From Lawrence Co. to 'Cobra Kai': Louisa teen's acting career on right track

Jan. 4—LOUISA — It was not difficult for 17-year-old Shawn Weston Thacker to find his career path: He has been on it since he was 8.

The Lawrence County High School junior started acting when he was in elementary school and has already appeared in live theater shows, movies and the series "Cobra Kai" as Logan, an Eagle Fang Karate student in Seasons 3, 4 and 5. He is also starring in the Paramount Arts Center's upcoming production of "Aladdin."

In addition to acting, he's been developing skills, including modeling, singing, dancing, piano, gymnastics and martial arts, which likely helped him land his role on "Cobra Kai."

"I started taking voice lessons and my voice teacher found out about Dollywood auditions," said Thacker, son of Shawn Odell and Shawna Thacker. "My dad heard about an open call for my talent agent, so I got accepted to go to Orlando and auditioned in front of multiple talent agents and I got accepted by a couple. I chose Heyman Talent in Louisville.

"I got my first job at 9 and started working at Dollywood at Christmas time in the theater," he continued. "I was Jacob in 'O Holy Night' in 2015 from October to January and again the next year."

Since then, he's had many parts, including an uncredited role in "The Suicide Squad" ("I had a starfish on my face. I was a lab patient in Starro's army"), where he met actors Margot Robbie, Idris Elba and John Cena.

"I was in jail, a prison scene, and it was very grimy and dark and crazy," he said. "It was a lot of fun. ... I don't think I've had a bad experience. Everyone has been really, really nice. They're incredible people to work with."

Besides "Cobra Kai," Thacker said he especially enjoyed being an action double for the Freddie Freeman role in "Shazam! 2," which is where he met actors Rachel Zegler and Helen Mirren.

"The third day on the set, I met Helen. I was just standing there ... she came up to me and said, 'Hi. Are you Shawn?' and I said, 'Yes.' She already knew my name," he said. "She's super sweet. I love her."

Thacker has twice attended Kristen Chenoweth's Broadway Bootcamp, a 10-day intensive for which he had to audition. It's been helpful with networking, as he's developed a friendship with Chenoweth and met filmmaker Kenny Ortega.

"Connections is how the whole things works. It's crazy how many people know each other," he said.

But there's a great deal of work involved, too.

"It's also a lot of hard work and auditions," he continued. and there's disappointment.

"Most of what I auditioned for I didn't get," he said. "You have to do so many auditions before you get hired. So many rejections, but it's something you have to get used to. They have in mind what they want and they're looking for something specific."

His burgeoning acting career, combined with the COVID-19 pandemic, has required Thacker to be homeschooled and to take online classes over the last few years, but it hasn't been a problem.

"I miss my friends, but when I go, no matter how long I go, when I see them again, it seems like yesterday," he said.