Biografia
Lorayn DeLuca was born on Long Island, NY, into a large Italian family. Her Sicilian father, Sal, who resembled Desi Arnaz and never let go of his cigar, built an in-ground pool in their backyard. As soon as she could walk, he literally threw her into the pool, shouting "swim!" It was sink or swim, and Lorayn chose to swim, learning to keep her head above water by the grace of God ever since. Her mother, Marge, an artist with fiery red Lucy-like hair, kept everything running smoothly. Marge always had homemade pizza, watermelon, and orange Kool-Aid ready. She believed that as long as there was music, food, and family, the Christmas lights on their fence could stay on all year, because there was always a reason to celebrate and help others forget their troubles. This environment nurtured Lorayn’s buoyant attitude, sense of humor, loyalty, and strong connections.
It was also where Lorayn discovered her gift for making people laugh through storytelling and entertaining. Her family would gather at the Lodge upstate, where her father placed her on the table and encouraged her to sing and dance. Her cousin Joe arranged the stage and played the piano, while her two sisters styled her hair, makeup, and wardrobe for their shows. Lorayn was the straight-A student—the perfect, quiet little girl doll who could make miracles happen.
When Lorayn decided she wanted to attend college, her father discouraged her, saying it would be a waste of time because she was “too pretty, too dumb,” and would end up married with children anyway. With no family support, after caring for her ailing mother who eventually passed, Lorayn took various jobs: meat wrapper, shoe model, paralegal, waiter, and house manager for a producer’s estate. When the chauffeur took a day off, she stepped in to drive her boss in the white Rolls Royce to meetings in Manhattan. Having researched where her mentors like Al Pacino studied, she arranged a meeting with Anna Strasberg at Lee Strasberg Theatre in Union Square. Arriving in the chauffeur’s uniform, she walked out with a work-study scholarship to pursue her dream of becoming an actor. After years performing Off-Broadway, on TV, and even having films showcased at the Cannes Film Festival, life took a different turn.
Lorayn passed government exams and accepted a full-time position at the NYPD as a police training instructor. To afford her city apartment, she needed a better salary. She often sat in on a friend’s college classes, where a professor encouraged her to enroll herself. Though she doubted her abilities, the professor recognized Lorayn’s unique outlook and resilience, encouraging her to apply for scholarships. This mentorship led to Lorayn receiving the competitive NYC Mayor’s Scholarship. Excelling academically, she earned a Master of Science in Organization Development and fulfilled another dream by becoming Director of Human Resources for the NYC Department of Education.
Through these imperfect life adventures and valuable lessons, Lorayn has returned to her original passion: acting, writing, and producing. Faced with the choice between love and fear, she chooses love. When not reading scripts or on set, Lorayn enjoys photographing nature alongside her rescue Yorkie, Bridget, and her partner.
