People think I'm a typical rich white guy - but life is hard for me too

An character who is often formed arsenic 'the rich | achromatic guy' has revealed really nan domiciled he plays could not beryllium further from his reality. 

Doug Sharp, 59, spoken candidly pinch NBC this week astir his struggles to make ends meet while surviving successful Los Angeles. 

He explained really aft getting a business grade from nan University of Massachusetts-Amherst erstwhile he was successful his 40s, he was incapable to get a job. So for nan past decade his main root of income has been driving for Uber and Lyft.

But Sharp, who qualifies for nutrient stamps and relies connected Medicaid for wellness insurance, besides has a astonishing broadside gig starring arsenic a paid other successful Hollywood.  

'The older you get, nan little parts location are,' he told NBC. 'However, the pool of older guys is smaller — and shockingly I ever play nan rich | achromatic guy, because that’s what I look like'.

He added: 'But I didn’t I cognize look for illustration a rich | achromatic feline until I started playing one.'

Sharp revealed that he precocious landed a mini speaking domiciled successful a accumulation that features 2 Hollywood A-listers. 

But while his regular salary complaint jumped from $200 to $1,200, nan activity is inconsistent. 

'What I tin show you is I hardly work,' nan character said. 

He continued: 'In May I worked 2 days, successful April I worked 4 days, successful March I worked 2 days, successful February I worked 2 days, successful January I worked 1 day.'

Sharp's irregular schedule intends he does not suffice for afloat Screen Actors Guild benefits, alternatively getting his security done Medicaid. 

To make ends meet, Sharp antecedently worked arsenic an Uber and Lyft driver, earlier nan diminishing rates made driving for them nary longer worthy it. 

Over nan past fewer years, his constricted income was supplemented by generous pandemic unemployment reimbursement. 

Now Sharp depends mostly connected his capricious acting profession to ft nan bills. 

'The money for inheritance is good, and there's ever nan anticipation of being upgraded to principal,' he told NBC. 

'That has happened to me- I person not recovered a replacement for it.'

Sharp lives unsocial successful a lodging business that he characterized arsenic unstable. 

The character said  he occasionally rents from a friend, and that he besides has an unauthorized arrangement, which he was unwilling to discuss.

In summation to his lodging woes, Sharp besides struggles pinch affording essentials. 

In bid to acquisition immoderate basal necessities, Sharp precocious resorted to exchanging items recovered astir his location for rate aliases in installments astatine Home Depot and Walmart. 

Sharp still owns a car, a Fiat 500, which he is trying to switch for a newer 1 truthful that he tin resume activity arsenic an Uber and Lyft driver, contempt nan reduced rates. 

But he has sedate doubts arsenic to whether his in installments people will beryllium bully capable to alteration him to get a caller vehicle. 

The character bewailed his able appearance, saying that it sparks contempt successful others erstwhile they study that he's poor.

'The 1 thing people dislike are knowledgeable achromatic men who look rich | but who are poor,' he told NBC. 

He continued: 'They think, "Oh, he must beryllium lazy aliases connected drugs. What is his problem?"'

The character said that this antagonistic belief has alienated him from different people.

'I've watched my friend group move away,' Sharp said. 

He added: 'I americium ashamed astir wherever I americium successful my life arsenic it relates to my finances and not knowing really to hole it.'

For Sharp, uncovering full-time employment has been harder than he had anticipated. 

'I'm consenting to work- and bust my a**- why is it that I can't get a surviving wage?' He asked.

In a TikTok video earlier this year, Sharp elaborated connected his struggle to find employment. 

Addressing his followers, nan character said: 'It's difficult successful Los Angeles to find a occupation erstwhile you don't speak Spanish.'

Sharp's connection prompted outcry from immoderate users who near captious comments connected his TikTok.

In a abstracted video this month, he shared immoderate of these replies pinch his followers.

'Get retired of LA,' Sharp said 1 personification commented. 'You unrecorded successful a cesspool,' different personification remarked. 

The character past said that personification replied: 'If you're truthful smart, past why don't you conscionable study Spanish?'

'Another woman - 1 of my favorites - said that I should move to Oklahoma and go nan head of nan Flying J Truck Stop,' Sharp continued. 

'Everybody collectively thought that I needed God,' he said, earlier grinning and adding: 'Thanks.'

Meanwhile, Sharp told NBC that moreover fast-food jobs person proven difficult to obtain. 

This tin possibly beryllium astatine slightest partially attributed to California's caller $20 minimum wage, which has made these roles much lucrative. 

'It's embarrassing because it seems for illustration there's a portion of nan puzzle that I’m not telling,' he said.

'I'm doing everything I can.'