Robbie DeRaffele's biography is a testament to his unwavering dedication to his passions, resilience in the face of adversity, and unrelenting pursuit of his dreams.
Born on April 5th, 1987, in Ridgewood, New Jersey, Robbie's early life was marked by a strong athletic background, with a focus on basketball. He spent years honing his skills, eventually playing professionally, but ultimately realized that the game was not a viable long-term career option.
At twenty-three years old, Robbie's life took a dramatic turn when his cousin, a football player at Pace University, tragically passed away in a car accident. This devastating loss served as a wake-up call, forcing Robbie to re-evaluate his priorities and recognize the value of life.
He decided to take a leap of faith, training for football with no prior experience. To his surprise, he discovered a natural talent for the sport and was eventually offered a tryout with the Las Vegas Locos. Despite his efforts, he came up short in his pursuit of a professional athletic career.
Undeterred, Robbie continued to explore his passions, eventually becoming a volunteer firefighter and later pursuing a career in firefighting. However, he eventually lost interest in this path as well, realizing he was not physically fit enough for the demands of the job.
In April 2014, Robbie made what would be his most significant decision yet - he donned a red cape and a curl, becoming a beloved character in Times Square, NYC. This newfound sense of purpose and joy in making people happy ultimately led to a chance encounter with an actor from "Law and Order," who encouraged him to pursue a career in acting.
Robbie hung up his cape and began working as an event model and themed character, eventually signing with multiple talent agencies in NYC. His big break came in 2016, when he landed a featured role as a basketball player in the CBS series "Bull."
This marked the beginning of a successful acting career, with roles in "A Crime To Remember" Season 4 on I.D. Discovery and a feature film as an "Alien Being" in the upcoming film "By Dawn," set for release in 2017.
Throughout his journey, Robbie has grown as a person, acknowledging the importance of widening his horizons and pursuing his passions with unwavering dedication. His story serves as a powerful reminder that it's never too late to make a change and that sometimes, it takes a leap of faith to discover one's true calling.
