A Conversation with Tobias Forest and John W. Lawson
Over the summer, I had the absolute pleasure of speaking with Tobias Forest and John W. Lawson, the stars of the movie DARUMA. These two are natural storytellers. Honestly, they should start a YouTube channel because the way they bounce off each other is full of insight, positivity, and audacity.
Asking the Tough Questions
After watching DARUMA, I came to our Zoom interview with the questions my readers would want answered. Not every scene felt realistic from a disabled person’s perspective, and I told them that. Toby was the first to admit, yes, some of those things couldn’t realistically be done in that timeframe. But he reminded me: it’s acting, and the point was to keep the story moving and get the message across.
Patrick, His Daughter, and a Life Upended
And what a message. DARUMA isn’t just about disability. It’s about family, relationships, and what happens when life throws something at you that you didn’t see coming. Toby plays Patrick, hard to like but impossible to ignore, suddenly faced with the news that he has a daughter. That daughter, played beautifully by Victoria Scott, shows up in his miserable life and changes everything. He realizes pretty quickly that he’s not father-of-the-year material and that she might be better off with her maternal grandparents. Those grandparents include none other than Barry Bostwick, who brings his signature gravitas to the role.
One of the most powerful moments in the film comes from Victoria. There’s a tender scene with Patrick that wasn’t even scripted. She improvised it on the spot. If you’ve seen the movie, you know the moment I mean. If you haven’t yet, keep the tissues handy.
Meet Robert, the Neighbor Who Won’t Let Patrick Off the Hook
Patrick doesn’t go through this alone. His neighbor Robert, played by John W. Lawson, is a double amputee with a contentious relationship with Patrick. Robert is the balance to Patrick’s chaos—sharp, reflective, and unwilling to let him off the hook. John himself is every bit as insightful as his character. I half-joked that he should be running a master class for disabled people on knowing our history, embracing the present, and shaping a stronger future.
Adding more layers, Abigail Hawk (yes, from Blue Bloods) plays Patrick’s love interest.
Why Representation Matters
And here’s what makes this film even more audacious: the cast includes not one but two actors with physical disabilities. That matters. It shines a spotlight on the physically disabled community as three-dimensional human beings. We have full lives that go far beyond just “dealing” with disability, and DARUMA doesn’t shy away from showing that truth.
Both Toby and John also talked about the bigger picture: disabled actors struggle just as much as anyone else to land roles. You’d think the entertainment industry, of all industries, would understand this and hire more willing, talented actors with disabilities. But here we are—still waiting for Hollywood to catch up. Drumming my manicured fingers. Hurry up, Hollywood!
And in case you’re wondering—yes, Toby did his own stunts.
The Power of the Daruma
What I appreciated most about DARUMA is that every character is flawed. No one is a saint. Everyone is wrestling with something. That’s real life.
And this is where the title comes in. A Daruma doll starts out with no eyes. You fill in one eye when you set a goal or make a wish, and you fill in the other when you’ve accomplished it. I love that. I even have a Daruma of my own. Without giving away spoilers, the film uses that symbolism beautifully. It’s about resilience, starting over, and remembering that even when things feel unfinished, there’s still room to grow and to fight for what matters.
Words to Remember
During our conversation, John put it simply:
“We don’t go to the movies to buy popcorn. We go to be entertained.”
And Toby added:
“The power of entertainment is to inspire conversation.”
Did You Know?
During our conversation, John shared something that really shows the range of his life experiences. He told me he was the first double hand amputee in the United States to earn certification as a private pilot, and also the first to become a certified PADI scuba diving instructor. Music was part of his world long before acting—he started piano at three, took lessons at four, and studied for 17 years. In 1987, an electrical accident cost him both hands and part of his arms, but listening to him talk, it’s clear that he never let that moment define him or limit what came next. You might also remember him from American Horror Story.
And I knew I recognized Toby! Turns out I had seen him before in FBI: Most Wanted. He’s one of the chillest people I’ve ever interviewed in my life. Both of them are incredible actors whose careers deserve all the attention they’re getting.
Why You Should Watch
Of course, credit goes to writer Kelli McNeil for giving us this story in the first place. It’s an indie film, which means it’s up to us to give it the boost it deserves. Watch it. Talk about it. Tell others. Give it the audacious thumbs up wherever possible. We make our success happen by supporting each other. Because representation matters.
And yes—I regret not taking a group selfie with them and not recording the interview. But maybe these guys will go another round with me in the near future.
One last thing: I will probably continue to shamelessly name-drop Toby and John in future articles and newsletters. They had so much wisdom to share that one piece isn’t nearly enough.
💬 Now I want to hear from you: what did you like about the movie, Daruma? Drop your thoughts in the comments—I love hearing from you.
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