Gavin LeClaire: The Karaoke-Loving Actor Making Waves with Supporting Roles in Vertical Dramas

The world of vertical dramas is attracting actors from all over the world, like Gavin LeClaire, who has been filling the role of several older characters in the stories you love.

While some people may still be skeptical of the appeal of vertical miniseries, the industry is clearly not going anywhere. Gavin LeClaire has been making these projects since 2024, so let's discover more about him and add a few more shows to your watch list.

Getting to Know Gavin LeClaire

The veteran stage actor was born in England, but he was raised in Australia. In 1998, however, he visited Canada to connect with his grandfather's Métis heritage. Once there, he knew this would become his home and relocated there in 2000.

Fans will probably detect a hint of three different accents from the actor as a result of his changing hometowns.

Now based in Victoria BC, LeClaire decided to take a step back from performing on stage to try his hand at films, and vertical dramas have been his most consistent source of work since 2024. He sometimes has to travel to Vancouver for a few projects.

One fun fact that everyone should know about him is that he loves singing karaoke and will do it at any chance he gets. Also, his biggest source of pride is his daughter and how she often says she's proud of him.

Gavin LeClaire's Experience with Vertical Dramas

For the Meet the Creatives section of Vertical Drama Love from February 2025, the actor explained that he started in this field after auditioning for a part in May 2024, after seeing a posting on a professional actor website.

This led to his first role in "My Poor Ex-Wife is a Heiress," which was filmed two months later. In fact, this was the first micro-drama of several other actors who have now become well-known in the industry, like Maxx Faganello, Jayda, and Noah Stephens.

However, LeClaire's favorite micro-drama at that point was "One Night Stand with My Stepbrother," which was finished in December, because his character had a much more important arc that he enjoyed portraying.

Several of his other projects have presented unexpected challenges, like one micro-drama where LeClaire had to take on the duties of intimacy coordinator, fight coordinator, and actor at the same time.

Most fans of vertical dramas know that this genre began in China and spread over Asia before it started taking over Western markets. But several production companies working with Western actors are still foreign.

Therefore, one funny aspect of this line of business, according to LeClaire, is that actors know when there are script translation issues and plot holes. But their job is to get out there and do their best.

Still, it's not as easy as some may imagine. Vertical actors have one or two shots to get their lines delivered. Some people aren't pleased with the take that makes the final cut of the story, but that's how it goes.

"When you see some great work, that was an actor who had done their homework work and showed up ready on the first take [sic]," LeClaire explained. This is why he is hoping that the industry will develop longer shooting schedules.

He also wants more credits given and hopes that there will be mainstream acceptance of the genre soon.

LeClaire's other vertical dramas, in which he appears in supporting roles, include "Flash Marriage with the Secret Heiress," "The CEO's Forgotten Bride: Reclaiming Our Vows," "Found You All Along," "My Heart Dies from Home," and "A Second Chance for Luna to Defend Her Love."

Be sure to also check out "Love at 50: From Janitor to Billionaire's Wife," "Sleeping Beauty and Three Brothers," "Finally See You Carrying Our Baby," and "Dumped by Son, Spoiled by Grandson."