My name is Dodge
Ten years from now, when Louis Moyle turns 18, he will have a nice chunk of pocket change.
It will definitely be enough to pay for college, he said, or to “give some to the poor and help my friends and my mom.”
Seeds for the big payday were planted a couple of years ago when he joined Big Fish, a local casting agency, landed a role in a commercial, then was referred to an agent in California.
Louis has since been seen by millions of people in print ads, commercials, film, and on TV, including his recurring role in the show “My Name is Earl.” He plays the part of Dodge, Earl’s son.
“I’ve been asked to sign autographs about five times,” Louis said, “Once from a girl at the mall.”
The show is on Thursday nights on NBC and though he’s not on every episode, Moyle said the job can be difficult.
“I like acting,” he said, “except for memorizing my lines and practicing.”
Louis has dyslexia but works through it. He likes watching himself on TV, especially the episode that had the song “Kung Fu Fighting” in it. He really likes ninjas and owns a set of nunchucks.
He even remembers lines from past episodes: “When somebody tells the truth and says they’re sorry, you forgive them. That’s what we learned at camp.”
“It’s a corny show,” said Florence Moyle, Louis’ mom, “but there’s a lesson in every episode.”
Louis lives in Millwood with his mother and siblings, Emily, 13, and David, 16. They are home-schooled and travel to California often. Louis gets his scripts for “Earl” a couple of weeks before they shoot, and then they travel to Los Angeles to tape the episode. They also stay in California from January to March during pilot season when new shows are casting so Louis can audition. They plan on moving to California while maintaining a place in Spokane Valley where the family can enjoy the four seasons.
Louis likes playing video games, riding his scooter, swimming, playing baseball and taking care of the puppies that his mother breeds. “I’m glad he’s having a good time and making friends,” his mother said. “He has had so many opportunities that have really opened his eyes to a lot of possibilities.”
Opportunities have also been made available to his sister and brother. Emily Moyle’s passion is riding horses. She is on sets doing extra work on shows that include “Bernie Mac,” “Reno 911,” “Invasion,” “Jarhead” and “Yours, Mine and Ours.”
Emily sometimes misses her Spokane Valley friends but is having fun. “I’m glad I get to do all the different things we do down in Hollywood because I get to experience things other people wish they could do.”
She also likes the warm weather there. “It’s nice not to have to wear a coat in the winter,” she said. “It’s also funny to see people there all bundled up when it gets in the 60s.”
David Moyle focuses on his passion, martial arts. He attends Spirit Martial Arts on Pines Road and recently received his purple belt. He hopes to get his black belt and his high school diploma in about a year. He will spend much of that time in Spokane Valley while his family travels to Los Angeles “High school (home schooling program) and training for martial arts is a lot of work and both take a lot of time, so that’s pretty much my life’s goal right now,” he said.
David hopes to go on to L.A. to train to be a martial art and stunt choreographer in the movies. “With my brother being an actor, we are meeting a lot of people that are nice about helping.”
Florence Moyle has high hopes for her children beyond fame. “I’m trying to teach them that the world’s a big place, and the more you learn from it, the more you can give to others, and that’s what it’s all about,” she said.