Stelio Savante

One of South Africa's busiest actors for over three decades, polyglot 'Stelio Savante' (qv) is a popular choice of critically acclaimed directors & a steady product of independent & international theatrically released features. Savante can currently be seen portraying an international journalist & under cover Mossad agent opposite 'Jim Caviezel' (qv) & 'Claudia Karvan' (qv) in the Middle-Eastern political thriller _Infidel (2019)_ (qv) by Toronto film festival People's Choice award winner, 'Cyrus Nowrasteh' (qv). He is also starring opposite Academy Award Nominee 'Matt Dillon' (qv) & 'Jim Caviezel' (qv) as Portuguese coffee plantation Mayor Alvares in the 'David L. Cunningham' (qv) directed drama _Running for Grace (2018)_ (qv) on Netflix. Critic, Sarah D. Bunting, writes "...Stelio is reminiscent of 'James Gandolfini' (qv)...I liked a certain gravitas-emblance that I saw in Stelio...".He will next be seen starring opposite Academy Award Nominee 'Frank Langella' (qv) & 'Bobby Cannavale' (qv) in the comedy _Lapham Rising_ (qv) produced by Academy Award Nominee 'Kerry Orent' (qv) based on the best selling novel. His performance as Hunter Kimbrough in 'Peter Greenaway' (qv)'s Golden Bear nominated international co production _Eisenstein in Guanajuato (2015)_ (qv) was noted as memorable by critic, David Noh. As part of the lead cast, Stelio was nominated for a Teddy Award at Berlin film festival.After minor speaking roles opposite Academy Award Winner 'Russell Crowe' (qv) in Academy Award Winner 'Ron Howard' (qv)'s _A Beautiful Mind (2001)_ (qv) & 'David Chase' (qv)'s _The Sopranos (1999)_ (qv) as Gaetano; his breakthrough lead role came in _Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999)_ (qv) directed by Academy Award Winner 'Juan José Campanella' (qv). Starring directly opposite Mariska Hargitay, Chris Meloni, Academy Award Nominee 'Bradley Cooper' (qv) & Academy Award Nominee 'Angela Lansbury' (qv), as the chilling yet engaging fundamentalist Milan Zergin. Also, a coveted recurring role on _Ugly Betty (2006)_ (qv) produced by Academy Award Nominee 'Salma Hayek' (qv) & starring directly opposite 'Vanessa Williams' (qv) & 'Rebecca Romijn' (qv), becoming South Africa's first male SAG Award Nominee (Ensemble Comedy Performance). Followed by a supporting role opposite Eddie Izzard, 'Luke Wilson' (qv), & Academy Award Nominee 'Uma Thurman' (qv) in Twentieth Century Fox's _My Super Ex-Girlfriend (2006)_ (qv) directed by Academy Award Nominee 'Ivan Reitman' (qv) which was nominated for an MTV Movie & TV award. Also an ensemble lead in Sony's sci-fi franchised, _Starship Troopers 3: Marauder (2008)_ (qv) produced by Academy Award Nominee 'David Lancaster' (qv), directed by 'Edward Neumeier' (qv) and nominated for a Saturn award.Recent film credits include starring opposite 'Michael Beach' (qv), 'Raymond J. Barry' (qv), & 'George Blagden' (qv) as a rogue federal agent in the romantic comedy _No Postage Necessary (2017)_ (qv) on Amazon, the first film in history made available for purchase through cryptocurrency. Also starring as a South African drug & arms dealer opposite Alex Russell & 'Willa Holland' (qv) in the neo-noir _Blood in the Water (2016)_ (qv) on Amazon Prime. He also portrays a middle aged Moses in 'Dallas Jenkins' (qv) Biblical series, _The Chosen (2019)_ (qv), the highest crowd funded project of all time, downloaded over 70 million times in over 180 countries on The Chosen App.Additionally a staple of well received recurring & guest star roles including in NBC's _My Own Worst Enemy: Conspiracy Theory (2008)_ (qv), in 'Mark Duplass' (qv) & 'Jay Duplass' (qv)' comedic series _Togetherness (2015)_ (qv) for HBO, portraying pioneer David Sarnoff in the Nat-Geo mini-series _American Genius (2015)_ (qv), twice for 'J.J. Abrams' (qv)' in _Undercovers (2010)_ (qv) directly opposite 'Gugu Mbatha-Raw' (qv), & directly opposite 'Jim Caviezel' (qv) in _Person of Interest (2011)_ (qv). Also starring in _NCIS (2003)_ (qv), additionally directly opposite 'Jimmi Simpson' (qv) in _Breakout Kings (2011)_ (qv), opposite Academy Award Nominee 'Marianne Jean-Baptiste' (qv) & 'Ivana Milicevic' (qv) in _Without a Trace (2002)_ (qv), opposite 'Annabella Sciorra' (qv) & 'Chris Noth' (qv) in _Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001)_ (qv), opposite 'Dylan Sprouse' (qv) & 'Cole Sprouse' (qv) in _The Suite Life on Deck (2008)_ (qv), opposite 'Tony Hale' (qv) in _Arrested Development (2003)_ (qv), & also in _All My Children (1970)_ (qv), _Guiding Light (1952)_ (qv) & recurring as Dino in 'Tyler Perry' (qv)'s _The Haves and the Have Nots (2013)_ (qv) for Own Network. Was lauded by both The Examiner's Diane Zoller Ciatto for his recurring portrayal as Joe 'The Boss' Masseria in AMC's popular series _The Making of the Mob (2015)_ (qv). Entertainment Tonight's Nischelle Turner applauded his understatedly powerful turn as Howard Boston opposite 'Brian White' (qv) in TV One's _Media (2017)_ (qv).Further film credits include roles as an altruistic scientist opposite César Award Winning 'Isaach De Bankolé' (qv) & 'Juliet Landau' (qv) in the South African-Dutch-Equatorial Guinean drama _Where the Road Runs Out (2014)_ (qv), winner of the Black Reel Award for Outstanding World Cinema. As the head of a sex trafficking ring in Gravitas Venture's _Selling Isobel (2016)_ (qv), winner of several major awards at Raindance & San Diego film festivals. Was recognized globally by numerous critics for his role as a ruthless policeman in the South African historical epic _A Million Colours (2011)_ (qv). Received outstanding reviews as a tormented hit-man with a conscience in Pronoia & as a rebellious Jewish prisoner in Once We Were Slaves; winning Best Actor at both the SOFIE 'Awards' (qv) & the historic American Movie 'Awards' (qv) where former winners include Academy Award Winner 'Meryl Streep' (qv), Academy Award Winner 'Warren Beatty' (qv), Academy Award Winner 'Clint Eastwood' (qv), & Academy Award Winner 'Steven Spielberg' (qv) . His feature debut was in Sundance Grand Jury Prize Nominee and Independent Spirit Award winner 'Przemyslaw Reut' (qv)'s thriller, Close Up. Screen Africa magazine wrote "....Savante's ability to transition from rough around the edges, blue collar criminals to highly articulate, ruthless, white collar professionals to charming, quirky, vulnerable & broken characters, makes him a chameleon....". Longtime film reviewer Stephen Aspeling 'Spling' writes "...We're entranced by the mysterious man at the centre of Pronoia, 'Stelio Savante' (qv). His mercurial performance keeps us guessing, unsettled and on edge, waiting for him to explode with answers...".His two decades of regional and Off Broadway stage credits include favorable reviews from the NY Times. A student of Robert X. Modica, Deborah Kampmeier, William Alderson, Don Bloomfield, & 'Diane Venora' (qv), his training is rooted in theater & improvisation but influenced by the eras of French New Wave & Italian Neo-Realism. Was acknowledged by Academy Award Winner 'Al Pacino' (qv), Academy Award Winner 'F. Murray Abraham' (qv) & several NY theater critics for his lead performance in Mortal Coils, directed by the Actor's Studio's Ed Setrakian at the Mint Theater.Frequently volunteers his time simultaneously performing & producing Sarah Tuft's "110 Stories" to raise money for several charities. Working in several roles on stage directly opposite the following fellow cast: 'Edie Falco' (qv), Academy Award Nominee Robert Forster, 'James Gandolfini' (qv), Cynthia Nixon, Academy Award Nominee John Hawkes, Academy Award Nominee 'Samuel L. Jackson' (qv), Academy Award Winner 'Melissa Leo' (qv), 'Jeremy Piven' (qv), Academy Award Winner 'Mira Sorvino' (qv), Academy Award Winner 'Susan Sarandon' (qv), Tamara Tunie, Academy Award Nominee 'Kathleen Turner' (qv), John Turturro, & 'Diane Venora' (qv).A popular voice over artist, he voices the character of Ajax in _Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 (2018)_ (qv). Was inducted into the Alpha Psi Omega honors society for his achievement in American collegiate theater. Served on the actor's panel of the 2014 San Diego film festival with 'Josh Duhamel' (qv), Academy Award Nominee Tom Berenger & Dennis Haysbert, hosted by Variety & film critic Jeffrey Lyons. Is a board member of the River Street Theater Company; alongside Robert Carnegie, Academy Award Nominee 'Jeff Goldblum' (qv) , Academy Award Nominee 'David Mamet' (qv), Academy Award Winner 'Jon Voight' (qv) & president, William Alderson.::Management - Pamela Wagner