Victor Rasuk
Encyclopedia
Victor Rasuk is an American
actor
.
Rasuk was born in Harlem, New York to Dominican
parents. He has one brother, Silvestre
, with whom he starred in Raising Victor Vargas
.
Rasuk attended performing arts school as a teenager, and began acting at 14. He garnered his first movie role at 16 in Five Feet High and Rising. The film—less than 30 minutes long—was a hit at the Independent Spirit Film Festival. Two years later, the same director, Peter Sollett, suggested expanding the short film into a feature-length movie: Raising Victor Vargas
, which went on to win Rasuk an Independent Spirit Award
nomination for his work. In his next film, Rock Steady, Rasuk played a character named Roc. Two years later, he took a leading role in Haven
with Orlando Bloom
.
In 2005, Lords of Dogtown
was released, with Victor playing Tony Alva
, one of the leading roles. The part included surfing
and performing skateboarding
tricks. Although the more complicated maneuvers were performed by stunt men (including the scenes of surfing at Pacific Ocean Park
pier and skating in empty swimming pools), Rasuk is a method actor
and worked on remaining in character both on and off screen. Believing he had mastered skating a huge ramp in only his second week of training, Rasuk fractured one of his orbital bones
. Rasuk says the accident likely earned him more respect from serious skaters within the cast and crew.
Victor can now be seen on the HBO television series How To Make It In America
(2010), co-starring alongside Bryan Greenberg
and rapper Kid Cudi
. Marjorie Ballentine is his acting coach.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
.
Rasuk was born in Harlem, New York to Dominican
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
parents. He has one brother, Silvestre
Silvestre Rasuk
Silvestre Rasuk is an American actor.Rasuk was born in Harlem, New York to Dominican parents. He has one brother, Victor, with whom he co-starred in the 2002 film Raising Victor Vargas....
, with whom he starred in Raising Victor Vargas
Raising Victor Vargas
Raising Victor Vargas is a 2002 film directed by Peter Sollett, written by Sollett and Eva Vives. The film follows Victor, a Lower East Side teenager, as he deals with his eccentric family, including his strict grandmother, his bratty sister, and a younger brother who completely idolizes him...
.
Rasuk attended performing arts school as a teenager, and began acting at 14. He garnered his first movie role at 16 in Five Feet High and Rising. The film—less than 30 minutes long—was a hit at the Independent Spirit Film Festival. Two years later, the same director, Peter Sollett, suggested expanding the short film into a feature-length movie: Raising Victor Vargas
Raising Victor Vargas
Raising Victor Vargas is a 2002 film directed by Peter Sollett, written by Sollett and Eva Vives. The film follows Victor, a Lower East Side teenager, as he deals with his eccentric family, including his strict grandmother, his bratty sister, and a younger brother who completely idolizes him...
, which went on to win Rasuk an Independent Spirit Award
Independent Spirit Awards
The Independent Spirit Awards , founded in 1984, are awards dedicated to independent filmmakers. Winners were typically presented with acrylic glass pyramids containing suspended shoestrings representing the paltry budgets of independent films. In 1986, the event was renamed the Independent Spirit...
nomination for his work. In his next film, Rock Steady, Rasuk played a character named Roc. Two years later, he took a leading role in Haven
Haven (film)
Haven is a 2004 feature film set in the Cayman Islands, a British offshore financial centre. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2004. It is written and directed by native Caymanian Frank E...
with Orlando Bloom
Orlando Bloom
Orlando Jonathan Blanchard Bloom is an English actor. He had his break-through roles in 2001 as the elf-prince Legolas in The Lord of the Rings and starring in 2003 as blacksmith Will Turner in the Pirates of the Caribbean film series, and subsequently established himself as a lead in Hollywood...
.
In 2005, Lords of Dogtown
Lords of Dogtown
Lords of Dogtown is a 2005 biographical film directed by Catherine Hardwicke, written by Stacy Peralta. The film is based on the story of "The Z-Boys", an influential group of skateboarders who revolutionized the sport...
was released, with Victor playing Tony Alva
Tony Alva
Tony Alva , is one of the original Z-Boys and is considered to be one of the most influential skateboarders of all time. He was professional skateboarding's first world champion in history, a title he won in 1977.-Career:...
, one of the leading roles. The part included surfing
Surfing
Surfing' is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore...
and performing skateboarding
Skateboarding
Skateboarding is an action sport which involves riding and performing tricks using a skateboard.Skateboarding can be a recreational activity, an art form, a job, or a method of transportation. Skateboarding has been shaped and influenced by many skateboarders throughout the years. A 2002 report...
tricks. Although the more complicated maneuvers were performed by stunt men (including the scenes of surfing at Pacific Ocean Park
Pacific Ocean Park
Pacific Ocean Park was a twenty-eight acre , nautical-themed amusement park built on a pier at Pier Avenue in the Ocean Park section of Santa Monica, California, which was intended to compete with Disneyland...
pier and skating in empty swimming pools), Rasuk is a method actor
Method acting
Method acting is a phrase that loosely refers to a family of techniques used by actors to create in themselves the thoughts and emotions of their characters, so as to develop lifelike performances...
and worked on remaining in character both on and off screen. Believing he had mastered skating a huge ramp in only his second week of training, Rasuk fractured one of his orbital bones
Orbit (anatomy)
In anatomy, the orbit is the cavity or socket of the skull in which the eye and its appendages are situated. "Orbit" can refer to the bony socket, or it can also be used to imply the contents...
. Rasuk says the accident likely earned him more respect from serious skaters within the cast and crew.
Victor can now be seen on the HBO television series How To Make It In America
How to Make It in America
How to Make It in America is an American comedy-drama television series that premiered on HBO on February 14, 2010. The series follows the lives of Ben Epstein and his friend Cam Calderon as they try to succeed in New York City's fashion scene...
(2010), co-starring alongside Bryan Greenberg
Bryan Greenberg
Bryan E. Greenberg is an American actor and musician, known for his starring role as Ben Epstein in the HBO original series How to Make It in America as well as a recurring role as Jake Jagielski in the The WB TV series One Tree Hill and as Nick Garrett on the short-lived ABC drama October Road...
and rapper Kid Cudi
Kid Cudi
Scott Ramon Seguro Mescudi , better known by his stage name Kid Cudi , sometimes stylized KiD CuDi, is an American rapper, singer and actor. He first gained major attention after the release of his debut mixtape A Kid Named Cudi. In 2009, his single "Day 'n' Nite" reached the top five of the...
. Marjorie Ballentine is his acting coach.
Filmography
- Flawless (1999): Kid from the Neighborhood (uncredited)
- Five Feet High and Rising (2000): Victor
- The Soft Parade (short, 2001) Shakespeare NYU
- Raising Victor VargasRaising Victor VargasRaising Victor Vargas is a 2002 film directed by Peter Sollett, written by Sollett and Eva Vives. The film follows Victor, a Lower East Side teenager, as he deals with his eccentric family, including his strict grandmother, his bratty sister, and a younger brother who completely idolizes him...
aka Long Way Home (2002): Victor Vargas - Rock Steady (2002): Roc
- UndefeatedUndefeatedUndefeated is a 2003 HBO television movie starring John Leguizamo.-Storyline:This film follows a boxer who climbs the ranks as a featherweight fighter who has never lost a match. The story starts in Queens, New York with Leguizamo training and then fighting in a Golden Gloves boxing match...
(2003): Street Kid - HavenHaven (film)Haven is a 2004 feature film set in the Cayman Islands, a British offshore financial centre. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2004. It is written and directed by native Caymanian Frank E...
(2004): Fritz - Lords of DogtownLords of DogtownLords of Dogtown is a 2005 biographical film directed by Catherine Hardwicke, written by Stacy Peralta. The film is based on the story of "The Z-Boys", an influential group of skateboarders who revolutionized the sport...
(2005): Tony Alva - I'm Reed FishI'm Reed FishI'm Reed Fish is an American film, based on a story by Reed Fish, and released theatrically on June 1, 2007. The film was directed by Zackary Adler and stars Alexis Bledel, Jay Baruchel, and Schuyler Fisk. Jay Baruchel won the Best Actor award at the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in 2007 for his role...
(2006): Frank Cortez - BonnevilleBonneville (film)Bonneville is a 2006 American dramedy film directed by Christopher N. Rowley. The screenplay by Daniel D. Davis is based on a story by Davis and Rowley.-Plot:...
(2006): Bo Douglas - Emil (2006)
- Spinning Into ButterSpinning Into Butter (film)Spinning Into Butter is a 2007 drama film, written by Rebecca Gilman and loosely based on her play of the same title. It was directed by first-time director Mark Brokaw and produced by Sarah Jessica Parker, who also stars in the film. Spinning Into Butter premiered at the Cannes Film Market on...
(2007): Patrick Chibas - Adrift in ManhattanAdrift in ManhattanAdrift in Manhattan is a 2007 film directed by Alfredo De Villa and written by Nat Moss. The film features an ensemble cast, including Heather Graham, Victor Rasuk, Dominic Chianese, Elizabeth Peña, and William Baldwin....
(2007): Simon Colon - Feel the NoiseFeel the NoiseFeel the Noise is a drama film written by Albert Leon, directed by Alejandro Chomski and produced by Jennifer Lopez. It was released on October 5, 2007 and stars Omarion, Giancarlo Esposito, Victor Rasuk and James McCaffrey.-Plot:...
(2007): Javi - Stop-LossStop-Loss (film)Stop-Loss is a 2008 American drama film directed by Kimberly Peirce and starring Ryan Phillippe, Channing Tatum, Abbie Cornish and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. It was distributed by Paramount Pictures and produced by MTV Films.-Plot:...
(2008): Pvt. Rico Rodriguez - CheChe (film)Che is a two-part 2008 biopic about Ernesto 'Che' Guevara directed by Steven Soderbergh and starring Benicio del Toro. Rather than follow a standard chronological order, the films offer an oblique series of interspersed moments along the overall timeline...
(2008): Rogelio Acevedo - ERER (TV series)ER is an American medical drama television series created by novelist Michael Crichton that aired on NBC from September 19, 1994 to April 2, 2009. It was produced by Constant c Productions and Amblin Entertainment, in association with Warner Bros. Television...
(TV series) (2008–2009): Dr. Ryan Sanchez - Life Is Hot in CracktownLife Is Hot in CracktownLife Is Hot in Cracktown is a 2009 crime drama film based on Buddy Giovinazzo's eponymous 1993 collection of short stories. Giovinazzo directed and wrote the film.-Plot:...
(2009): Manny - The War BoysThe War BoysThe War Boys is a 2009 American independent drama film directed by Ronald Daniels. Its screenplay was written by Naomi Wallace and Bruce McLeod, based on the play of the same name by Naomi Wallace....
(2009): Greg - ApplesApples (film)Apples is an upcoming 2012 British teen drama film directed by Robin Shepperd based on the 2007 novel of the same name by Richard Milward.-Plot:...
(2010): Valet - How to Make It in AmericaHow to Make It in AmericaHow to Make It in America is an American comedy-drama television series that premiered on HBO on February 14, 2010. The series follows the lives of Ben Epstein and his friend Cam Calderon as they try to succeed in New York City's fashion scene...
(TV series) (2010–present): Cameron 'Cam' Calderon - Celestina (2011): Nelson
- Keep Coming Back (2011): Bobby