If Sage Graduate School alumnus Todd Birmingham ’02 looks familiar, there is a good reason. He has appeared in television commercials promoting everything from Albany’s Time Warner cable to national favorite Diet Coke. His multifaceted career starts with basketball and leads to Sage.
From Athlete to Actor and Educator: Todd Birmingham
Written by Samantha Brierly, Edited by Elizabeth Gallagher
“My first love wasn’t a girl, it was a leather ball,” said Todd Birmingham, who started in every game as a student athlete at Watervliet Junior/Senior High School, where he has taught since earning his master’s degree in Special Education at Sage.
Even though Birmingham was recruited to play basketball at Colby-Sawyer College, he wanted something more. After reading a flyer posted on campus for auditions for a theatre department production, Birmingham went into the audition—with no acting experience—and won the role.
He credits his days on the basketball court for his confidence in front of an audience. “I don’t know, maybe I am just a ham,” he joked.
After transferring to Ithaca College, Birmingham continued acting in school productions and also in films at nearby Cornell University. Upon graduation, he sent out demo reels and received offers from directors and producers. His credits include commercials for Trustco Bank and Price Chopper supermarkets. Recently, Birmingham wrapped up voiceover work for New York State Boating Safety. He was also the spokesperson for the NY Alert, which promotes emergency awareness.
When Birmingham decided to go back to school to pursue a degree in Education, he chose Sage Graduate School because he was interested in its year-long internship in Special Education.
“Teaching is something I fell in love with,” said Birmingham. “The experience of working with teenage students and being a part of the educational process that helps shape and mold them into young men and women can be very fulfilling and rewarding.”
Birmingham schedules his commercial roles—which have been filmed locally as well as in New York City and Philadelphia—around the school calendar.
Elizabeth Gallagher can be reached at (518) 244-2344 or gallae@sage.edu