Mason Gamble: From Dennis the Menace to UCLA PhD Candidate in Environmental Science – Why He Left Acting Behind
You’ve probably heard stories about people who dropped out of school to pursue their acting. How often have you heard about actors who gave up their acting careers to pursue academics?
That was the story of Mason Gamble, a man with a moderately successful acting career despite not being genuinely passionate about the craft. What’s his story? Let’s find out!
Mason Gamble’s Biography
Mason Gamble? Where have I heard that name before? He’s a former actor so that you might have seen some of his movies. He’s also the son of Tim Gamble, the iconic actor/producer. Like father, like son, I guess.
Before I delve into Gamble’s acting career, I want to show you his life outside that profession. You know how some people realize that acting was their passion from a young age?
That wasn’t Gamble. He was more interested in his studies. He was one of the top students in his class. He was a finalist in the National Merit Scholarship Program in high school.
So, the guy had a knack for academics, and he still does to this day. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Marine Biology and a Masters in biology from UCLA. That school is considered a public Ivy, which means it’s a public school that offers the same educational experience as an Ivy League institution.
As of writing this post, Gamble is a second-year Environmental Science and Engineering doctoral candidate at UCLA’s Institute of Environment and Sustainability. He may have been a successful actor, but I’d argue he’s a more successful academic.
Mason Gamble’s Acting Career
As the son of a famous actor and producer, you can probably tell that Mason Gamble started his acting career at a young age.
Early Beginnings
When Gamble was only six, director Harold Ramis cast him in his 1993 romantic comedy Groundhog Day. How would you feel if you acted alongside Bill Murray in your first movie?
Pretty ecstatic, I assume. Gamble’s role wasn’t glamorous but was still a decent start.
Dennis the Menace (1993)
Dennis the Menace is Gamble’s most memorable work, and the story behind securing that role is quite intriguing. The casting for the role of Dennis Mitchell was unlike anything you might have heard of.
Writer John Hughs didn’t just want a quirky kid with expressive acting skills. He wanted someone with a good personality, a unique sense of humor, discipline, and intelligence.
It’s hard to find all that in a six-year-old. So, in 1992, Hughs announced a nationwide casting call.
Keep in mind that Gamble wasn’t an established actor back then. Any kid in his place would probably say: “I’m not ready for such an overwhelming challenge. I’ll pass.” Not Gamble, though.
He went to that casting, charmed everyone there, and beat 20,000 kids to that role. The best part? He won the Young Artist Award for Best Youth Actor Leading Role in a Motion Picture Comedy.
Later Works
After his success in Dennis the Menace, Gamble had the chance to star in more ambitious projects. You might have seen him in Tom Rice’s Just in Time (1996) and Eric Red’s Bad Moon (1996).
Rushmore (1998) was another major work in Gamble’s acting career. Although he didn’t have a leading role, he was nominated for the Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a Feature Film – Supporting Young Actor for his performance.
Gamble’s last acting project was the lead in Golf in the Kingdom (2010). Afterward, he realized that he didn’t want to pursue acting anymore and that his calling lay elsewhere. As a result, Mason decided to quit acting at the age of 24.
Mason Gamble’s Personal Life
Mason is married to his wife, Sarh, and they have at least one child. On October 19, 2019, he shared a heartfelt post on Instagram, announcing they were expecting their first child.
Mason Gamble’s Net Worth
As of 2024, Mason Gamble has a net worth of approximately $500,000, most of it coming from his early acting gigs. He began his professional acting career while still in elementary school.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, Mason Gamble had a decent acting career. He played several memorable roles and won a couple of awards. But, he was never truly passionate about acting and gave it all up to pursue his true passion, academics.
