Eric Hennig

Alumni  |  Straight To SCC From High School  |  Student

SCC alum Eric Hennig got his start in acting in the fourth grade as the butler in “Annie” and at that point he was hooked. “I’ve wanted to be an actor for as long as I can remember,” he said.

He auditioned for SCC’s Young People’s Theatre (YPT) in the seventh grade after learning about it from his older sister.  He was disappointed to not make the cut, but that didn’t stop him from trying again.

The second time around, Eric landed the lead role for YPT’s production of “The Homecoming,” and he continued doing plays with YPT until high school.

“The Young People’s Theatre helped me realize that acting was what I really wanted to do,” Eric said. “I got a lot of acting advice from the older students."

SCC has been a family affair for Eric.  Not only was his sister involved in YPT, but she took classes at the college as well and, his younger brother played baseball for the Cougars. “I’ve been coming to the SCC campus since I was a little kid,” he said. “I thought it was so cool, and I said, ‘I'm never leaving.’ ”

While attending SCC, he often took breaks for auditions and found himself on set for various acting jobs. Eric signed with an agent as a senior in high school, and he now has a few different agents all over the country.

“I didn’t think about acting in TV or commercials until high school,” Eric said. “I just liked theater.”

He was featured in a scene in the Hunger Games movie as a “game maker.” Although he did not have a speaking line, he said the experience was worth it. He shot his first commercial here in St. Charles for "Bo Beuckman Ford" and also appeared in a commercial for SCC. 

While passionate about acting, school was still a priority. “Education is really important, obviously,” Eric said. “It’s a good back up to have with an acting career, and my teachers are always really helpful.”

When making the choice between acting and school, he looked to his mom for advice. She works in health care, and if acting didn't work out, Eric considered studying radiation therapy. “My mom is my biggest supporter,” he said.

After finishing school at SCC, Eric moved to Los Angeles, Ca., in April 2014 to pursue acting. He has since starred in Lifetime's My Haunted House, published his first book, Hourglass, done public appearances and presented at an award show. His main focus remains television and feature films, as his dream job is to work for a sitcom.

"It would be amazing to be able to work on the same project every week and be able to grow with a character over time."

Eric said his education paid off in a major way when he was in the process of writing his first book. "The english courses helped a ton," he said. "I've always enjoyed writing, and I learned a lot at SCC."

Stay up-to-date with Eric by visiting his website, Twitter account or IMDb page. 

Last updated: Aug. 8, 2016