He does seem like a genuine guy... But he seems angry bitter
He's probably a guy like Keith, has devoted his whole life to this shit waiting for his "breakthrough", also had a few short moments (movie roles etc.), but hasn't managed to establish himself in the long run and is now facing his life in ruins while getting old, praying he could turn back the hands of time thinking "Had I become a doctor or a lawyer, but I wasted all those decades for nothing".