Biography
Ian Paola was born on September 4, 1978, in New York City. With both parents being musicians, he was deeply influenced by a wide range of musical genres and aspired to succeed in the entertainment industry.
Determined to follow his parents' footsteps and engage with the music world, Ian was inspired by the early Hip Hop scene and started breakdancing at the age of five. By eleven, he was writing and performing his own rap songs, and at fifteen, he began DJing parties in his neighborhood. In his late teens, he expanded into producing, writing, recording, and mixing tracks for local artists. Despite his passion for music production, Ian always harbored a desire to act.
His acting career began unexpectedly when, while searching online for a quick weekend gig, he found an opportunity to work as background talent on a major Hollywood film. After spending many hours on set, Ian realized his true calling was in front of the camera, not behind it.
Without delay, Ian trained with top coaches in New York City to hone his acting skills. In less than two years, he has appeared in over 30 projects across film, television, new media, and stage plays, portraying diverse roles such as a heroin addict, transvestite, New York police officer, and gangster. He continues to work on various projects, with recent credits including recurring roles as Yadriel on Netflix's "Orange Is The New Black," Rey Armas on ABC's "Conviction," and Uriel in Starz's "Power.
