Severance's Tramell Tillman reveals what he pursued before acting

Tramell Tillman didn’t always see himself becoming a Hollywood star, he was once “fascinated” by the bone structure and wanted to become an orthopaedic surgeon.

The American actor, now well known for his role as Seth Milchick in the Apple TV+ hit Severance, revealed that he hadn’t always planned on pursuing a career in acting. 

Speaking with PEOPLE, he explained the path that led him to become an Emmy-nominated star.

“When I decided I wanted to be an actor, I had the courage to utter that and was told I'd never make it,” Tillman shared. “And in order to make it in life, I needed to go into science, technology, engineering, [or] math. So I looked at the sciences. I said, ‘I'm really fascinated with the bone structure. Why don't I become an orthopaedic surgeon?’”

Tillman said that while he was in high school, he dabbled in acting but remained more focused on the sciences.

“And then I went to Xavier University, which was number one — and may still be number one — for sending African-Americans to med school,” he recalled.

Reflecting on his acting journey, Tillman said it took time to commit to it as a full-time career.

“It took me a while to get to the point where I made the commitment to [do] acting full time, but I eventually got there,” he said. “I had to go from job to career, and career to job, in order to find out that it was always there.”

Looking back, the actor believes he just “had to be ready.”

“That’s it,” he added. “Timing.”

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