From athlete to actor, producer, and now culture curator, Blue Kimble has built a career rooted in authenticity, hustle, and heart. With years in front of the camera and now expanding behind it through his company Viral Productions, Kimble continues to evolve as a creative force. In this conversation, he opens up about his journey, his influences, and his mission to tell unfiltered stories that celebrate Black culture, challenge stereotypes, and preserve the legacy of those who came before.
I remember you from “The Game,” but you actually played for the Buffalo Bills. What brought about the crossover to acting?
NFL stands for “not for long.” It’s short-lived, and most players aren’t superstars. Many are pushed out and forced to transition into something new. I tried different paths and business opportunities, and acting wasn’t even on my radar. I fell into it by chance, and now it’s my entire life. It’s wild how God steps in when you’re able to recognize what He’s trying to show you. You have to let God lead sometimes. I’m a testimony to that.
What was your biggest learning curve moving from athlete to actor?
The two worlds are more alike than people think. They’re different fields, but everything I learned as an athlete carried me into acting. The work ethic, discipline, training, and learning to handle losses—it all translates. You lose in football, but you can’t dwell on it. You get ready for the next game. Acting is similar. You’ll hear “no” a thousand times before you get the one “yes” that changes everything. People tell you no every day—“You’re not right for the role,” “You’re not enough of this or that.” The industry is tough. Without mental strength, it can break you.
In your past projects, what roles sharpened your skills or challenged you the most?
Every role mattered because I’m always learning. I watch, listen, and study how to improve. It’s like sports—you see Jordan or Kobe make a move, and you want to try it. I do that with acting. Being on The Game was huge. It was my first major project with a real budget. Working with Pooch Hall, who’s like a big brother, taught me a lot. Then on Being Mary Jane, Gabrielle Union embraced me and told me I was good—that meant a lot. You don’t always know how strong you are until you’re around people who are great and they acknowledge your work. That’s when I knew I belonged.
You’ve contributed to sports, the corporate sector, and entertainment. What inspires you to keep pursuing new ventures?
Because it never stops. Once you pour yourself into something, it becomes part of who you are. There’s always more to aim for. I could slow down, but not while I’m able and people are still expecting more from me. I feel a responsibility—to myself, to Black people, and to the young boys watching me on TV thinking, “I want to do what he’s doing.” Influence is real, and I take that seriously. Now it’s about service—passing the torch and creating paths for those coming next. After more than ten years in this industry, I know our role is to preserve the culture and protect our stories.
You’re co-founding Viral Productions. Tell me about that.
I’m blessed to have launched my own production company, Viral Productions. Our first feature film is already moving through the festival circuit and earning awards. Our mission is to curate and protect our culture and our stories because we are more than the narrow roles Hollywood has shown—ballplayers, criminals, and stereotypes.
We’re reclaiming our narrative. Tyler Perry just released Ruth and Boaz, a story centered on Black love. Hollywood can’t tell that story for us because they don’t know it. They don’t feel it. They can’t write it. That responsibility is ours—creators, actors, and producers. Our goal is to put our stories into the world for us.
What is your role in the company? Will you act or focus on producing?
All of it. I write, create, and act, and I’ve directed. The priority is telling our stories, showing us in a positive light, and opening a new lane for the culture. At 40, I see millennials as the bridge between generations. The younger crowd doesn’t always know the stories from the ’80s, ’90s, or our grandparents’ time. It’s on us to keep that alive. Viral Productions is about connecting generations and building quality films and TV rooted in Black culture.
Your first project is 117 Years of Movie Bullshit. Is that the one in contention for awards?
Yes. We’re premiering at the Micheaux Film Festival on October 25. It feels good to be recognized for something we built from nothing—writing, funding, every detail on set. It hits different when it’s yours. As actors, we create, but this time we built the whole thing. We’re excited for people to see it and understand what we’re doing for Black culture and the community. Everything I’ve experienced—the wins, losses, and lessons—prepared me for this mission: telling our stories and shaping our narrative.
Where did the inspiration for the story come from?
It follows two struggling artists—an actor and a director—who aren’t being acknowledged. They encounter a white producer-director who traps them in an experiment and sends them back in time. They travel through the stereotypical Black roles we’ve played over 117 years—from slavery and Gone With the Wind to the blaxploitation era and today. It reflects what we’ve endured in Hollywood and what we’re still fighting.
Black actors have always had to “perform” just to be noticed. Acting is already hard, but being Black in Hollywood is harder. We don’t often get the sci-fi or complex roles. Not everything has to involve drugs or gangs. We are more than that. So, my partner, Frank Adkinson, and I are creating our own—our version of The Matrix, our time-travel stories. That’s what this film represents: taking back the narrative.
This film is a dark comedy. What other genres can we expect from Viral Productions?
We’re doing it all—love stories, sci-fi, biopics, and real stories without outside filters. Horror, drama, and everything in between, but always from a Black perspective. We want to be what BET once was when it centered our music, stories, and news. Today it’s different. We’re bringing back a platform where our stories and voices are central, not edited or diluted.
Outside of film, what else can we expect from you?
I do a little of everything. Giving back is important to me. The films allow us to build credibility so we can do more in the community. Tyler Perry has been a major influence. Working with him and seeing his impact motivates me. My mom once called, saying he bought out a grocery store so seniors and single mothers could shop for free. Things like that don’t always make headlines, but they matter.
We have to take care of our people. That’s the mission. I want to be someone who always makes sure we’re good.
Is there a release date for 117 Years of Movie Bullshit?
It’s coming. Because it’s in the festival circuit, it must complete that run before we release it. Investors may want to come in, so timing matters. It’s a public viewing through the festivals. From October 23 to 26, it will be in Los Angeles, in Culver City. We’re also developing two more projects. I can’t share details until contracts clear, but they’re on the way. Through 2026, we expect to release three projects under Viral Productions.
Lis Bryant
