Ian Paola was born on September 4th, 1978, in the vibrant city of New York. As the son of musicians, he grew up surrounded by the sounds and rhythms of various genres, which had a profound influence on his young mind. He dreamed of one day making a name for himself in the entertainment industry, just like his parents before him.
With a strong desire to follow in their footsteps, Ian became enamored with the early hip-hop scene and began breakdancing at the tender age of five. As he grew older, he started writing and performing his own rap songs by the time he was 11, and by 15, he was spinning tracks as a DJ for parties in his neighborhood. Throughout his teenage years, Ian continued to hone his skills, producing, writing, recording, and mixing songs for local talent.
However, Ian's passion for music was not the only thing that drove him. He had always had a desire to act, but his busy schedule with music production left him little time to pursue this dream. That was until he stumbled upon an online ad for background work on a major Hollywood film, which needed a quick-paying weekend gig to make ends meet.
After spending countless hours on set, Ian realized that his true calling was in front of the camera, not in the background. He made the bold decision to leave music production behind and focus on his acting career. With the guidance of some of the best coaches in New York City, Ian began training to perfect his craft.
In less than two years, Ian has appeared in over 30 projects, including films, television shows, new media, and stage plays. He has taken on a wide range of roles, from a heroin junkie to a transvestite, New York Police officer, and gangster. His recent credits include recurring roles as Yadriel on Netflix's "Orange Is The New Black", Rey Armas on ABC's "Conviction", and Uriel in Starz's "Power".
