Jocko Sims' New Comedy Journey in 'How to Die Alone'

Jocko Sims knew he was meant to be a doctor when he first attended high school. The actor, known for his role in the hit thriller The Last Ship, had the ambition at a young age that it takes to survive in Hollywood. That courage has led him to where he is now—Leading Man Status. With his much-talked-about new dramedy How to Die Alone, Sims finds himself entering the rom-com genre, a career trajectory warmly welcomed by his adoring fans.

"I was so sure I was going to be a doctor… I wanted to be a doctor so bad," Sims says about his early ambition during our Turned Gentleman cover shoot. "In fact, in high school, I had this medical symbol put on my high school ring that you could customize." But by the time the San Antonio, TX, native got to his first year of college, he decided that he "didn't want to be in school for the next 12 years."

Everything had happened for a reason for the Crash actor. Once he realized the acting bug had bitten him, Sims transferred to UCLA, graduating with a bachelor's degree in theater arts. After booking his first audition, Sims knew he was destined to entertain audiences on television screens since 2003.

Destiny had other plans for the actor/producer. Although Sims did not become a doctor in real life, the 5'10" heartthrob had the chance to play a doctor on two separate primetime shows. In March 2018, Sims was cast as Dr. Floyd Reynolds on the NBC medical drama New Amsterdam. That same year, he also appeared as Dr. Ben Wilmot in the Fox medical drama The Resident.

“That was great,” Sims refers to his past roles. “I kind of still made the dream come true.”

Another dream has come true for the Grown director, as he works with Natasha Rothwell on Hulu’s How to Die Alone.

“Natasha Rothwell. Big fan… I loved Sonic the Hedgehog,” Sims refers to just one of many comedic roles audiences love Rothwell for.

The first four episodes of How to Die Alone hit the platform on September 13. The show, created, written and executive produced by Rothwell, comes from Onyx Collective, which was established to amplify stories from creators of color and also brought us Kerry Washington’s Reasonable Doubt. The premium content brand is betting big on How to Die Alone and its stars.

The series tells the story of Melissa, played by Rothwell, "a broke, fat, Black JFK airport employee who's never been in love and forgotten how to dream, until an accidental brush with death catapults her on a journey to finally take flight and start living by any means necessary," the series synopsis reads.

In the show, Sims plays Alex, Mel’s [Rothwell] boss and former fling. “She’s incredible. She is great as Kelly on Insecure. She has an Emmy nomination. She is fantastic,” Sims continues to gush over Rothwell. The off-screen admiration is why the on-screen chemistry between the two actors is undeniable.

“We like mess,” Sims laughs about the games that come along with dating. Those games are ever so present throughout the series' eight episodes. In fact, the games start from episode one.

“Alex is getting married, and it kind of throws Mel off but she rejects him. So he's got the upper hand at that moment. And then he finds out later that she's bringing a date, and it throws him off. So it just gets real messy,” Sims explains with excitement.

The smile on Sims' face while discussing his latest show comes from the joy of playing Alex. Known for his dramatic roles over the past 20 years, Sims has finally entered the comedy arena with How to Die Alone.

“This is my first comedy and I am excited. I wanted to be on a set and struggle to get the lines out,” Sims says. “You know when you watch Martin bloopers, you know when they can't keep it together? I want to have a lot more fun after a long stretch of doing drama.”

From his dramatic role as a doctor on New Amsterdam to his new comedic role as a manager at JFK airport navigating the dating scene, Sims’ roles have represented the wide complexity of who Black men can be.

“It is always interesting when you step into the shoes of a character, particularly as a Black man and as a Black actor,” Sims explains. “You discover that you have a little bit more of a responsibility than you would have imagined.” He discusses the weight of being Black in Hollywood, something other actors have also expressed.

“You mentioned Dr. Reynolds being a Black doctor… that was incredible. I had parents reaching out to me saying, ‘Thank you for playing that role. I now want my son or daughter to be a doctor.’ That was very inspirational.”

And much like in How to Die Alone, we have Alex, who Sims says “is just part of this dating culture... this dating scene, and this... entanglement situation. We find ourselves in these situations in real life, you know? What’s cool about this one is that it’s funny. We can have fun with it. We can make fun of it. We can make fun of ourselves. And I think that’s what makes him very relatable.”

According to Sims, Alex’s relatability also highlights Black men’s vulnerability, an aspect that elevates the series to new heights.

“There's going to be moments where Alex feels not in control, because he clearly has feelings for Mel, and he's rejected. He is being portrayed as the handsome guy who's got it together at work, and he seems to have missed out on the one that he fell in love with. So there will be vulnerable moments. And I think that's part of what makes this show great.”

Check out the full interview below. How to Die Alone is now streaming on Hulu.

Photographer: Salvatore Demaio

Lighting Technician: Saxum Studios

Creative Director: BYoung Agency

Stylist: Harrison Crite

Hair: Marcos “Reggae” Smith

Groomer: Selam Eyasu

Video Editor: Cherrelle Crews

Graphic Designer: Justin M. Carey