Laurence Overmire Biography

LAURENCE OVERMIRE, said to be a descendant of an uncle of the iconic Scottish poet Robert Burns, is a " true Sennachie, a genealogist as well as a bard, " according to Scottish historian and professor Ted Cowan (University of Glasgow) . The Sennachies or Bards of ancient Celtic tradition knew the legends, the history and the ancestral lineages. They were high-status leaders of the clans who united the people in story and song, voices of reason and conscience that argued for justice and illuminated the difference between right and wrong.

Known to many for his work as Poet-In-Residence on The Jeff Farias Show, Overmire has had a multi-faceted career, not only as a poet and genealogist but also as a professional actor, director and educator. His award-winning poetry, eclectic in form, style, and subject matter, has been widely published in the U.S. and abroad in hundreds of magazines, journals, and anthologies.

His most recent book of poetry and prose is " New York Minute: An Actor's Memoir" which recounts his experiences as a young actor in New York City.

" The Ghost of Rabbie Burns: An American Poet's Journey Through Scotland, " traces Overmire's genealogical roots back into the old country. Part journal, part diary, part poetry, history and genealogy, the book captures the mood and spirit of Old Caledonia. The Duke of Argyll (Chief of Clan Campbell) calls it " a wonderful book... and a great asset if you are making a trip to Scotland."

Overmire is also known as the author of " The One Idea That Saves The World: A Call to Conscience and A Call to Action" which has been praised for its inspiring message of hope despite the dire issues that now threaten humankind. Written in prose with a few poems interspersed, this book is speaking to people from all walks of life from all over the world by appealing to the common humanity that we all share. A second edition of the book 'The One Idea That Saves The World: A Message of Hope in a Time of Crisis, ' was released in 2021.

Overmire graduated as salutatorian of Marion L. Steele H.S., Amherst, Ohio, and summa cum laude as valedictorian of Muskingum University, Ohio, with a B.A. in theatre, a B.S. in psychology, and a minor in History. He was awarded a Bush Fellowship to attend the University of Minnesota, where he earned his M.F.A. in acting.

He won a second Bush Fellowship to become a professional actor with the world-renowned Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis where he worked with such prominent directors as Alan Schneider, Richard Foreman, Garland Wright and Liviu Ciulei. He then went on to a successful career on stage, film and television in New York, Hollywood and points-in-between including the Broadway production of Amadeus directed by Sir Peter Hall, the network television soap operas All My Children, As the World Turns, One Life to Live, and Loving, Joseph Papp's New York Shakespeare Festival, Charles Busch's zany Off-Broadway hits Vampire Lesbians of Sodom and Psycho Beach Party, Equity Library Theatre, Roy Brocksmith's California Cottage Theater, Alaska Repertory Theatre, Buffalo's Studio Arena Theatre, Delaware Theatre Company, Totem Pole Playhouse, and Yale Repertory Theatre. He also served as Executive Producer of the Writer's Lab, a non-profit organization in Hollywood to promote quality writing in the entertainment industry, and has been involved in teaching in the arts for over 25 years, designing programs for Lincoln Center Institute of New York City, Manhattan Theatre Club, Meadow Brook Theatre, and Oregon Children's Theatre among others.

Mr. Overmire began writing poetry as a way to document and reflect upon his experience, compiling what he refers to as a " diary in art." Overmire's background in the arts, rather than in academia, gives him a decidedly different perspective on the writing of poetry, one that emphasizes a right-brain as opposed to a left-brain approach and advocates complete freedom within the art form, simplicity of language, and focus on the importance of what is being expressed. Like an actor taking on different roles, his poems take on many voices and run the gamut from beat to lyric to classical in style and tone. His work is at once accessible, yet multi-layered and quite complex upon further examination. As a result, he has gained quite a following among those who appreciate his down-to-earth musings on what he sees going on in our world today.

Overmire is the author of 8 genealogy books including " Digging For Ancestral Gold: The Fun and Easy Way to Get Started on Your Genealogy Quest." He has also published several genealogical studies online, most notably " The Ancestry of Overmire, Tifft, Richardson, Bradford, Reed, " which includes the family trees of many U. S. Presidents and European monarchs, and a host of famous statesmen, soldiers, artists, actors, writers, poets, musicians, scientists, inventors, and social reformers. His work has helped hundreds of thousands of people discover their family roots and find their intimate connections to the people and events that have shaped world history.

Overmire is listed in Marquis Who's Who in America and received the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024.