Marcellus Hankins, 50, is an actor, entertainer and composer who gives piano and voice lessons and does commercials. The Oklahoma-born Hankins has also taught school for more than three decades.
What do you wish you knew five years ago: “That when it comes to children, I still don’t know them. And after 29 years, they keep surprising me about their outlook on life; but they have optimism.”
Family: “My muse is my wife, Shelia, and our children are Rianna, 10, and Earria, 7.”
Met your wife: “At Oklahoma City University.”
Favorite date night: “Always out to dinner and then to Barnes and Noble where we look at books and have coffee.”
Your claim to fame: “In 2000, I was the National Milken Educator Award Winner (and was given $25,000).”
Famous look-alike: “Morgan Freeman.”
Die and come back as: “The president of OPEC, then I would control everything.”
Food I would never eat: “Asparagus.”
But I would love to have: “Prime rib, but I am allergic to the antibodies in the beef. But I love glazed doughnuts.”
Listen to: “Sirius XM radio; I am a jazz man and love Broadway musicals.”
Cook: “Love to grill out.”
Quick tip to amateur cooks: “Clean as you go.”
Hero: “Anyone who does something that helps someone else out and doesn’t ask anything in return.”
Action hero: “I am a Superman fan.”
Pet peeve: “Stupid people. You can’t fix stupid.”
Would like to go incognito: “To a rehearsal of conductor John Williams to see how he puts his music together.”
Must-see museum: “I’ve been to the Louvre in France, but would love to go to the Smithsonian Institute some day.”
Best thing you did in 2011: “I was consistent in my teaching-wise and living-wise.”
Perfect happiness for you is: “I’ve known since I was 5 years old what I wanted to do and it was in the music and the arts; I just knew.”
