Amidst the haze of performance art and intellectual rigor in New York’s East Village, a young Josh Pais was shaping into a man of profound creativity and unyielding curiosity. Growing up in a Bohemian household where art and science coexisted, Josh was exposed to a world where creativity had no bounds, and expression was free from judgment.

“I grew up in a very Bohemian household. From the time that I was nine years old, every other week, there were these performance art pieces, people coming in, hanging out, individuals getting stoned, and drunk and partying and getting up and performing, and it was really amazing,” Josh reminisces. This eclectic background not only fostered his love for the performing arts but also instilled in him an intrinsic understanding of human behavior, a skill he would later use to excellent effect in his acting career.

Despite his artistic inclinations, Josh’s father, a theoretical physicist who worked with Einstein, nudged him towards science. Josh spent summers assisting animal behaviorists, diving deep into the study of animal behavior. “I was fascinated by animal behavior. If there was any science that most interested me, it was that. But I just couldn’t see myself spending so much of my life working in a laboratory,” Josh reflects. This early conflict between science and art eventually found a harmonious resolution in his acting, where understanding human behavior became a crucial tool.

Josh’s acting journey is characterized by a profound connection to his body and environment, which he now shares through the school he founded, Committed Impulse. Josh trains actors, entrepreneurs and artists, how to increase their connection to their body and tune into their immediate environment thereby bypassing judgment. His teachings aim to help actors, as well as anyone that has to create in any form, to unleash their creative force. Fundamentally, “The more we connect to our breath, body and immediate environment, the more we gain access to our creativity. The process I teach leads to creative invincibility.” Josh explains.

His method draws from the natural spontaneity and embodiment seen in animals; a concept he passionately believes can revolutionize not just acting but any profession. “I broke down all of human behavior into what’s called inner atomics. There are 24 key Inner Atomics that encompass all of human behavior. These Inner Atomics are all physically based, and they alter the energetic patterns in the body which lead to stimulating creativity, which, from my point of view, lives in the body,” Josh elaborates.

Josh’s dedication to helping others tap into their creative potential has culminated in a book deal with Penguin Random House and Hay House. This book aims to extend the principles of Committed Impulse to a broader audience, teaching people to convert every sensation into creative fuel. “It’s really an incredibly valuable tool for anybody that wants to maintain presence and access their creative potential, regardless of their fields,” Josh asserts.

As an actor, Josh has a storied career that spans decades, from his early days on The Cosby Show to his recent roles in high-profile projects. His latest venture, A Man in Full, showcases his ability to bring depth and authenticity to his characters. “Script aside, it was the cast, with David E. Kelly writing and Regina King and Tommy Shlamme directing that convinced me this was a project worth joining. Jeff Daniels and everybody in the cast are outstanding,” Josh shares.

In the series, his character, Herb Richman, is a grounded counterpoint to Jeff Daniels’ larger-than-life persona. The interplay between these characters brings out a rich comedic and dramatic tapestry, a testament to Josh’s nuanced understanding of human behavior.

Looking forward, Josh envisions a world where creative invincibility is a common trait, where people can harness their emotions and thoughts as fuel for their creative endeavors. “My definition or explanation of what “Creative Invincibility” is, is that no matter what emotion, no matter what sensation is occurring in your body, and no matter what thoughts are zooming in your head, you’re going to be able to do your best work,” Josh elucidates.

He believes that this approach can address some of society’s most pressing issues, from addiction to violence, by teaching people to increase their tolerance for their full range of sensations and emotions, rather than suppressing them. “If I can bring this work to the world, I really think it could make a profound difference in how people experience themselves,” Josh envisions.

As he continues to inspire and educate, Josh remains committed to helping others unlock their creative potential, one sensation at a time.

Photography Credit: Kevin Scanlon