Actors - Orlando Jones

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	Actors - Orlando Jones

Orlando Jones (born April 10, 1968) is an American comedian and film and television actor. Jones is most notable for being one of the original cast of comedians on sketch comedy series MADtv and for his role as the 7 Up spokesman from 1999 to 2002.

Biography

Orlando Jones was born on April 10, 1968 in Mobile, Alabama. His father was a former professional baseball player for the Philadelphia Phillies. Moved to Mauldin, South Carolina when he was young. He graduated from High School while in Mauldin, in 1985. Jones then enrolled in the College of Charleston, South Carolina, and received his degree in 1990.

In an effort to pursue his interest in the entertainment industry, Orlando Jones set up his own production company named Homeboy's Productions and Advertising. Soon after, he scored his first Hollywood job in 1987, writing for the NBC comedy A Different World. In 1991 and 1992, Jones penned the FOX's series Roc and, in 1993, he co-produced The Sinbad Show. He also made a quick appearance on the FOX sitcom Herman's Head in 1992.

Career

MADtv

After hosting Fox's music series Sound FX, in 1994, Jones became one of the original nine cast members of MADtv
. Unlike some of his fellow original repertory performers on MADtv, Jones came to the show with limited sketch comedy experience. However, his comedy writing and television producing skills proved very valuable to the early success of the show.

Throughout Seasons one and two of MADtv
, Jones constantly produced funny characters like the Cabana Chat band leader Dexter St. Croix and the vocal follower of Louis Farrakhan. He was also noted for his impressions of public figures like U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. Moreover, Jones was even more famous for his celebrity impressions during his tenure. Jones portrayed a comedic version of such various people as Snoop Doggy Dogg, Samuel L. Jackson, Dennis Rodman, Ike Turner, O.J. Simpson, Ice Cube, Avery Brooks, Russell Simmons, Thomas Mikal Ford, Eddie Murphy, Bill Cosby and Michael Winslow.

After two seasons on MADtv, Jones left the show at the end of its second season to pursue a movie career. However, Jones returned to MADtv, in 2004, to celebrate its 200th episode. Jones appeared in the openning video "Hey MAD!" where he lampooned Andre 3000. With his guest appearance, Jones became the third (out of five) original cast member to return as a guest on the show. The other original cast members, who have returned, included: Nicole Sullivan, Phil LaMarr, Artie Lange and Debra Wilson.

Other television projects

Aside from MADtv, Jones made many other television appearances. Perhaps his most popular and enduring telvision appearance was not in the form of a sitcom or television drama, but rather in a series of humerous commericals for a soda company. In 2000, Jones became the spokes person for 7-Up and he gained wide recognition. This exposure led to a plethora of opportunities for Jones. First, he hosted an HBO First Look special in 2000 and then, in 2003, Jones was given his own late night talk show on FX called The Orlando Jones Show. Although his talk show was short lived, Jones continued to made additional television appearances. In 2003, He appeared on the The Bernie Mac Show and on Girlfriends. In 2006, Jones decided to return to television as one of the lead characters of ABC's crime drama The Evidence, as Cayman Bishop.

Film projects

After leaving MADtv, Jones expanded his cinema resume. He appeared in a bit part in his first big screen film, In Harm's Way
(1997), Jones then joined Larry David in the feature Sour Grapes (1998), playing the character of an itinerant man. Subsequently, he appeared in Woo (1998), Mike Judge's first film Office Space
(1999), along side fellow MADtv alumnus David Herman, and in Barry Levinson's praised drama, Liberty Heights
(1999). Since then, Jones has appeared in Magnolia (1999), New Jersey Turnpikes (1999) and in Harold Ramis' Bedazzled (2000). During the 2000s, Jones' career began to branch out. In addition to his witty appearances in the 7-Up campaigns,

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