by Alex Das

David Meunier, '95

David Meunier, then David Miller, came to Santa Barbara from Beaverton, Oregon in August, 1991, after being accepted to three UCs. “And then, I did the math.” David said, “being an ‘out of state’ student meant the cost for me to attend any of those schools was simply not going to be, even remotely, possible.” David came to Santa Barbara City College after his friends told him about an affordable, oceanside option to complete all his general education credits and establish California residency at the same time. In no rush to get away from the view of the nearby harbor and pleasant weather, David studied at SBCC for 4 years, graduating in 1995.

Following his graduation from SBCC, David applied to and attended UCSB, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Dramatic Art and French Literature. He has also earned qualifications from two French Universities: a Diplome Universitaire from the University of Toulouse - Le Mirail, and a Certificat Pratique from the University of Marseille - Aix-en-Provence.

Despite being voted "The Most Likely to Sleep Through the Day,” by his high school graduating class, David is a successful film and television actor with a steely gaze you may recognize from Justified, The Equalizer, Jericho, Arrow, and Aquarius, as well the languid baritone you may remember from getting in a fistfight with in the video game “L.A. Noire.”

“Really, the acting classes [at SBCC] were some of the best classes of my entire collegiate adventure,” says David . “I loved my classes, and I really loved and appreciated how those classes would afford me the opportunity to audition and be cast in plays where I got to be directed by Rick [Mokler] and Pope [Freeman] and work on stage with some of the local community’s seasoned professionals.”

“Prelude to a Kiss was probably the most influential gig I had in my early theater days.” says David, “Being the leading man was not a role I often got - or even get today - and it was a tremendous learning experience.” David Meunier's last performed on the SBCC stage in 1998 in The Tavern, Directed by Pope Freeman, under whom David had studied acting during his time as a student. Although David has performed only on the silver screen of late, he says he misses performing on stage, and regularly threatens to return!

David’s advice to current and prospective students is to enjoy where you are, and not to rush through the program. He studied at SBCC for 4 years, earned two Associate of Arts degrees, and studied abroad in Paris for a semester, “and still, there were always classes I didn’t take but wanted to – convincing myself that I needed to ‘get going’” David’s advice is truly advice we should all follow: “Enjoy where you are - truly! And, perhaps even more true in the world we live in today, what IS the rush?”