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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 members of the 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. He then moved to Mauldin, South Carolina when he was young. He graduated from Mauldin High School 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 Reverend LaMont Nixon Fatback, the vocal follower of Louis Farrakhan. He was also noted for his impressions of various people as Dennis Rodman, O.J. Simpson, Samuel L. Jackson, and Snoop Dogg.

Characters

• Dexter St. Croix (Cabana Chat)
• Reverend LaMont Nixon Fatback

Impressions

• Avery Brooks
• Bill Cosby
• Clarence Thomas
• Danny Glover
• Dennis Rodman
• Eddie Murphy
• Eriq La Salle
• Ice Cube
• Ike Turner
• Michael Winslow
• O.J. Simpson
• Russell Simmons
• Samuel L. Jackson
• Snoop Doggy Dogg
• Thomas Mikal Ford

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 opening 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, include: Nicole Sullivan, Phil LaMarr, Artie Lange and Debra Wilson.

During his time at MADtv, he roomed with Artie Lange, now a co-host on the Howard Stern Show. Orlando wouldn't allow Artie into the apartment if Artie had cocaine on his person. He was, however, according to Artie, very supportive and influential in helping to save Artie's life. Nicole Sullivan and David Herman of MADtv were also involved in the intervention (informing police and the show of his cocaine problem) of Artie Lange. This information was revealed on the June 12, 2006 episode of the Howard Stern Show on Sirius Satellite Radio by Artie Lange. Christa Miller, of The Drew Carey Show, was a roommate of Nicole Sullivan's at the time. Her appearance on the Howard Stern Show prompted Artie to reveal this information.

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 humorous commercials for a soda company. In 2000, Jones became the spokesperson 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 make 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.

In the first season of the show, Jones also starred on Nick Cannon's Wild 'N Out. Jones was the first guest star on the show.

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, Jones played the role of Clifford Franklin in The Replacements (2000) and he appeared in the comedy Chain of Fools (2000) and the horror film From Dusk Till Dawn 3: The Hangman's Daughter (2000). In 2001, Jones landed the role of Daryl Chase in the action-comedy Double Take (2001) alongside Eddie Griffin and worked with David Duchovny and Julianne Moore in Ivan Reitman's sci-fi comedy, Evolution (2001). Jones was also in the 2002 film Drumline alongside Nick Cannon and Zoe Saldana and he appeared as the computer Vox in The Time Machine (2002). His other more recent films includes Biker Boyz (2003), Runaway Jury (2003) and House of D (2004).

Voice acting projects

Jones has been featured in many voice acting projects over the years. In 1993, Jones appeared in Yuletide in the 'hood and in 1998, he made a guest appearance in the animated comedy TV Series, King of the Hill. More recently, he lent his voice to the TV series Father of the Pride and the video games Halo 2 as the marine Sergeant Banks as well as other black marines and L.A. Rush. Jones is recently reported to be starring in the ABC's crime-drama Evidence with Oscar winner Martin Landau. In 2006, he co-created, produced and voice acted for the MTV2 animated series The Adventures of Chico and Guapo.

Trivia

• Even though he was the original spokesman for "Make 7 Up Yours," he didn't want to do those commercials at all.
• He is one out of the eight original MADtv cast members to engage in some form of voice work after leaving the show. Only Bryan Callen has not appeared in voice acting projects.
• He appeared on the very first episode of Nick Cannon's Wild 'N Out.

Filmography

Television

Voice acting and video game appearances

External link

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