Name: Mitchell Underwood
Occupation: Male Celebrity Impersonator at Darcelle XV
Location: Portland, OR
What is your pride and joy in life?
My joys in life are my husband, our beautiful homes in Portland Oregon and on the Pacific NW Coast of Oregon, our little adopted furballs—Izzy, Dabney, Big Boy, and Luna—and, of course, Disney anything! My pride comes from performing on the stage for over 45 years and sharing that joy with others. Working in my garden making it the focal point of our homes and the neighborhoods is one of the most fulfilling hobbies I have.
What do you feel thankful for about our community?
Portland makes me thankful that I live in a city that shows pride in all of its communities, but as the longest standing featured cast member Darcelle XV and Company is especially meaningful to me. Darcelle XV as the proclaimed Happiness of the Rose, she has shown myself and the entire city, state and world that, embracing diversity and sharing kindness to all, that Happiness most definitely Reigns Forever!
Who inspires you to make a difference in the world?
Believe it or not, there are quite a few people who inspire me.
First and foremost, Darcelle XV. Her stories of community, travel, family and life experiences captured everyone she ever crossed paths with. Her courage, honesty, ability to get right to the point and willingness to stand up for others, I carry with me in my life and cherish each part of her.
My mother, Joyce, who has been with me for many years as my second mom. I appreciate her knowledge, wisdom, and directness, which have guided me through my life and helped shape the person I am today.
My best friend, Niki, always reminds me to look for the positive and to live my life with that perspective.
And, of course, there is my husband, Jeff, who keeps me grounded and reminds me of what truly matters in life.
What are the dreams you still want to accomplish?
One day, I would love to perform on Broadway. Since I’m also a huge Disney fan, I would absolutely love the opportunity to work for the Mouse in some capacity. I would be thrilled to get a call from Casting from either stage! *The phone lines are open Broadway Producers and Disney Talent agents!
What hopes do you want to see come true for the younger generation?
I hope today’s younger generation will take a moment to really look at what is influencing and shaping their lives—whether it’s TikTok, AI, or all the different applications and technologies around them.
I hope they will step back and ask how we got here, who brought them this knowledge, and what they can learn from the generations that came before them. There is so much wisdom in the past, and I hope they take the time to understand and appreciate it to bring it forward.
It’s not always about becoming the next sensation on TikTok or being the next big Star. I hope they discover that there is so much more to life than that, and that understanding where we came from can help us decide where we want to go.
How do you stay grateful for what you have?
I stay grateful through the love and support I receive from the people around me. Knowing that I am loved and supported reminds me every day of how fortunate I am.
What encourages you to make tomorrow better than today?
Simply knowing that I’m still here on this earth and that I have many more years ahead of me. I want to keep living, laughing, performing, growing, and experiencing life—and I’m pushing toward that 100-year mark!
What is one thing you are proud of yourself for?
I’m proud of being able to make people happy and put a smile on their faces. If something I do can brighten someone’s day, even for a moment, that means the world to me.
