Kentucky man lands role as body on ‘CSI’ after playing dead over 300 times on TikTok
A Kentucky man’s goal of playing a dead body on screen has finally come true thanks to persistence, some fake blood, and a dedicated following on TikTok.
Nearly a year ago, Josh Nalley started playing dead, recording his subtle performances to share online @living_dead_josh.
The Elizabethtown man’s goal was clear from the beginning.
“Day 2 of of playing dead until I’m cast in a movie or TV show as a dead body,” reads a caption from Nalley’s early work, as he lays motionless in the grass, a riding lawn mower slowly inching past without a rider.
Nalley’s videos are like darkly humorous still-life portraits, each shot in a new spot, or at different times of day, the viewer finding the dead man in a new predicament. He’s done more than 300 of these and there’s clear effort to keep them fresh.
As of Oct. 25, Nalley has amassed a following of more than 116,000.
He’s tumbled down the stairs to his death, keeled over in the snow, been found deceased in a trunk, in a creek, and outside a bounce castle. The search for new ways to play “unalive” and new places to do it takes creativity.
“It can be difficult … but that’s part of the fun of it,” Nalley told McClatchy News. “I have seen some truly beautiful parts of Kentucky playing and I’m always searching for new places. It’s still fun (and) there’s a bit of a thrill that comes with (it) also.”
On his 321st death, Nalley made a special announcement.
Laying on his side on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a caption announces he’s been cast as a dead body on “CSI: Vegas.”
In a rare alive appearance, Nalley thanked his followers for helping make it happen.
“It’s all because of y’all that I got cast. For the past year, y’all have been commenting and liking and sharing and following me, and without y’all I couldn’t have done it,” he said.
Nalley’s episode airs Nov. 3 on CBS at 9 p.m. CT.
“The cast and crew was super nice,” Nalley said of being on set. “It was a long day (with) 2 hours of makeup and 5 hours shooting, but it was worth it for the experience.”
Though he’s accomplished what he set out to do, Nalley says he’ll continue his unique brand of TikToks and hopefully land more roles in TV and movies. He’d even consider stepping out of his comfort zone and play a living, breathing person, if the opportunity presents itself.
“I don’t know if I would be any good at not acting dead but I’d give it a shot,” he told McClatchy.
This story was originally published October 25, 2022 at 10:37 AM with the headline "Kentucky man lands role as body on ‘CSI’ after playing dead over 300 times on TikTok."