Stephen Huszar Breaks Down His Journey From Business School & Management Consulting to Hallmark Leading Man
…I have already begun the journey of producing content with a compassionate and mindful connotation. I created a company called Mindful World, which produced the Eckhart Tolle film Milton’s Secret. We created a curriculum for schools that uses the movie as a platform to teach kids basic principles of being present, compassionate, and having self-love. This can possibly trump the negativities, frustrations, and anxieties happening with youth these days. We see school shootings and kids being diagnosed with mental illness. If I could continue to spread that message and help the youth of this world with tools to be more mindful and compassionate to themselves and others, that would be what I want to spread. I am currently trying to do that…
I had the pleasure of talking with Stephen Huszar, a man who seems to have lived three distinct lifetimes in the span of one. On screen, you might know him as the rugged, charming lead in Hallmark hits or the intensity behind a thriller villain, but the reality of Huszar’s trajectory is far less linear than a movie script. He isn’t just an actor who stumbled onto a mark; he is a “Prairie boy through and through” who walked away from the high-rise allure of corporate America to find something that actually felt like real life.
Born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Huszar was raised in a humble household by Hungarian immigrant parents. They came to Canada to build a better life, a sacrifice Huszar doesn’t take lightly. “I am very appreciative of them coming and giving me such a wonderful opportunity in a free country,” he says. His youth was defined by the kind of hyper-activity that necessitates an outlet. He was competitive, diving into gymnastics, volleyball, sailing, swimming, skiing, and, inevitably, hockey — because, as he notes with a laugh, “every Canadian needs to play hockey.”
That competitive drive initially funneled him not into the arts, but into business. By his mid-twenties, Huszar was a management consultant living the fast life with condos in Toronto and Chicago. On paper, he had won the game. He was young, wealthy, and climbing the ladder. But the view from the top was disquieting. “I thought there was something more to life than making companies more money,” he admits.
The pivot point came during a conversation with a girlfriend who asked him a simple, devastating question: “What do you believe in?”
Huszar realized he didn’t have an answer. “I thought I had it all,” he recalls. “I knew I would go up the corporate chain, make money, and have the big house… But I could not answer her question, and it really bothered me.”
This existential gap sent him on a journey that sounds like the plot of a beatnik novel. He left the boardroom behind to live in India for a year, followed by stints in Asia, South America and Europe, studying culture and religion. He was looking for the thread that ties humanity together, and he found it in storytelling. “Stories are how we connect and how we connect to something greater than ourselves,” Huszar says. “That was my quarter-life crisis. That got me into the arts.”
The transition from consultant to actor wasn’t seamless. Back in North America, he began living a double life. “I played a little hooky,” he says of his final days in the corporate world. “I would be at my client site, then go to an audition… change in the cab — almost like Superman — become this character, then put my suit and tie back on and return.”
Eventually, the suit stayed off. After his father passed away, Huszar returned to Saskatoon to support his family. It was there, in his hometown, that he landed a role in Caught in the Headlights. He claims he had “the worst audition read ever,” but he had the look — “the blonde hair and the flow” — and the local connections. It was enough to get his foot in the door, leading to a move to Vancouver and the start of the real grind.
In the entertainment industry, rejection is the background radiation everyone lives with. Huszar learned early on that a “no” is often just a nudge in a better direction. He recalls a heartbreak from a decade ago when he was in the running for the lead role in the Starz series Spartacus. He lost the part, missing out on years of shooting in New Zealand. But two weeks later, a different door opened. He was asked to produce Milton’s Secret, a film based on the work of Eckhart Tolle, starring Donald Sutherland.
“Because of that rejection, I was able to align with what I believed in and share this story with the world,” Huszar reflects. It allowed him to merge his business background with his spiritual interests, creating a project about overcoming bullying with compassion.
Today, Huszar operates from a place of mindfulness that seems rare in the frantic pace of Hollywood. He is a trained Ashtanga yoga teacher and an advocate for silent meditation retreats. “If you are not able to slow those thoughts down, it can be consuming,” he explains. This grounded approach informs his current work, which includes an upcoming Hallmark film centered on the American Revolution of 1776, shot near the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, and a Christmas release titled Miniature Christmas.
Despite the genre-hopping — from horror to romance to period pieces — Huszar’s underlying philosophy remains consistent. He views his work as a way to combat the isolation of the modern world. “Humans are meant to be in a community,” he says. “We are not here to compete against each other; we are here to lift each other up.”
For a man who once measured success by quarterly earnings, Stephen Huszar has found a different metric. It’s no longer about the big house or the white picket fence, but about the connection. Whether he’s on a ski slope in the Canadian Rockies or on a set in Los Angeles, he is simply trying to tell a story that matters. “I truly believe that if you stick it out, want it, and work hard,” he says, “you will find your place.”
Yitzi: Stephen, it is so nice to meet you. Before we dive deep, we would love to hear about your personal origin story. Can you share the story of your childhood, how you grew up, and the seeds for all of the amazing work that has come since then?
Stephen: Sure, that is a good question. I am a Prairie boy through and through. I was born in a small town called Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, in the middle of the Canadian Prairies. I grew up with a small family, just my sister and my parents. My parents are immigrants from Hungary who came over to make a better life in Canada, which they certainly did. I am very appreciative of them coming and giving me such a wonderful opportunity in a free country. As I said, I grew up in a humble family. I played a lot of sports growing up: gymnastics, swimming, skiing, volleyball, and of course hockey — every Canadian needs to play hockey. Skiing and sailing were my big ones, the final sports that I did. I was really competitive and went into business school right away. After about three years in corporate America, I thought there was something more to life than making companies more money. I decided to delve into the arts and wanted to tell stories. I felt that was what I needed to do to fulfill that deeper connection and leave a mark, to be part of this human story that will continue as we go forward. I feel the story is a wonderful way to connect throughout the ages. That is when I decided to become an actor, and I have not looked back since.
Yitzi: Tell us the next chapter. Tell us a bit about how you first entered the entertainment industry, maybe your first breaks. Tell us that story.
Stephen: Regarding the first break, there was a movie that came through just after I quit my corporate America job and went back to Saskatoon. My father had just passed away, which was part of the reason for moving back, to take care of my sister and my mother and get things sorted. It was obviously a huge event in our lives, a big reset. I had already started getting into commercial work while I was in corporate America. I played a little hooky; I would be at my client site, then go to an audition. I was a management consultant, by the way. I would go to an audition at lunch, change in the cab — almost like Superman — become this character, then put my suit and tie back on and return. That obviously had to end at some point, but it got me ready. When I was in Saskatoon, a movie called Caught in the Headlights came through, starring Kim Coates and Erika Eleniak. They were looking for a small-town cop, almost a Brad Pitt Thelma and Louise type. I had the blonde hair and the flow. I knew the producer, who was also from Saskatoon. I thought I had the worst audition read ever, but they were running out of time and needed a guy, so I think that is partly why I got the role. That set the stage. It was a great feature film. Then I headed to Vancouver, where I started taking it more seriously and studying, and that is where my career really started.
Yitzi: Let’s say you were writing your memoir, a retrospective memoir about your career. What story would have to be in that book? Tell us a story that most stands out in your mind from your professional career.
Stephen: There are a couple of stories I would want to tell in my memoir. One would be how I made the shift into acting. I would like to share that because I think many people may connect to it. When I was 25, I was at the top of my game in corporate America. I had a condo in Toronto and Chicago, and I was making good money for my age. However, something was missing in my life, and I could not figure out what it was. My girlfriend at the time asked me one question: “What do you believe in?” I thought I had it all. I thought my life was set, and I knew I would go up the corporate chain, make money, and have the big house, the white picket fence, and the kids. But I could not answer her question, and it really bothered me. In retrospect, I was so busy being competitive and looking at how to be better than someone else that I never asked those big questions. I did not grow up very religious — not to the fault of my family, we were just busy doing other things. That led me on a different path. I started reading religious and spiritual books and questioning why we are here. That led me to travel. I lived in India for almost a year, then South America and Europe, studying culture and religion. Upon coming back to North America and studying Western religion, I realized again that it is about storytelling. Stories are how we connect and how we connect to something greater than ourselves. It is apparent in any philosophy or religion. I thought, “I found something I want to dedicate my life to.” That connects me to something greater and gives meaning to my life. That was my quarter-life crisis. That got me into the arts. I feel if people wonder if they are missing something, they should investigate what is important and why. Ask those big questions. I am glad I did at that age.
Regarding your other question about what stands out in my professional career, I have had incredible experiences. It took a while to get my feet going. You are reinventing yourself all the time. When you work hard for so long without results, you need to believe in something to hold you. I am glad I did that internal work beforehand because I do not know if I would have lasted otherwise. When you do succeed, it is the most incredible experience because you create a family, get to know people, travel to different cultures, and create deep connections. I think I have the greatest job on Earth. Every set is different, and I am blessed to be on them. I grew up athletic and had the good fortune of shooting a ski movie deep in the Canadian Rockies. We had the entire ski mountain to ourselves for a month. We would wake up at 5:30 AM in a beautiful lodge, have breakfast, get hair and makeup done, then go up the chairlift to shoot on the mountain and ski all day. I was born doing this for fun, and now I get to connect to a character and show the affinity I have towards this sport and the outdoors. Having that perfect through-line and connection to who I really am made that a special project for me. That is just one example, but there are many.
Yitzi: Amazing. There’s a saying that “No” is not rejection but redirection. Has that happened to you? Do you have a story like that where you got a “no” to an opportunity, but that led to an unexpected opportunity or success or blessing?
Stephen: Absolutely. This industry is heavily weighted towards rejection. There are many “no’s” happening all the time. Being in it for some time, you realize exactly what you said: if you hang on those “no’s,” it will put you into a spiral that closes down other opportunities. If you see it as an opportunity that went a different direction, you remain open to other opportunities. There have been multiple times where I really wanted something, was in the running, and found out it went a different direction. Then, another opportunity pops up. I remember I was in the running to play the lead of Spartacus about 10 years ago. It was a great Starz series. We did the screen testing, and it was between me and a couple of other gentlemen. It went another direction, and I was heartbroken. That would have been perfect — shooting in New Zealand for years. However, literally about two weeks later, a producer approached me at a film festival and asked if I wanted to help produce a movie based on a book by an author I aspired to, Eckhart Tolle, who wrote The Power of Now. Out of nowhere, I said yes, relying on my business experience. It led me on a different journey for a few years, producing this beautiful film starring Donald Sutherland and Michelle Rodriguez. It was a story about an 11-year-old kid being bullied at school and how to overcome bullying with compassion. I feel that had such a global impact. Because of that rejection, I was able to align with what I believed in and share this story with the world. That is one example of a “no.” Sometimes you never know what other avenue will open up in life.
Yitzi: Amazing. So please tell us about the exciting new things you are working on now and what will we be seeing in the near future?
Stephen: I just finished shooting a movie about American Independence a couple of months ago. It was in Philadelphia, shooting around the Liberty Bell, covering the story of American Independence in 1776. This coming year is the 250-year anniversary of America. That is a very exciting project that should be released in the summertime on Hallmark. I do not know the name of it yet. Now that I am living mostly in America, based out of Los Angeles, it gave me an opportunity to research and learn more about the country I am residing in. It is a fascinating history about Americans standing up to the British, becoming independent, and creating this beautiful nation. I really enjoyed that. My girlfriend, Katie, and I also have a few projects we are producing, and I will be acting in one in a couple of months. I cannot say anything about that yet, but it will be released in the industry magazines soon. Additionally, I have another movie called Miniature Christmas that will be released on Hallmark this year. I just got the thumbs up from the producers that it will be released, so I am pretty excited about that too.
Yitzi: If you could take all of your work, put it in a big blender — all of your work, particularly your original work, the things that you are originating — what would be the overall message that comes out of your work? What would be the overall theme?
Stephen: Like put it in a big blender and see what kind of smoothie I make? (Laughs) I have worked in different genres, including horror, thriller, and psychological shows where I am not such a great guy, which I enjoy playing as a flip to my lighter romantic comedy characters. However, in the end, I believe we live in a place where we should really support each other. Humans are meant to be in a community. We are not here to compete against each other; we are here to lift each other up. The more we are open, have dialogue, and are honest with each other, the more we can create anything we want. Many issues we see these days — depression, mental health issues, in addition to physical issues — have been around forever, but we see them more now due to media. I think a lot of that stems from feeling alone and disconnected. The more we can connect in any way and have a platform, group, or tribe to talk to, the better and happier our lives will be. In addition, practicing gratitude as much as you can is the icing on the cake. I have had lows in my life. I am not comparing my life to others, as there are many situations where people are really struggling. However, if you are able to find a little bit of light and gratitude every day, it helps shift your mindset. We have a lot to be grateful for, including just being alive. That can get you through dark times. If I can put a spark of that into my performances or the things I produce, I think I have done something to help.
Yitzi: This is our signature question. You’ve been blessed with a lot of success and you must have learned a lot from your experiences. Looking back to when you first started, can you share five things that you need to create a successful career in the entertainment industry?
Stephen: Five things you need to create a successful career.
- One is certainly an unstoppable belief in yourself that you can do it. That is the most important thing. Switching 180 degrees from a left-brain analytical management consultant to a right-brain creative meant I needed to believe, “I am going to do this.” You need 100% unstoppable belief in yourself.
- Second, there needs to be persistence. You have to practice. It is a muscle. You need to train all the time. If you are not working, you must be in class. Make that a priority.
- Third, gratitude is essential. Without gratitude, we can fall into negative traps of playing the victim. As soon as you have gratitude for things in your life, it shifts your mindset and gets you through dark times.
- Fourth, community is huge. Going to class, getting a group of actors together, performing, and having people you can count on — coaches and friends — is vital. Never stop learning.
- Fifth, patience is crucial. You do not really know when things are going to happen. It is different from business, which is quite linear. In this career, especially acting, you must trust that your work is simply showing up and doing your best at every opportunity. Trust that your preparation will meet the opportunity, and that is when the sparks will fly. Be patient. I truly believe that if you stick it out, want it, and work hard, you will find your place.
Yitzi: Could you share some of the self care routines that you do to help your body, mind and heart to thrive?
Stephen: I practice mind, body, and spirit routines, as I think those three aspects are important. We talked about belief. I think it is important to believe in something greater than yourself. That helps get you through dark times when you feel alone. Having something to connect to makes you feel part of a bigger picture than just your own issues. Even looking at the stars at night helps pull you out of yourself.
For physical practice, I try to train every day. I am a yoga instructor; I went to Thailand before COVID and got my Ashtanga yoga teacher training. The process of flowing through breath and movement acts as a moving meditation that grounds me. If I am feeling anxious or heady, a 15-minute practice really grounds me. I also avidly work out in the gym as much as I can.
Meditation has been a big thing in my life. I was introduced to it about 15 years ago by my acting instructor, Warren Robinson, who talked about being present. I started doing it quite a bit and have traveled the world trying different techniques. I do 10-day silent meditation retreats, which are a wonderful reset. It gets you in a zone of no distractions. As a kid, I could not stand still, but meditation helped me ground myself and allowed my thoughts to slow down so I was not consumed by them. That is important in life generally, but especially in our career, which can get stressful. If you are not able to slow those thoughts down, it can be consuming. That is my balance for keeping healthy: mind, body, and spirit.
Yitzi: Stephen, because of your amazing work and the platform that you’ve built, you’re a person of great influence. If you could spread an idea or inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can inspire.
Stephen: I have already begun the journey of producing content with a compassionate and mindful connotation. I created a company called Mindful World, which produced the Eckhart Tolle film Milton’s Secret. We created a curriculum for schools that uses the movie as a platform to teach kids basic principles of being present, compassionate, and having self-love. This can possibly trump the negativities, frustrations, and anxieties happening with youth these days. We see school shootings and kids being diagnosed with mental illness. If I could continue to spread that message and help the youth of this world with tools to be more mindful and compassionate to themselves and others, that would be what I want to spread. I am currently trying to do that.
Yitzi: How can our readers continue to follow your work? How can they watch your movies and your shows? How can they support you in any possible way?
Stephen: I am getting better at social media, though I am bad at posting personal stuff. We are working on a platform where people can communicate more with me. For now, follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter under Stephen Huszar. I will redirect people there. Otherwise, you can Google my name and see my IMDb page for upcoming projects. I will try my best to post more about what is going on personally and professionally. That is my commitment to you.
Yitzi: Stephen, it’s been so amazing meeting you. I wish you continued success and good health and I hope we can do this again.
Stephen: Me too. Thank you very much, Yitzi. This has been great. Appreciate it, brother.
Stephen Huszar Breaks Down His Journey From Business School & Management Consulting to Hallmark… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.