to somebody else? Is that a little awkward?
Not at all. That’s why we’re still good friends and able to live together and hopefully move into a new place here soon. To be able to be like, “Hey, man, we’re gonna go a different route” and “Ah, all right, can you get my coffee this morning?” It’s super casual. I’m the kind of person who doesn’t care. It’s an acting part at the end of the day. It’s not life or death. So, if they, or whoever’s casting, believe that that part should go to somebody else, OK, great. Good luck. I want their movie to be the best it can be. And I’ve mentioned that to Cooper and Curry. It’s like, listen, if you guys are going to continue to do projects, don’t just hand me a role because it’s your friend. I want to be the right person for that role.
I’m aware that producers were originally interested in The Chair before they landed on Obsession. Do you think The Chair could ever be made into a feature film one day?
Yeah, if the right idea comes to Curry, I think he can definitely execute a feature-length Chair. Obviously, the idea’s got to be good, but I think 100 percent it could be. It definitely depends on what Curry wants to do with that. It’s his idea, so I’d be open to checking out The Chair, not even being involved. I would just want to watch the feature.
Have there been any talks about moving forward with The Chair following the success of Obsession and with all eyes on Curry?
Not that I’ve heard of. I mean, whatever he gets asked in the interviews, I don’t know. But I don’t think there’s anything in the works for a Chair feature film. I think he’s got his plate pretty full at the moment.
What’s it like seeing all the success for Obsession right now, and how that was picked up?
It’s awesome. If this were to lead to a Chair feature, great, that’s perfect. But if this is just a stepping stone into a career that is built on horror films, that’s even greater too. I think whatever it chooses to be, it’s the right way to do it. So, I’m just really happy for Curry, and he’s found success in Obsession, The Chair and Milk & Cereal. It’s awesome to see somebody who you’ve known for years work hard at something and be successful at it. Half the time you get people that move out here, don’t find success early, and then they’re like, “All right, I’m done.” It’s all about being consistent and persistent. It’s not an overnight success. He is skyrocketing, but the guy is always working. Whether it’s on his next project, editing, or taking meetings, he’s always doing something, as is Cooper.
How do you see him handling all that success?
I think he’ll be totally fine. He’s got good friends around him, family that loves him and a good team representing him. I think he’s going to be just fine. I feel confident in that answer.
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Obsession is playing in theaters and available to stream digitally. Read all of The Hollywood Reporter’s coverage here, including the cover story with Curry Barker.
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