Austin is a graduate of Catawba College, where he earned a degree in Music Performance with a minor in Theater. He began his career in his home state of North Carolina, performing for two years in Give My Regards to Broadway and Hooray for Hollywood.

After moving to New York City, he launched his professional career touring extensively across the United States, Europe, and Africa with The Platters. He went on to earn his Actors’ Equity card with Bugs Bunny Sports Spectacular, performing in major venues and arenas throughout the Midwest and East Coast, where he portrayed both The Joker and Foghorn Leghorn, marking the beginning of his work in elaborate costumes and character roles.

His early career also included commercial, film, and print work, including an appearance as an extra in the Michael Jackson Pepsi commercial. He later joined the European tour of Showboat, his first major bus-and-truck production, followed by The Wiz at Piedmont Players, where he performed as the Lion.

This led to a long-running engagement with Cats, where he performed for seven years with two touring companies (Cats 3 and Cats 4), traveling throughout the United States and Canada. He subsequently returned to Showboat in Canada, starring Cloris Leachman, where he spent four years before continuing with the production in London’s West End as assistant dance captain and onstage performer, alongside Carol Shelley and George Grizzard.

Austin later appeared in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Starlight Express in Germany, covering the role of Papa. The production, performed entirely on roller skates, required five months of intensive skating training as well as German language study, making it one of the most demanding and rewarding experiences of his career.

He also appeared in the independent film Moving Mountain, portraying Arley Johnson opposite Theresa Russell. The film, which tells the story of a community’s fight for clean water in West Virginia, had a special screening in Sharon Springs and is available on YouTube and other platforms.

Austin later returned to Showboat at the Glimmerglass Festival and has continued to work in commercials for CDPHP and CDTA, as well as in educational media.

In addition to his work in the performing arts, he is an accomplished chocolatier and the owner of Austintacious: Handmade Truffles & Chocolates in Sharon Springs.