Biography for
Delroy Lindo More at IMDb Pro »

Date of Birth

Height

Mini Biography

On stage and on the big screen, Delroy Lindo projects a powerful presence that is almost impossible to ignore. Though it was not his first film role, his portrayal of manic-depressive numbers boss West Indian Archie in Spike Lee's Malcolm X (1992) is what first attracted attention to Lindo's considerable talents. Since then his star has slowly been on the rise.

The son of Jamaican parents, Lindo was born and raised in Lewisham, England until his teens when he and his mother moved to Toronto, Canada. A little later, they moved to the U.S. where Lindo would graduate from the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco. After graduation, Lindo landed his first film role, that of an Army sergeant in More American Graffiti (1979). He did not appear in another film for ten years. In the meantime, Lindo worked on stage and in 1982, debuted on Broadway in "Master Harold and the Boys" directed by the play's author Athol Fugard. In 1988, Lindo earned a Tony nomination for his portrayal of Harald Loomis in Joe Turner's Come and Gone.

Though he was obviously a talented actor with a bright future, Lindo's career stalled. Wanting someone more aggressive and appreciative of his talents, Lindo changed agents (he'd had the same one through most of his early career). It was a smart move, but it was director Spike Lee who provided the boost Lindo's career needed. The director was impressed enough with Lindo to cast him as patriarch Woody Carmichael in Lee's semi-autobiographical comedy Crooklyn (1994).

For Lindo, 1996 was a big year. He landed major supporting roles in six features including a heavy in Barry Sonnenfeld's Get Shorty (1995), another villainous supporting role in Lee's Clockers (1995), and still another bad guy in Feeling Minnesota (1996). Lest one believe that Lindo is typecast into forever playing drug lords and gangsters, that year he also played baseball player 'Leroy "Satchel' Paige' in the upbeat Soul of the Game (1996) (TV) (a.k.a. Baseball in Black and White), winning himself a NAACP Image Award nomination in the process. Lindo won the prestigious award for his work in Malcolm X. Since then, the versatile Lindo has shown himself equally adept at playing characters on both sides of the law. In 1997, he essayed an angel opposite Holly Hunter in Danny Boyle's offbeat romantic fantasy A Life Less Ordinary (1997).

Spouse

Trivia

Has one son, Damiri

Is a fan of the London-based football team, Arsenal.

Was nominated for Broadway's 1988 Tony Award as Best Actor (Featured Role - Play) for August Wilson's "Joe Turner's Come and Gone."

Still considers himself British, despite having lived in America since his late teens.

Before being able to fully support himself as an actor he worked a variety of jobs ranging from busing tables, driving cabs and selling pesticides over the phone.

Lives in San Francisco.

The son of Jamaican parents (his mother was a nurse; his father held various jobs), Lindo was inspired to act after seeing the production of The Taming of The Shrew on PBS television.

Took an eight day tour of South Africa with Danny Glover, Alfre Woodard, Angela Bassett and Alexandra Paul to urge Blacks there to participate in that country's first fully democratic national election in 1994.

Went to stunt-driving school to prepare for his role in Gone in 60 Seconds.

Has played 2 characters named Isaac. Isaac Stubbs in "Beauty and the Beast" (1987) and most noticeably, Isaak O'Day in Romeo Must Die (2000).

Personal Quotes

"I'm very proud of my roles. I enjoy the ability to touch millions of people and, in some way, connect with them in ways that I cannot connect with them in my normal, everyday life." - On his films.

(On Gone in 60 Seconds) Filming 20 minutes of a car chase took two months of work. And I did a lot of it myself because I went to stunt-driving school. It was great. They were teaching me how to do wheelies, 360s and 180s.

Where Are They Now

(September 2004) Rehearsing for his role in African-American playwright's August Wilson's new play, Gem of the Ocean set to open at Huntington College in Boston.

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