Five Takeaways from Actor, Writer, Director and UAlbany Alum D.B. Woodside’s Return to Campus
By Gianna Difulio | November 11, 2026
Before starring in recognizable television and film productions, D.B. Woodside was a University at Albany student discovering his passion for acting through an introductory theatre class. Now decades later, the acclaimed actor, writer and director has returned to campus.
The 1991 graduate returned to campus for a conversational event hosted through a collaboration between The New York State Writer’s Institute and The Department of Music and Theatre.
From “Lucifer” and “The Temptations” to “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “The Night Agent,” and “Suits,” Woodside reflected on his unique experiences at the 29th annual Burian Lecture.
During the event, Woodside was also presented with the 2026 Maguire Excellence in Arts and Letters Award. Presented by the University at Albany Alumni Association, the award recognizes alumni for outstanding achievement in music, literature and language, visual arts, or performing arts, according to UAlbany’s website.
The event was free and open to the public, drawing students, faculty, and community members to the recital hall.
“I’ve seen him in Lucifer and my grandma loves him,” said UAlbany Honors College student Abigail Backman. “I had to come for her.”
Backman wasn’t the only student who took advantage of the opportunity. Whether they spotted posters around campus or received extra credit for attending, students filled up seats in the performing arts center, where Woodside once discovered his passion by jamming his guitar in the rehearsal spaces.
According to the Burian Lecture, Woodside first explored acting after a back injury pulled him away from the Football at the University. He soon after declared a theatre major.
“What I loved about theatre is that I loved everyone there,” said Woodside.
Complex characters and strong writers are the key to storytelling
For Woodside, a compelling performance begins with the writing on the page. He emphasized the importance of strong writing, noting that an actor's job becomes much easier when they are given a well-developed script.
“The writer has the most power on television,” he stated.
Strong writing gives actors the opportunity to get inside a character’s head and explore the nuances of their personality. Woodside particularly enjoys complex characters who reflect real human traits.
“I feel like human beings are actually complex, and we have dark and light,” Woodside said.
Art should create an emotional impact and challenge audiences
For Woodside, one of the most rewarding parts of being an actor is seeing how his characters affect the audience.
“To see how [your character] affects people, gives perspective. Especially as an artist,” Woodside said. “The most important thing for us is to leave some kind of emotional impact on people.”
But emotional connection is not the only responsibility of art. Woodside believes that artistic expression should make people think in new ways, and unfamiliar perspectives, even if that means being uncomfortable.
According to Woodside, being uncomfortable is the only way to grow as humans.
He explained that artists must be willing to challenge ideas and face uncertainty.
“When you take the risk out of art, it ceases to be art,” said Woodside.
Hollywood can be difficult, and finding ways to stay grounded is essential
When D.B. Woodside needs a break from Hollywood, he turns to his friends, particularly those that have absolutely nothing to do with the entertainment industry.
He also makes time for his family after wrapping a movie or series, allowing a reset before returning to a new project.
“That’s what keeps you grounded,” Woodside said. “Who you surround yourself with.”
He acknowledged that Hollywood can be a challenging environment for people, especially with the sensitive and sometimes insecure nature of human beings.
His advice was to recognize when it is time to take a break and work on yourself.
“Never close yourself out to anything,” and keep trying new things
From filming movies on an iPhone with a friend to experimenting with audio editing on computers and posting YouTube videos with 30-dollar amazon microphones, Woodside encouraged students to explore new opportunities.
He emphasized how social media and YouTube have opened doors for aspiring artists looking to be discovered by industry professionals.
“Don’t be afraid to dream and start building something right now,” Woodside said. “Just keep going.”
Woodside also challenged the idea that aspiring artists need others to present them with opportunities to get started. Instead, he encourages people to make their own opportunities. Even if that means writing one sentence of a script for one year, the important thing is to keep creating.
Some of his most powerful moments in acting happen with zero words
When discussing some of his favorite moments in front of the camera, Woodside highlighted the power of scenes in which his character says nothing at all.
He enjoys finding ways to tell a story through expression, better understanding a character's development from beginning to end.
For the audience, he hopes these efforts help them to understand and connect with the story unfolding on screen.
Throughout the conversation, Woodside reflected on these experiences on stage, in front of the camera, and in the writer’s room. But his advice went far beyond students interested in careers in the performing arts.
“It was completely obvious how passionate he is about his craft. But not just what he was doing, but how that applied to the broader realm,” said Tytan Overbaugh.
Overbaugh, a student who recognized Woodside from “Suits,” spotted a flyer advertising the event and decided to attend with three friends.
He arrived with the opportunity to meet one of his favorite actors but left with advice from someone who once walked the same campus halls.
“Have compassion for people that are different than you,” said Woodside. “You are never too old to stop learning about yourself and life.”
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