On the set of a TV show, staff are preparing to film the first scene of the day. Teen actors and freshmen Brody and Ryder Goodstadt focus on preparing for their parts. When they hear their names, they shuffle to the stage, the cameras gradually following their movements from there on. The two are identical twins, and both star as Derek Bailey Shephard in “Grey’s Anatomy.” Since they play the same role, they take turns filming scenes.
The twin brothers have grown up in the world of acting and have spent most of their lives in the spotlight. Their mother, Jana Goodstadt, originally introduced them to the acting industry as babies, and it was initially a fluke. The plan was not to get the boys into acting; it happened naturally.
“It actually started out as a joke when they were born. They were in the NICU, and we could see the Hollywood sign pretty much from the [room]. I kind of joked about it, and then there were agents and managers sending [me] emails through the Twins Club that I was in,” Jana Goodstadt said.
Apparently, twins are popular and often sought after for acting roles when portraying a baby or child. The boys were only infants when featured in their first TV series, “Sons of Anarchy.” They were also booked for an episode of “American Horror Story” before landing a main role in “Grey’s Anatomy.” The boys were cast as Derek Bailey Shephard when they were three years old, and continue to play the same role today. Since the two boys have been on the TV show since they were toddlers, they have grown close to and bonded with set members working on and off stage.
“Bert, who works with the props – he’s great. He’s always warm and welcoming with the boys. Him and his wife came to their bar mitzvah. So the people that have been [working on the show] for a while have literally seen them grow up,” Jana Goodstadt said.
Because the boys have been working on “Grey’s Anatomy” since they were kids, they do not view the presence of other actors in the same way that other people do. While for most, a chance to work with big stars may be daunting, the twins’ viewpoint is exactly the opposite; they view their costars in the same way that they view themselves – regular people doing their jobs.
“I feel [that] it’s a really cool experience ’cause we get to meet the actors, but for me, since I’ve been doing [acting] for a long time, it’s kind of normal for me,” Ryder Goodstadt said.
Both boys have adapted to their lifestyle and have found a balance between school and acting. They also make time for their personal hobbies, such as soccer. The two manage their schedules with the support of their mother.
“Anytime they’re doing either a modeling type job or anything for a TV [show] or movie or commercial, they have to do three hours of schoolwork on set,” Jana Goodstadt said.
As the boys continue their careers on “Grey’s Anatomy” and look for possible upcoming roles, the experiences they have gained from the TV show and the many people they have met along the way will stick with them. Ryder Goodstadt has enjoyed his time spent on set with not only his brother but also the other people they have been fortunate to build relations with. He expresses his gratitude for working alongside people he’s happy to surround himself with.
“I [also was able to] get close with some of the actors,” Brody Goodstadt said. “Acting in front of all the people [on set] helps you feel more confident in front of people [in general].”
