Dorian Missick
Encyclopedia
Dorian Missick is an American actor, best known for his roles as Damian in Six Degrees
and Victor Vance in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
. Missick was born in East Orange, NJ, but grew up mainly in Plainfield, NJ, and Decatur, Georgia
. His film Premium
and his parts in movies such as The Manchurian Candidate
and Lucky Number Slevin
have won him critical acclaim and various other accolades.
Missick, who stands at 6'2 (?), had always been athletic—especially throughout his teenage years. He often took part in competitive sports such as soccer, baseball, basketball, swimming, and diving. Sports were his primary focus; acting was a hobby.
, playing a young fisherman. Although he continued to audition, he was not sure whether he should take it seriously.
In the summer of 1996, Missick joined the Jazz Actors, a theater company in Harlem, where he studied under Ernie McClintock. McClintock’s distinctive style, strongly influenced by jazz music, strongly influenced Missick's style in turn. After the company dispersed, Missick joined NITE Star, an educational company whose primary focus was to educate young teens on AIDS
awareness and building an understanding towards alternative lifestyles. During his time with NITE Star, Missick met American actress Kerry Washington
(who was also involved with the company) and gained a steady income from commercials, averaging around seven nationals a year.
In 2002, Missick made his professional acting debut in Two Weeks Notice
, playing Tony, Hugh Grant
's right hand man/limo driver. His exposure from that role led to parts in TV shows including NYPD Blue
, Law & Order
, Now and Again
, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, as well as small roles in movies such as Undermind
, 50 Ways to Leave a Lover, A Message from Pops, Freedomland
, and Two Guns. He auditioned for the role of Antwone Quenton 'Fish' Fisher in Atwone Fisher
; he was not cast, but his meeting with Denzel Washington
later led to a role in The Manchurian Candidate
. Soon after, Missick got a role playing Elvis in Lucky Number Slevin
, and soon afterward landed his first leading role in Premium
alongside Zoe Saldana
.
Six Degrees
Six Degrees is an American dramatic television series about six residents of New York City and their respective relationships and connections with one another, based on the idea of six degrees of separation....
and Victor Vance in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories is a 2006 sandbox-style action video game developed by Rockstar Leeds in association with Rockstar North. It was published by Rockstar Games for the PlayStation Portable in late 2006 and later for the PlayStation 2 in March 2007. The game is the eighth...
. Missick was born in East Orange, NJ, but grew up mainly in Plainfield, NJ, and Decatur, Georgia
Decatur, Georgia
Decatur is a city in, and county seat of, DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. With a population of 19,335 in the 2010 census, the city is sometimes assumed to be larger since multiple zip codes in unincorporated DeKalb County bear the Decatur name...
. His film Premium
Premium (film)
Premium is a 2006 romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by Pete Chatmon.-Cast:* Dorian Missick as Cool* Zoe Saldana as Charli* Hill Harper as Ed* Eva Pigford as Farrah* Tonya Pinkins as Marva* Sean Nelson as Austin Price...
and his parts in movies such as The Manchurian Candidate
The Manchurian Candidate (2004 film)
The Manchurian Candidate is a 2004 American thriller film based on the 1959 novel of the same name by Richard Condon, and a reimagining of the previous 1962 film....
and Lucky Number Slevin
Lucky Number Slevin
Lucky Number Slevin, renamed for the German/USA DVDs as Lucky # Slevin , is a 2006 crime thriller film written by Jason Smilovic, directed by Paul McGuigan and starring Josh Hartnett, Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, Ben Kingsley, Stanley Tucci, and Lucy Liu...
have won him critical acclaim and various other accolades.
Early life
From a very early age, Missick had a passion for entertaining; he would often gain appraisal from his family members due to his ability to make them laugh. His passion for entertaining came from his parents, with whom he would attend plays and watch movies. Missick grew up an only child (his mother later adopted two baby twin girls, and acquired a 3rd child through her current husband).Missick, who stands at 6'2 (?), had always been athletic—especially throughout his teenage years. He often took part in competitive sports such as soccer, baseball, basketball, swimming, and diving. Sports were his primary focus; acting was a hobby.
Acting career
During his first acting class, casting agents were on the hunt to find young talent to take part in a Coca Cola commercial, and they decided that Missick was right for the part. At first, he saw acting as being effortless, but he was not booked again for the next year. He was eventually cast in a small role on In the Heat of the NightIn the Heat of the Night (TV series)
In the Heat of the Night is a television series based on the motion picture and novel of the same name. It was broadcast on NBC from 1988 until 1992, and then on CBS until 1995...
, playing a young fisherman. Although he continued to audition, he was not sure whether he should take it seriously.
In the summer of 1996, Missick joined the Jazz Actors, a theater company in Harlem, where he studied under Ernie McClintock. McClintock’s distinctive style, strongly influenced by jazz music, strongly influenced Missick's style in turn. After the company dispersed, Missick joined NITE Star, an educational company whose primary focus was to educate young teens on AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
awareness and building an understanding towards alternative lifestyles. During his time with NITE Star, Missick met American actress Kerry Washington
Kerry Washington
Kerry Washington is an American actress. She is known for her roles as Ray Charles's wife, Della Bea Robinson, in the film Ray , as Idi Amin's wife Kay in The Last King of Scotland, and as Alicia Masters, love interest of Ben Grimm, The Thing, in the live-action Fantastic Four films of 2005 and 2007...
(who was also involved with the company) and gained a steady income from commercials, averaging around seven nationals a year.
In 2002, Missick made his professional acting debut in Two Weeks Notice
Two Weeks Notice
Two Weeks Notice is a 2002 romantic comedy film starring Hugh Grant and Sandra Bullock from Warner Bros. Pictures. The film was written and directed by Marc Lawrence. Upon release, the film received a successful box office run both in the United States and globally.-Plot:Lucy Kelson is a...
, playing Tony, Hugh Grant
Hugh Grant
Hugh John Mungo Grant is an English actor and film producer. He has received a Golden Globe Award, a BAFTA, and an Honorary César. His films have earned more than $2.4 billion from 25 theatrical releases worldwide. Grant achieved international stardom after appearing in Richard Curtis's...
's right hand man/limo driver. His exposure from that role led to parts in TV shows including NYPD Blue
NYPD Blue
NYPD Blue is an American television police drama set in New York City, exploring the internal and external struggles of the fictional 15th precinct of Manhattan...
, Law & Order
Law & Order
Law & Order is an American police procedural and legal drama television series, created by Dick Wolf and part of the Law & Order franchise. It aired on NBC, and in syndication on various cable networks. Law & Order premiered on September 13, 1990, and completed its 20th and final season on May 24,...
, Now and Again
Now and Again
Now and Again is an American television series that aired in the US from September 24, 1999 until May 5, 2000 on CBS. The story revolves around the United States government engineering the perfect human body for use in espionage, but not being able to yet perfect the brain...
, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, as well as small roles in movies such as Undermind
Undermind (film)
Undermind is a 2003 psychological thriller written and directed by Nevil Dwek.- Plot :Derrick, a corporate lawyer with a large trust fund, and Zane, a criminal, live in opposite social spheres. Although they never meet, their lives are more connected than either one of them could ever imagine....
, 50 Ways to Leave a Lover, A Message from Pops, Freedomland
Freedomland (film)
Freedomland is a 2006 American crime drama-mystery film starring Samuel L. Jackson and Julianne Moore. Richard Price adapted his own novel, which touches on themes of covert racism. Joe Roth directed the film.-Plot:...
, and Two Guns. He auditioned for the role of Antwone Quenton 'Fish' Fisher in Atwone Fisher
Antwone Fisher (film)
Antwone Fisher is a 2002 American drama film directed by Denzel Washington, marking his directorial debut. He also stars in the film as the psychiatrist Jerome Davenport, alongside Hollywood newcomer Derek Luke, who plays the title role , and ex-model Joy Bryant, as Fisher's girlfriend.The film is...
; he was not cast, but his meeting with Denzel Washington
Denzel Washington
Denzel Hayes Washington Jr. is an American actor, screenwriter, director, and film producer. He first rose to prominence when he joined the cast of the medical drama, St. Elsewhere, playing Dr...
later led to a role in The Manchurian Candidate
The Manchurian Candidate (2004 film)
The Manchurian Candidate is a 2004 American thriller film based on the 1959 novel of the same name by Richard Condon, and a reimagining of the previous 1962 film....
. Soon after, Missick got a role playing Elvis in Lucky Number Slevin
Lucky Number Slevin
Lucky Number Slevin, renamed for the German/USA DVDs as Lucky # Slevin , is a 2006 crime thriller film written by Jason Smilovic, directed by Paul McGuigan and starring Josh Hartnett, Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, Ben Kingsley, Stanley Tucci, and Lucy Liu...
, and soon afterward landed his first leading role in Premium
Premium (film)
Premium is a 2006 romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by Pete Chatmon.-Cast:* Dorian Missick as Cool* Zoe Saldana as Charli* Hill Harper as Ed* Eva Pigford as Farrah* Tonya Pinkins as Marva* Sean Nelson as Austin Price...
alongside Zoe Saldana
Zoe Saldana
Zoe Saldana , sometimes stylized Zoë Saldaña, is an American actress. She had her breakthrough role in the 2000 film Center Stage and later gained prominence for her roles as Anamaria in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl and Uhura in the 2009 film Star Trek, and a starring role...
.