Michael Stahl-David, a 2005 theatre alumnus, will portray Robert F. Kennedy in the 2016 Rob Reiner film “LBJ,” which is about the conflict between President Lyndon B. Johnson and Kennedy.

Stahl-David, whose acting credits include “Cloverfield” and television shows like “The Good Wife” and “Person of Interest,” said he is grateful for the opportunity to audition for the role, but he considered not showing up for it.

When he received an email from his agent about playing Robert Kennedy, Stahl-David said he initially thought the role was portraying John F. Kennedy and did not think he was fit to play the former president.

“I thought, ‘There’s no way they’re going to cast me as JFK,’” Stahl-David said. “I’m too young. I don’t look anything like him.’”

Stahl-David said his manager asked him a month later why he never responded to the email about the role. He said his agent requested that he make an audition tape because he was shooting a film in Vancouver at the time, but Reiner had requested to see him in Los Angeles instead.

“I threw down the cash, booked a plane ticket to LA and went in for it,” he said.

Stahl-David said he is currently doing extensive research on Robert Kennedy and his childhood to prepare for the role, reading Kennedy’s biography and working with voice and acting coaches to deliver an accurate portrayal.

“There’s a lot of pressure in a big role to play an icon a lot of people have opinions about,” Stahl-David said. “At the end of the day, I have to be on set and feel very free to play and discover and surprise myself.”

Stahl-David said at Columbia, he and his friends would try similar tactics, like various acting exercises in order to get into character.

“It was really a lot about experimenting and trying new ways to approach material and what effect it has,” Stahl-David said.

Victor Holstein, a professional actor and Columbia theatre alumnus who worked with Stahl-David on various projects outside of college, including short films and a web series, said Stahl-David’s drive stood out the most to him.

“Michael was already hustling before any of us,” Holstein said. “He already had an agent and was figuring out the professional world before we were.”

Holstein said he and his colleagues wanted to better themselves at acting, but Stahl-David was obsessed with it.

“Michael always wanted to be doing it and always wanted to be talking about it,” Holstein said. “I think that really made a difference in his career.”

Stephanie Shaw, a senior lecturer in the Theatre Department and one of Stahl-David’s former teachers, said he showed a terrific affinity for emotional connection to material and was supportive as a student in the Theatre Department. He always gave thorough feedback to his fellow students, Shaw said.

“I remember him having a good eye for detail and a good connection with his audience,” Shaw said.

Stahl-David said the college helped him practice working with a variety of different roles, but it was also important for him to be able to work independently.

“The thing about being an actor is it requires a lot of figuring out how to work on stuff on your own, because there will be a lot of times when you don’t have a job, and you have to figure out how to stay busy,” Stahl-David said.