Like most students attending AHS, Tony Cavalero walked through the building’s doors his freshmen year eager to experience and benefit everything high school had to offer. By his senior year, Cavalero took the fundamentals he learned at AHS and used them to help him follow his dreams. Today, Cavalero is a rising actor and is now the new “Jack Black” in the upcoming sitcom, School of Rock.

Cavalero is a native Northern Virginian. Born and raised in Fairfax County, he has a similar, if not the same background, as most students in AHS today.

“I was born at Fairfax hospital and lived right off of Braddock and Backlick in Annandale,” Cavalero said. “I lived in the same house all the way through college. I went to Poe Middle School which is right down the street then attended Annandale all four years.”

Cavalero is a generational Atom. Both his parents and older brother attended AHS, so the school has a special place in his heart. Cavalero participated in multiple extracurricular activities and clubs. He utilized his high school years to the best of his ability.

“Freshman year was a blast because my brother was a senior so I spent my first year with him,” Cavalero said. “All the following years were a lot of fun as well. Senior year was great because I won the district championship in wrestling and just being a senior in general was really awesome! Annandale traditions make the year so memorable. I also acted in a little film in the Annandale high film festival that I was really proud of called Feminine Problems!”

Since then, Cavalero moved to California about five years ago to pursue his acting career. After getting smaller gigs in Modern Family and other plays, he got his big break in playing Dewey Finn.

He is thankful for getting such a big role and opportunity. Knowing how hard it is to make it, he continues to strive and  preach the importance of following your dreams.

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Q: When did you attend AHS? For how long?

A: I went to Annandale for all four years of high school. I was an Atom from the fall of 1998 to the spring of 2002.

Q: How was life like when you went here?

A: I had the best time being an Atom! It was very culturally diverse then and now. I was the fourth member of my family to attend high school there (Dad ’68, Mom ’72, Brother ’99) so there was already a pretty cool legacy going on by the time I got there.

Q: Describe your favorite memory at AHS. 

A: I have a lot of great memories at Annandale but my favorite is definitely a tie between winning the district lacrosse championship my freshman year with my brother, Nick Cavalero, in 1999 and winning the district wrestling championship my senior year in 2002.

Q: Did AHS help shape you into the person you are today?

A: Absolutely. The teachers, activities and friendships I made left an imprint that will last forever and have helped me mold myself to the person I am today.

Q: When did you decided you wanted to become an actor?

A: I was always a ham [an actor who overacts or relies on stock gestures or mannerisms]. Some of my earliest memories I can remember are of me goofing around in hopes to making my family laugh. There were times at AHS where I definitely remember feeling that rush of performing, whether it was on the athletic field or on stage. The rush was such a great and liberating feeling; I’m lucky to experience it everyday on the job.

Q: How long have you been in the business?

A: I moved out to Los Angeles in the fall of 2006 and I have been working professionally for about five years now. It’s incredibly hard to get your foot in the door. It takes auditioning, taking classes, networking, writing and producing your own live shows and much more in order to really get your name out there. There’s millions of people all striving  for the same dream so you have push through and keep your dreams as the priority.

Q: What was your favorite project?

A: This is a tough one. I’ve been lucky enough to perform with my fiance in a live sketch comedy show (Tonannie) that we wrote together and performed at the Groundlings Theatre. This is where we met in the Sunday Company. That’s pretty much pure joy. As far as acting on camera goes, I really had a blast working on Modern Family.

Q: Can you tell us a little bit about your new show, School Of Rock?

A: Totally! It’s basically a continuation of the 2003 feature film starring Jack Black. It will trace the mishaps of fake substitute teacher, Dewey Finn (played by myself), as he struggles between teaching and his dreams of being a rock God.

Q: What are you excited about the new show?

A: Well, there’s so much to be pumped about. I’m really excited to learn more and expand my talents musically. I also love working with kids, so I’m really looking forward to that as well. Not to mention being the star of my own show! How cool and lucky is that? I’m still pinching myself.

Q: What do you plan on do afterwards (i.e. in the future)?

A: I have lots of goals creatively. I’m working on several screenplays and pilots, a few of which my fiance and I are developing together. I would love to continue to build my resume in features, and hopefully continue to work in TV as well.

Q: Advice for anyone trying to get into acting or, in general, just following their dreams?

A: You have to be grateful for everything given and happening throughout your journey. Because if you really want to be an actor or pursue any kind of job in the film industry, you have to be prepared for tons of rejection. Every little victory has to be celebrated, because the odds are that it will take you at least 10 years to get your big break.

Q: Anything else you’d like to mention to the AHS student body?

A: I will also be starring in the upcoming pilot on MTV Ken Jeong Made Me Do It coming soon, so stay tuned! If you have a dream to do something, you’re going to find a way to make that dream happen, whether it happens when you’re 18, 35, or in your 60s. Give it a shot and don’t ever give up!