Born and raised in Miami, Florida, Alvaro Orlando is of Cuban/Colombian decent.Alvaro was an amateur Golden Gloves boxer (going into the professional level) and into mixed martial arts tournaments. He also became a professional break-dancer and an all around athlete.After graduating high school, he worked as a Camera Assistant for several shows for the Spanish network, Univision. One day he was asked by the host to play an impromptu character in a comedy skit in front of the live television show "Sabado... more
Born and raised in Miami, Florida, Alvaro Orlando is of Cuban/Colombian decent.Alvaro was an amateur Golden Gloves boxer (going into the professional level) and into mixed martial arts tournaments. He also became a professional break-dancer and an all around athlete.After graduating high school, he worked as a Camera Assistant for several shows for the Spanish network, Univision. One day he was asked by the host to play an impromptu character in a comedy skit in front of the live television show "Sabado Gigante." Professional Latino actors in the series and people in the audience were surprised by his improvisation ability, they commented that -- "he was amazing and natural."Alvaro moved to New York and told his grandmother that Andy Garcia was not going to be the only famous Latino actor graduating from Miami Beach Senior High and added that when he get famous, he would make a movie about how his grandmother who came from Cuba to Miami with no money, not speaking English, no family to lean on, but still made it.As soon as he got into New York, he was cast as a host for a national bilingual urban show called "The Roof," where he had the opportunity to use his charisma. He led interviews with famous celebrities while taking acting classes three times a week, studying with New York's finest. He discovered how to use his instrument and developed a craft by top notch Method Acting personal coaches.Alvaro got his biggest break as soon as he arrived in Hollywood. He was cast on Vh1's hit show "Pick Up Artist," inspiring thousands of viewers with his quirky lovable high energy character and he went on to win the show with a grand prize of $50,000. He did a full media blitz, doing talk shows, radio interviews, and other personal appearances.The feature film "Revenge" which has just been released and distributed in the U.S. by the Weinstein Company this late November 2009 (was initially distributed in Europe in 2008 with the title "Shadow Boxing 2." In the movie, he lost 9 pounds for the role of a young explosive boxer named Cesar Mendez.He starred as lead in Dir. Kenneth Castillo's first feature film "Drive-By Chronicles: Sidewayz," (available on Blockbusters). The movie won many awards. It was nominated for Best Director and Best Picture at the last "2009 Imagen Awards," alongside Andy Garcia, George Lopez, and many others.Alvaro Orlando is a fearless strong and intense actor who will go that extra mile to find those gems in each character he portrays. He is a leading man with the ability to play range of characters -- from a tough boxer, to a shy autistic kid, from a crazy gang member, to a young articulate cop.Alvaro recently finished shooting the third from Kenneth Castillo's film trilogy "Drive By Chronicles: Nicky and Jacky" where he plays the powerful and witty transvestite, "Mariposa."He also wrapped up shooting the web pilot "Better" from Dir. John Cantu, and a horror-thriller feature film entitled "Stripped" and the short film "Canned Ecology."Alvaro Orlando will be next seen on July 26, 8 p.m. 8/7 central, on the popular FOX hit television series "LIE TO ME," pitting talent with lead actor Tim Roth (who plays Dr. Cal Lightman, the world's leading deception expert) in the episode entitled "Headlock," where Orlando plays the underground fighter and main crime suspect.He just wrapped the feature film "Monster Heroes," a comedy feature with Danny Nucci, Sally Struthers, and many others.
