Stelio Savante

South African actor Stelio Savante[1] [2] is a filmmaker [3][4] [5] known for his roles as a South African/Israeli journalist and undercover Mossad agent opposite Jim Caviezel and Claudia Karvan in the political thriller Infidel, a Portuguese mayor opposite Matt Dillon in the Hawaiian drama Running for Grace, a small town deputy directly opposite Cress Williams, Kellan Lutz and Anne Heche, in her final film performance in the noir What Remains, and a rogue policeman in the South African epic drama Colors of Heaven.[6] In 2007 he became the first male South African-born Screen Actors Guild award nominee (Best Ensemble in a Comedy) for his recurring role on Ugly Betty[3] followed by roles in the studio films My Super Ex-Girlfriend and Starship Troopers 3: Marauder. He is also known for the roles of Moses in the biblical series The Chosen, and the voice of Ajax in the popular video games Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 and Call of Duty: Mobile.

Stelio Savante
Born
Cape Town, South Africa
Occupation(s)Actor, writer, producer
Years active1996–present

Early life

A Capetonian of Greek, Italian, British, Ashkenazi, and Anatolian descent,[7][8][9] his grandfather was a racing driver who placed and won medals at the 1955 Monte Carlo Rally.[3] Fluent in Afrikaans and Greek, he graduated from Camps Bay High School, immigrated from South Africa to the United States when he was offered an international tennis scholarship by the University of West Alabama[10] and relocated again to New York City in 1992 to pursue an acting career.[11]

New York

His prime-time debut came in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as a BosnianMuslim fundamentalist. Directed by Academy Award winner Juan Jose Campanella and also starring Bradley Cooper and Alfred Molina, the episode was nominated for an Emmy.[12] Further television credits include Law & Order: Criminal Intent opposite Chris Noth and Annabella Sciorra, The Sopranos, Guiding Light, All My Children, as Dan 'Schaffy' Schaffner in Jim Breuer's pilot for Pulp Comics on Comedy Central and recurring as Antonio on Late Night with Conan O'Brien.

Film credits include the comedy My Super Ex-Girlfriend directed by Ivan Reitman, starring opposite Anna Faris, Eddie Izzard, Uma Thurman, Luke Wilson, and Rainn Wilson, and in Ron Howard's Academy Award winner A Beautiful Mind opposite Russell Crowe.

Theater credits include lead roles in the American and New York premiers of Arnie Sieren's award-winning Belgian play, My Blackie, Belgian playwright Jean-Yves Picq's The Case Of Kaspar Meyer, German playwright Roland Schimmelpfennig's Arabian Night directed by Trip Cullman, Dan Gordon's Murder in the First directed by American Theatre Wing alumni Michael Parva, and Mortal Coils directed by Actors Studio lifetime member Ed Setrakian.

Los Angeles

Savante relocated to Los Angeles in 2006 for recurring role of Steve on Ugly Betty, produced by Salma Hayek.[13] He received a Screen Actor's Guild nomination along with the lead ensemble cast in 2007.[14]

Savante's Los Angeles television credits also include a recurring role on My Own Worst Enemy, guest star lead roles in J. J. Abrams' Undercovers opposite Boris Kodjoe and Gugu Mbatha-Raw, The Suite Life on Deck, Person of Interest opposite Jim Caviezel, Without a Trace opposite Marianne Jean-Baptiste and Ivana Milicevic, Breakout Kings opposite Jimmi Simpson, and NCIS. He portrayed Joe Masseria in the eight part mini-series The Making of the Mob: New York for AMC and David Sarnoff in American Genius for National Geographic.[15]

He received positive reviews for his role in the feature A Million Colours,[16][17][18] which screened at the Montreal World Film Festival, Pan African Film Festival, Atlantic Film Festival, and was also awarded two South African Film and Television Awards.

His film credits include an ensemble leading role in Sony Pictures Entertainment Starship Troopers 3: Marauder produced by Academy Award nominee David Lancaster , a supporting role in Movieguide award winner What If, and a lead role opposite Isaach De Bankole and Juliet Landau in Rudolf Buitendach's Where the Road Runs Out, the first feature to ever be filmed in Equatorial Guinea,[19] winner of the Best Narrative Feature Award at the 2014 San Diego Film Festival and a Black Reel Award for Outstanding World Cinema in 2017.[20]

Savante starred in Peter Greenaway's Eisenstein in Guanajuato which was nominated for the Golden Bear at the 2015 Berlin International Film Festival.[21] He also starred in the independent film Pacific Standard Time opposite Alex Russell and Willa Holland, as well as in the HBO series Togetherness directed by Mark Duplass and Jay Duplass, and the sex trafficking film Selling Isobel, winner of the 'Indie Award' at the Raindance Film Festival in 2016. He guest starred in The Chosen by Dallas Jenkins and on Tyler Perry's The Haves and the Have Nots.

Savante starred directly opposite Matt Dillon and Jim Caviezel in Running for Grace directed by David L. Cunningham, and opposite Michael Beach and George Blagden in the romantic comedy No Postage Necessary. He voiced the role of Ajax in Call of Duty: Black Ops 4. Savante was cast opposite Jim Caviezel for the third time, also working directly opposite Claudia Karvan in Cyrus Nowrasteh's political thriller Infidel which was released nationwide on 18 September 2020.

Films And Plays Produced

Savante has produced and served in a producing role on such films as No Postage Necessary, Official Selection of the Heartland Film Festival starring George Blagden, Michael Beach, and Raymond J. Barry making history as the first film to ever release via blockchain technology and available to stream using cryptocurrency as payment,[22] religious film The Penitent Thief released by Vertical Entertainment, and drama Selling Isobel starring Lew Temple, Alyson Stoner, and Matthew Marsden, winner at the 2016 Raindance released by Gravitas Ventures, and several short films.

To commemorate the tenth anniversary of the September 11 attacks Stelio produced and performed 110 Stories Celebrity Benefit Performances with Katie Holmes, Samuel L. Jackson, Melissa Leo, Cynthia Nixon, and Jeremy Piven.[23] at the Skirball Center for The Performing Arts at NYU. It was directed by Gregory Mosher.[24][25] Savante describes 110 Stories as a chance to give people closure about the attacks;[21] he was in New York City at the time of the attacks, and cites that as a reason why he produces the play.[26] In 2010, he also produced and performed the Los Angeles theater debut of 110 Stories Celebrity Benefit Performances at the Geffen Playhouse,[25] with John Hawkes and Ed Asner directed by Mark Freiburger.[27] All proceeds were donated to the Red Cross Los Angeles as aid to Haiti in the aftermath of their earthquake. In 2013, he produced and performed 110 Stories at Ebony Rep in Los Angeles.[28] The proceeds were donated to Operation Gratitude. And again he produced and performed 110 Stories opposite Robert Forster and Mira Sorvino directed by his acting teacher Bill Alderson in 2016.[29] As playwright, his one-act play Venom was self-produced Off Broadway and nominated as a finalist for Samuel French's Love Creek festival.[30]

Video game credits include: Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 and Call of Duty: Mobile,Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Future Soldier, Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception, Mass Effect 2, Army of Two: The 40th Day, a role in the live-action simulated video game Red Alert 3, and Midnight Club.

Personal life

Savante was diagnosed with Celiac Disease in 2010 and has become a vocal advocate for other sufferers. He stated that the disease attacked his organs, including his liver. He was later also diagnosed with Hashimoto's thyroiditis.[3] [31]

Awards and nominations

Year Awards Category Work Outcome
2021 Manhattan Film Festival Best Horror Feature Destination Marfa Won
2007 Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Ugly Betty Nominated
2018 Manhattan Film Festival Best Comedic Drama Feature Avalanche Won
2016 Philadelphia Independent Film Festival Best Actor Once We Were Slaves Nominated
2015 Berlin International Film Festival Teddy Ballot Volkswagen Audience Award Eisenstein in Guanajuato Nominated
2014 San Diego Film Festival Best Narrative Feature (shared with Rudolf Buitendach) Where The Road Runs Out Won
2015 The Short Film Awards SOFIE Award Best Actor in a Short Film Once We Were Slaves Won
2015 American Movie Award Best Actor Once We Were Slaves Won
2015 Bare Bones International Film Festival Best Actor in a Short Film Once We Were Slaves Nominated

Selected filmography

Project Role Year Notes
Captain Fall The Butterfly Thug 2023 Netflix
FBI Fabian Shabani 2023 CBS
Nefarious Detective Russo 2023 Theatrical Release
Mobking Big Bill 2023 Theatrical Release
Angry Neighbors Damenial Krento 2022 Lionsgate
What Remains Scott 2022 STARZ, Gravitas Ventures
Find Her Feliz Leonard 2022 Streaming
Pursuit Of Freedom Bedros 2022 Theatrical, PureFlix
Blackwood Henri 2022 Theatrical, SABAN
Brut Force Cuco 2022 Streaming, XYZ
Pups Alone Lenny 2021 Theatrical, Saban, Paramount
Under the Stadium Lights Producer 2021 Theatrical, Saban, Paramount
Destination Marfa Vincent, The Hitchhiker 2021 Released on DVD, Amazon, and Vudu
The Penitent Thief Tiran 2020 Amazon, On Demand
The Chosen Moses 2020 PeacockTV
Infidel Pierre Barthes 2020 Cloudburst, Universal
Bernie the Dolphin Brock Winters 2019 Lionsgate
I Am That Man Detective Olsen 2019 On Demand
The Message (Camp Arrowhead) Gerald Walker 2019 On Demand
Rapid Eye Movement Steve Larabee 2019 Theatrical
Running for Grace Mayor 2018 Blue Fox, Netflix
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 Ajax 2018 Video Game
No Postage Necessary Agent Ames 2018
Arrested Development "Gator" 2018 Episode
Death House Dr. Roos 2018
The Haves and the Have Nots Dino Malone 2018 Episode
The Cleaning Lady Michael 2018
Odious Eddie 2017
Blood in the Water Marius Roos 2017
Army Dog Sheriff Bill 2017
Uncharted: The Lost Legacy Shoreline Mercenary 2017 Video Game
Windsor Pierre Gandy 2017
Pronoia Jeff 2017[32] short
Cassidy Way Truck Driver 2016
Apartment 407 Alfonso 2016
Media Howard Boston 2016 Television Movie
Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare Shoreline Mercenary 2016 Video Game
Uncharted 4: A Thief's End Villain Sniper 2016 Video Game
American Genius David Sarnoff 2015
Togetherness Yanni 2015 Episode
Eisenstein in Guanajuato Hunter S. Kimbrough 2015
The Making of the Mob: New York Joe Masseria 2015 2 episodes
Once We Were Slaves Demas 2014
Pacific Standard Time Marius Roos 2014
Person of Interest Aris Zappo 2014 1 Episode
Jimmy Mr. Laney 2013
Selling Isobel Alfonso 2013
The Secret Village Joe 2013
Awakened Benny 2013
Where the Road Runs Out Martin 2012
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Future Soldier Nigerian Mercenary / Additional Voices 2012 Video Game
Breakout Kings Malko 2012 1 Episode: "Double Down"
Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception Indian Ocean Pirates / Various Characters 2011 Video Game
A Million Colours Major Shawn Dixon 2011
Undercovers Hollis Kruger 2010 1 Episode: "Instructions"
Mass Effect 2 Eclipse Security Guard 2010 Video Game
Stolen Memory DLC
Army of Two: The 40th Day Russian Elite / Russian Grunt / SA Guard / SA Elite / SA Grunt 2010 Video Game
A Million Colours Major Shawn Dixon 2010 Worldwide Release
The Suite Life on Deck Stefan 2010 1 episode: "Breakup in Paris"
What If... Joel 2010 Worldwide Release
Finding Hope Now Ruben 2010
Red Alert 3: Uprising Sergei 2009 Video Game
Without a Trace Dimitri Melvychenko 2009 1 Episode: "Heartbeats"
My Own Worst Enemy: Conspiracy Theory Oliver Chelovich / John Bentley 2008 2 Episodes
Corrado Antonio 2008 Worldwide Release
Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 Sergei 2008 Video Game
Starship Troopers 3: Marauder "Bull" Brittles 2008 Video
NCIS Danny Coyle 2007 1 Episode: "Requiem"
Ugly Betty Steve 2007 Recurring
8 Episodes
My Super Ex Girlfriend Leo 2006 Worldwide Release
Law & Order: Criminal Intent Phil Bartoli 2005 1 Episode: "Unchained"
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Milan Zergin 2005 1 Episode: "Night"
All My Children Guard Berger 2003 7 Episodes
Midnight Club II Primo 2003 Video Game
A Beautiful Mind Lab Technician 2001 Worldwide Release
Astoria Nick 2000 US & Greece Theatrical
The Sopranos Gaetano Giarizzio 2000 1 Episode: "Full Leather Jacket"
Guiding Light Mr Black 2000 2 Episodes
Pulp Comics: The Jim Breuer Show Dan Schaffner 1998 1 Episode
Close Up Frankie 1996
Late Night with Conan O'Brien Antonio 1995–1996 2 Episodes

References

  1. "Actor Producer Stelio Savante Boosts a Deeply Challenged Tide of South African Actors to Hollywood - Expat Achievements - Inspirations - SABLE Accelerator Network".
  2. "Stelio Savante on making it in Hollywood and the SA circle in LA that helps 'mekaar'". 13 March 2023.
  3. "10 Things You Don't Know About Stelio Savante". 20 August 2018.
  4. "Stelio Savante on making it in Hollywood and the SA circle in LA that helps 'mekaar'". 13 March 2023.
  5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 25 October 2021. Retrieved 25 October 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. "SAG Nominee Stelio Savante Signs with Eris Talent Agency".
  7. "American Movie Award winner SAG nominee Stelio Savante".
  8. "Stelio Savante". IMDb.
  9. @StelioSavante (6 July 2021). "@Wikipedia U & your website are A joke. My descent is Greek, Italian, Ashkenazi, British, & Anatolian. How dare U pu…" (Tweet) via Twitter.
  10. "Savante Stelio's himself for big break . . .(Entertainment)". Daily News. Durban. 8 April 2010. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 20 July 2014.  via HighBeam Research (subscription required)
  11. "SA-born actor Savante having a smashing time in Tinseltown". The Star. Gauteng. 21 February 2012. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 20 July 2014.  via HighBeam Research (subscription required)
  12. Molosankwe, Botho (21 February 2012). "Actor courts a career on big screen". Independent Online. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  13. Ottermann, Birgit (17 July 2007). "Ugly Betty with a Stelio twist". News24. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  14. "The 13th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards". SAGAwards.org. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  15. Gary, Collinson (29 May 2015). "FLICKERING MYTH INTERVIEW: Interview: Stelio Savante talks about The Making of the Mob and American Genius". . Retrieved 20 June 2015. {{cite web}}: External link in |work= (help)
  16. "SPL!NG Movie Review: A Million Colours". 2oceansvibe.com. 8 August 2012. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  17. "Hey You Guys Movie Review: A Million Colours Review". heyyouguys.com. 4 June 2014. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  18. "True Colours Movie Review: A Million Colours Review". bizommunity.com. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  19. "Capetonian Actor Headlines History-Making African Film". sapeople.com. 5 June 2013. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  20. "Equatorial Guinea-Set 'Where The Road Runs Out' Dominates San Diego Film Festival Awards". Indiewire.com. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  21. "The HeyUGuys Interview: Stelio Savante on Peter Greenaway's Eisenstein, and his career". HeyUGuys.com. 28 March 2014. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  22. "Blockchain Media Biz". Variety. 21 March 2018.
  23. Gans, Andrew (8 September 2011). "Benefit Reading of 110 Stories, With Billy Crudup, Samuel L. Jackson, Kathleen Turner, Presented Sept. 8–9". Playbill. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  24. Gans, Andrew (8 September 2011). "Benefit Reading of 110 Stories, With Billy Crudup, Samuel L. Jackson, Kathleen Turner, Presented Sept. 8–9". Playbill. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  25. Fleming, Mike (22 July 2011). "Stars Turn Out For 9/11 Reading". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  26. "110 Stories' Steven Bauer, Stelio Savante, Diane Venora, Rudolf Buitendach, Sarah Tuft Reflect on September 11". Playbill. 11 September 2013. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  27. "110 Stories Commemorates the 10th Anniversary of 9/11". Yahoo! Shine. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  28. "110 Stories' Steven Bauer, Stelio Savante, Diane Venora, Rudolf Buitendach, Sarah Tuft Reflect on September 11". Playbill. 11 September 2013. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  29. "Photos: Robert Forster, Mira Sorvino and More Take Part in River Street's 110 STORIES Commemoration".
  30. "SA actor signs with Hollywood manager". iafrica.com. 14 June 2014. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  31. "An Interview with Stelio Savante". GlutenFreeAmerica. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  32. "Pronoia". IMDb.
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