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Stelio Savante

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Stelio Savante
Born
Cape Town, South Africa
Occupations
  • Actor
  • producer
Years active1996–present
Known forWhat Remains
The Chosen
Infidel
Running for Grace
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4
Colors of Heaven
Ugly Betty
My Super Ex-Girlfriend

Stelio Savante is a South African actor [1][2] [3] that has appeared in 140 films, TV series and video games in the last three decades. [4] [5] He is known for his roles as a South African/Israeli journalist and undercover Mossad agent opposite Jim Caviezel and Claudia Karvan in the political thriller Infidel, a Portuguese mayor opposite Matt Dillon in the Hawaiian drama Running for Grace, a small town deputy directly opposite Anne Heche, in her final film performance in the noir What Remains, and a rogue policeman in the South African epic drama Colors of Heaven.[6] In 2007 he became the first male South African-born Screen Actors Guild award nominee (Best Ensemble in a Comedy) for his recurring role on Ugly Betty[1] followed by roles in the studio films My Super Ex-Girlfriend and Starship Troopers 3: Marauder. He is also known for the roles of Moses in the biblical series The Chosen, and the voice of Ajax in the popular video games Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 and Call of Duty: Mobile.

Early life

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A Capetonian of Greek, Italian, British, Ashkenazi, and Anatolian descent,[7][8][9] his grandfather was a racing driver who placed and won medals at the 1955 Monte Carlo Rally.[1] Fluent in Afrikaans and Greek, he graduated from Camps Bay High School, immigrated from South Africa to the United States when he was offered an international tennis scholarship by the University of West Alabama. [10] [11]

Career

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Following two decades of Lort contract theater in New York, his prime-time debut came in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as a Bosnian–Muslim fundamentalist. Directed by Academy Award winner Juan Jose Campanella and also starring Bradley Cooper, the episode was nominated for an Emmy.[12] Recurred as Steve on Ugly Betty, produced by Salma Hayek.[13] He became the first male South African to receive a Screen Actor's Guild nomination along with the lead ensemble cast in 2007.[14] Also a recurred in My Own Worst Enemy, with further guest star lead roles in J. J. Abrams' Undercovers opposite Gugu Mbatha-Raw, The Suite Life on Deck, Person of Interest opposite Jim Caviezel, Without a Trace opposite Marianne Jean-Baptiste and Ivana Milicevic, Breakout Kings opposite Jimmi Simpson, and NCIS. As well as in the HBO series Togetherness directed by Mark Duplass and Jay Duplass, in The Chosen by Dallas Jenkins and in the animated series Captain Fall.

Further television credits include FBI, Law & Order: Criminal Intent opposite Annabella Sciorra, The Sopranos, as Dan 'Schaffy' Schaffner in Jim Breuer's pilot Pulp Comics on Comedy Central and recurring as Antonio on Late Night with Conan O'Brien. He portrayed Joe Masseria in the mini-series The Making of the Mob: New York for AMC and David Sarnoff in American Genius for National Geographic.[15]

Starred directly opposite Anne Heche in What Remains directed by Nathan Scoggins, opposite Matt Dillon and Jim Caviezel in Running for Grace directed by David L. Cunningham, and opposite Michael Beach and George Blagden in the romantic comedy No Postage Necessary. He was cast opposite Jim Caviezel for the third time, also working directly opposite Claudia Karvan in Cyrus Nowrasteh's political thriller Infidel released by Cloudburst and MGM. Additional film credits include Twentieth Century Fox's My Super Ex-Girlfriend directed by Ivan Reitman, starring opposite Anna Faris, Eddie Izzard, Uma Thurman, and Rainn Wilson, and Ron Howard's Academy Award winner A Beautiful Mind opposite Russell Crowe. Ensemble leading roles in Sony Pictures Entertainment Starship Troopers 3: Marauder produced by Academy Award nominee David Lancaster, Movieguide award winner What If, and a lead role opposite Isaach De Bankole and Juliet Landau in Rudolf Buitendach's Where the Road Runs Out, the first feature filmed in Equatorial Guinea,[16] winner of the Best Narrative Feature Award at the 2014 San Diego Film Festival and the Black Reel Award for Outstanding World Cinema in 2017.[17] Also starred in Peter Greenaway's Eisenstein in Guanajuato nominated for the Golden Bear at the 2015 Berlin International Film Festival.[18], and the sex trafficking film Selling Isobel, winner Raindance Film Festival;s 'Indie Award' in 2016. He also voiced the role of Ajax in Call of Duty: Black Ops 4.

He received positive reviews for his role in the feature A Million Colours,[19][20][21] which screened at the Montreal World Film Festival, Pan African Film Festival, Atlantic Film Festival, and was also awarded two South African Film and Television Awards.

Theater credits include lead roles in the American and New York premiers of Arnie Sieren's award-winning Belgian play, My Blackie, Belgian playwright Jean-Yves Picq's The Case Of Kaspar Meyer, German playwright Roland Schimmelpfennig's Arabian Night directed by Trip Cullman, Dan Gordon's Murder in the First directed by American Theatre Wing alumni Michael Parva, and Mortal Coils directed by Actors Studio lifetime member Ed Setrakian.

Films And Plays Produced

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Savante has produced and served in a producing role on such films as No Postage Necessary, Official Selection of the Heartland Film Festival starring George Blagden and Michael Beach, making history as the first film to ever release via blockchain technology using cryptocurrency as payment,[22] and drama Selling Isobel starring opposite Lew Temple, and Alyson Stoner, winner at the 2016 Raindance film festival, released by Gravitas Ventures.

To commemorate the tenth anniversary of the September 11 attacks Stelio produced and performed 110 Stories Celebrity Benefit Performances with Katie Holmes, Samuel L. Jackson, Melissa Leo, Cynthia Nixon, and Jeremy Piven.[23] at the Skirball Center for The Performing Arts at NYU. It was directed by Gregory Mosher.[24][25] Savante describes 110 Stories as a chance to give people closure about the attacks;[18] he was in New York City at the time of the attacks, and cites that as a reason why he produces the play.[26] In 2010, he also produced and performed the Los Angeles theater debut of 110 Stories Celebrity Benefit Performances at the Geffen Playhouse,[25] with John Hawkes and Ed Asner directed by Mark Freiburger.[27] All proceeds were donated to the Red Cross Los Angeles as aid to Haiti in the aftermath of their earthquake. In 2013, he produced and performed 110 Stories at Ebony Rep in Los Angeles.[28] The proceeds were donated to Operation Gratitude. And again he produced and performed 110 Stories opposite Robert Forster and Mira Sorvino directed by his acting teacher Bill Alderson in 2016.[29] As playwright, his one-act play Venom was self-produced Off Broadway and nominated as a finalist for Samuel French's Love Creek festival.[30]

A longtime voice over artist, his Video game credits include: Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 and Call of Duty: Mobile,Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Future Soldier, Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception, Mass Effect 2, Army of Two: The 40th Day, a role in the live-action simulated video game Red Alert 3, and Midnight Club.

Personal life

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Savante was diagnosed with Celiac Disease in 2010 and has become a vocal advocate for other sufferers. He stated that the disease attacked his organs, including his liver. He was also diagnosed with Hashimoto's thyroiditis in 2013.[1] [31] Savante is a Christian. [32]

Awards and nominations

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Year Awards Category Work Outcome
2007 Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Ugly Betty Nominated
2014 San Diego Film Festival Best Narrative Feature (shared with Rudolf Buitendach) Where The Road Runs Out Won
2015 Berlin International Film Festival Teddy Ballot Volkswagen Audience Award Eisenstein in Guanajuato Nominated
The Short Film Awards SOFIE Award Best Actor in a Short Film Once We Were Slaves Won
American Movie Award Best Actor[33] Won
Bare Bones International Film Festival Best Actor in a Short Film Nominated
Attic Film Festival Best Male Performance Nominated
International Christian Film Festival Best Actor in a Short Film Nominated
2016 Philadelphia Independent Film Festival Best Actor Once We Were Slaves Nominated
2018 Manhattan Film Festival Best Comedic Drama Feature Avalanche Won
2021 Manhattan Film Festival Best Horror Feature Destination Marfa Won
2022 Political Film Society Award for Peace Best Film Pulled From Darkness Nominated
2024 Austin Film Festival Narrative Feature Award Summer Of Violence Nominated
2024 Downtown Los Angeles Film Festival Best Picture Summer Of Violence Won

Selected filmography

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Year Project Role Notes
1995–1996 Late Night with Conan O'Brien Antonio 2 Episodes
1996 Close Up Frankie
1998 Pulp Comics: The Jim Breuer Show Dan Schaffner 1 Episode
2000 Astoria Nick US & Greece Theatrical
The Sopranos Gaetano Giarizzio 1 Episode: "Full Leather Jacket"
Guiding Light Mr Black 2 Episodes
2001 A Beautiful Mind Lab Technician Worldwide Release
2003 All My Children Guard Berger 7 Episodes
Midnight Club II Primo Video Game
2005 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Phil Bartoli 1 Episode: "Unchained"
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Milan Zergin 1 Episode: "Night"
2006 My Super Ex Girlfriend Leo Worldwide Release
2007 NCIS Danny Coyle 1 Episode: "Requiem"
Ugly Betty Steve Recurring
8 Episodes
2008 My Own Worst Enemy: Conspiracy Theory Oliver Chelovich / John Bentley 2 Episodes
Corrado Antonio Worldwide Release
Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 Sergei Video Game
Starship Troopers 3: Marauder "Bull" Brittles Video
2009 Red Alert 3: Uprising Sergei Video Game
Without a Trace Dimitri Melvychenko 1 Episode: "Heartbeats"
2010 Undercovers Hollis Kruger 1 Episode: "Instructions"
Mass Effect 2 Eclipse Security Guard Video Game
Stolen Memory DLC
Army of Two: The 40th Day Russian Elite / Russian Grunt / SA Guard / SA Elite / SA Grunt Video Game
A Million Colours Major Shawn Dixon Worldwide Release
The Suite Life on Deck Stefan 1 episode: "Breakup in Paris"
What If... Joel Worldwide Release
Finding Hope Now Ruben
2011 Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception Indian Ocean Pirates / Various Characters Video Game
A Million Colours Major Shawn Dixon
2012 Where the Road Runs Out Martin
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Future Soldier Nigerian Mercenary / Additional Voices Video Game
Breakout Kings Malko 1 Episode: "Double Down"
2013 Jimmy Mr. Laney
Selling Isobel Alfonso
The Secret Village Joe
Awakened Benny
2014 Once We Were Slaves Demas
Pacific Standard Time Marius Roos
Person of Interest Aris Zappo 1 Episode
2015 American Genius David Sarnoff
Togetherness Yanni Episode
Eisenstein in Guanajuato Hunter S. Kimbrough
The Making of the Mob: New York Joe Masseria 2 episodes
2016 Cassidy Way Truck Driver
Apartment 407 Alfonso
Media Howard Boston Television Movie
Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare Shoreline Mercenary Video Game
Uncharted 4: A Thief's End Villain Sniper Video Game
2017 Odious Eddie
Blood in the Water Marius Roos
Army Dog Sheriff Bill
Uncharted: The Lost Legacy Shoreline Mercenary Video Game
Windsor Pierre Gandy
Pronoia Jeff short[34]
2018 Running for Grace Mayor Blue Fox, Netflix
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 Ajax Video Game
No Postage Necessary Agent Ames
Arrested Development "Gator" Episode
Death House Dr. Roos
The Haves and the Have Nots Dino Malone Episode
The Cleaning Lady Michael
2019 Bernie the Dolphin Brock Winters Lionsgate
I Am That Man Detective Olsen On Demand
The Message (Camp Arrowhead) Gerald Walker On Demand
Rapid Eye Movement Steve Larabee Theatrical
2020 The Penitent Thief Tiran Amazon, On Demand; also producer
The Chosen Moses PeacockTV
Infidel Pierre Barthes Cloudburst, Universal
2021 Pups Alone Lenny Theatrical, Saban, Paramount
Under the Stadium Lights Producer Theatrical, Saban, Paramount
Destination Marfa Vincent, The Hitchhiker Released on DVD, Amazon, and Vudu
2022 Angry Neighbors Damenial Krento Lionsgate; also producer
What Remains Scott STARZ, Gravitas Ventures; also executive producer
Find Her Feliz Leonard Streaming; also producer
Pursuit Of Freedom Bedros Theatrical, PureFlix
Blackwood Henri Theatrical, SABAN
Brut Force Cuco Streaming, XYZ
2023 Captain Fall The Butterfly Thug Netflix
FBI Fabian Shabani CBS
Nefarious Detective Russo Theatrical Release
Mobking Big Bill Theatrical Release
2025 Sarah's Oil TBA Post-production

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "10 Things You Don't Know About Stelio Savante". 20 August 2018.
  2. ^ "Stelio Savante on making it in Hollywood and the SA circle in LA that helps 'mekaar'". 13 March 2023.
  3. ^ "Actor & Producer Stelio Savante on His Part-Greek Heritage and Career in Films". Archived from the original on 25 October 2021. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
  4. ^ "Actor Producer Stelio Savante Boosts a Deeply Challenged Tide of South African Actors to Hollywood - Expat Achievements - Inspirations - SABLE Accelerator Network".
  5. ^ "Stelio Savante on making it in Hollywood and the SA circle in LA that helps 'mekaar'". 13 March 2023.
  6. ^ "SAG Nominee Stelio Savante Signs with Eris Talent Agency".
  7. ^ "American Movie Award winner SAG nominee Stelio Savante".[permanent dead link‍]
  8. ^ "Stelio Savante". IMDb.
  9. ^ @StelioSavante (6 July 2021). "@Wikipedia U & your website are A joke. My descent is Greek, Italian, Ashkenazi, British, & Anatolian. How dare U pu…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  10. ^ "Savante Stelio's himself for big break . . .(Entertainment)". Daily News. Durban. 8 April 2010. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 20 July 2014 – via HighBeam Research.
  11. ^ "SA-born actor Savante having a smashing time in Tinseltown". The Star. Gauteng. 21 February 2012. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 20 July 2014 – via HighBeam Research.
  12. ^ Molosankwe, Botho (21 February 2012). "Actor courts a career on big screen". Independent Online. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  13. ^ Ottermann, Birgit (17 July 2007). "Ugly Betty with a Stelio twist". News24. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  14. ^ "The 13th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards". SAGAwards.org. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  15. ^ Gary, Collinson (29 May 2015). "FLICKERING MYTH INTERVIEW: Interview: Stelio Savante talks about The Making of the Mob and American Genius". flickeringmyth.com]. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  16. ^ "Capetonian Actor Headlines History-Making African Film". sapeople.com. 5 June 2013. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  17. ^ "Equatorial Guinea-Set 'Where The Road Runs Out' Dominates San Diego Film Festival Awards". Indiewire.com. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  18. ^ a b "The HeyUGuys Interview: Stelio Savante on Peter Greenaway's Eisenstein, and his career". HeyUGuys.com. 28 March 2014. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  19. ^ "SPL!NG Movie Review: A Million Colours". 2oceansvibe.com. 8 August 2012. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  20. ^ "Hey You Guys Movie Review: A Million Colours Review". heyyouguys.com. 4 June 2014. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  21. ^ "True Colours Movie Review: A Million Colours Review". bizommunity.com. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  22. ^ "Blockchain Media Biz". Variety. 21 March 2018.
  23. ^ Gans, Andrew (8 September 2011). "Benefit Reading of 110 Stories, With Billy Crudup, Samuel L. Jackson, Kathleen Turner, Presented Sept. 8–9". Playbill. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  24. ^ Gans, Andrew (8 September 2011). "Benefit Reading of 110 Stories, With Billy Crudup, Samuel L. Jackson, Kathleen Turner, Presented Sept. 8–9". Playbill. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  25. ^ a b Fleming, Mike (22 July 2011). "Stars Turn Out For 9/11 Reading". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  26. ^ "110 Stories' Steven Bauer, Stelio Savante, Diane Venora, Rudolf Buitendach, Sarah Tuft Reflect on September 11". Playbill. 11 September 2013. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  27. ^ "110 Stories Commemorates the 10th Anniversary of 9/11". Yahoo! Shine. 7 September 2011. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  28. ^ "110 Stories' Steven Bauer, Stelio Savante, Diane Venora, Rudolf Buitendach, Sarah Tuft Reflect on September 11". Playbill. 11 September 2013. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  29. ^ "Photos: Robert Forster, Mira Sorvino and More Take Part in River Street's 110 STORIES Commemoration".
  30. ^ "SA actor signs with Hollywood manager". iafrica.com. 14 June 2014. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  31. ^ "An Interview with Stelio Savante". GlutenFreeAmerica. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  32. ^ "Hollywood Actor Shares How He Came to Christ and How It Impacts His Roles". 2 June 2021.
  33. ^ American Movie Awards Archived 10 December 2019 at the Wayback Machine
  34. ^ "Pronoia". IMDb.
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