This summer, Buckhead actor Phil Armijo will co-star in Class of 09, the highly anticipated FX Series alongside Brian Tyree Henry and Kate Mara. It's his most significant role to date, and his character, an FBI agent from the past, will appear in all eight episodes. He will also co-star, in episode 22 of the final season of The Walking Dead, a role that has been a goal since the show first aired. For Armijo, these career milestones motivate him to work harder.
But there is much more than acting to this man-on-the-rise. In addition, he is a cinematographer, a mixologist, a high school track coach, a mentor, an artist, and a soon-to-be pilot. In essence, this 42-year-old bachelor is a modern-day Renaissance Man who embraces and excels at a diverse list of talents.
Phil Armijo found his passion for acting during his time as a three-sport athlete in college.
"I realized it was the performance that I loved, not the actual sports," he says. So, he studied at Florida State Film School, where he honed his skills in cinematography.
In 2014, with the acting bug still in his heart, he migrated to the burgeoning Atlanta film scene with 25 of his fellow artists, all looking to make their mark in the Hollywood of the South.
Fast forward eight years and Phil, born in Wyoming, along with his acting friends from Florida, have all found success in their niches in the industry.
Even with a packed schedule, Phil never misses a chance to give back. In addition to volunteering with organizations like Books for Africa and Lost & Found Youth, he and his Florida acting friends have found a way to give back. They created an informal group called My Friends and Me, that distributes essentials to the homeless around the city. My Friends and Me has gained a healthy following and support, especially within the film community, through word of mouth and social media.
Phil finds this community work to be an essential part of staying humble and centered. And with his best friends and fellow actors as neighbors, he can’t imagine a place he would rather live.
"We are family. We all support and root for each other," Phil says, "even if we are up for the same roles."
But it's Phil's complexity, a knack for learning new skills, and an artistic eye that set him apart from the rest. And he is diligent about taking care of his mental and physical health. Most days, he wakes up early, hits the gym, takes his vitamins, and starts his workday. At night, he winds down with a book. Currently, he is reading and loving a book penned by Albert Einstein.
"I am a firm believer that you get out of life what you put into it." he says.
And for Phil, this shows.
Check out Phil on the series premiere of Class of 09, airing August 15 on FX. Also, don’t miss his guest-starring role on The Walking Dead, which will also air in mid-August. Follow his latest ventures, peruse his latest artistic creations and find out the latest on his Instagram. @philarmijo
At home in Buckhead
Favorite restaurant: Gypsy Kitchen
Best spot for drinks: Southern Gentlemen
Gym: Orangetheory Fitness
Charity event: Annual Captain Planet Gala, where Phil got to chat about science with one of his childhood idols, Bill Nye.
