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Biography

Orlando Williams-De La Rosa

Overview

  • Born
    May 28, 1973 · Baltimore, Maryland, USA
  • Nickname
    • Big O
  • Height
    6′ (1.83 m)

Biography

  • Orlando is of Dominican and African-American descent. He speaks Spanish and English.

    He comes from a dysfunctional and abusive home in the slums of Baltimore City. The first seven years of his life, he bounced around to live with various family members before finally settling down to live the next two years with his mother. His father was incarcerated since his birth so there was no father figure around. Being the oldest, his mother would physically abuse and torture him as an outlet for her anger. She spent most of her time in the streets, using drugs and prostituting for money. Orlando and his younger siblings were often left in the house alone for many days and he had to take care of them alone. At the age of nine, his mother's psychological problems were too great and she abruptly turned him over to the state of Maryland's Department of Social Services.

    Too old to be adopted, he grew up in group-homes and juvenile correctional facilities as a ward of the state. Growing up as an orphan was not to hinder his future, though. It was actually a driving force to be something more than just another statistic. He was mainly a shy and solitary boy but it was soon discovered that he was a naturally talented artist in drawing, writing, and entertaining others with original skits and plays. He was then offered an opportunity to attend the Baltimore School for The Arts that he now regretfully decided to turn down. Instead, Orlando chose to attend public school to pursue another of his extremely gifted talents...sports. After excelling in High School sports, he was offered the opportunity to attend College on a football scholarship but he surprised everyone and instead enlisted into the Marine Corps where he served for 12 years. During that time he continued to act and play football and lacrosse in the Marines. After returning from the war in Afghanistan as a combat veteran, Orlando left the military behind to pursue acting full time.
    - IMDb mini biography by: delarosaproductions

Trademarks

  • Baritone voice.

Trivia

  • Is a screenwriter.
  • Has three children, Tatyana, Orlando and Inari.
  • While working as a Marine Corps recruiter, he spotted a crowd of people at the Baltimore Raven's Stadium and went to find potential candidates for enlistment. A casting agent for the movie "The Replacements" with Keanue Reeves and Gene Hackman spotted Orlando and asked him to try out for a part as a football player in the movie. After completing the NFL standard combine the next day, he was offered a part in the movie but had to turn it down because it required 3 months of work away from the Marine Corps. Instead, he accepted a role as a police officer that only needed two weeks.
  • In high school yearbook, was voted most likely to succeed in Hollywood.
  • Was to attend the Baltimore School for the Arts during the same time as Jada Pinkett-Smith and TuPac Shakur but instead elected to attend a public school to pursue athletics.

Quotes

  • The saying that, 'for those that understand, no explanation is necessary. But for those who don't understand, no explanation will ever be good enough. Well, that has been the story of my life. I'm so simple that I'm complicated. Even when I try to be unnoticed I seem to attract a plethora of attention.
  • No surprise that the Marine Corps was the most grueling (mentally and physically) task that I've ever accomplished but, being a responsible parent is a close second.
  • I've always wanted to see different places than where I had come from. To be something more than what I had been born. And I can do all of that by being in the place that I am. Being completely submerged in my character.

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