Biografia
Of Italian descent, Nick was born in The Bronx projects and grew up in Long Island, Pelham Manor, and Mt. Vernon, New York. During his childhood, he often listened to his father performing various accents and comedy sketches. Cartoons served as Nick's babysitter, fostering an early talent for voiceover work. His father was part of a 1950s Bronx group of aspiring entertainers led by the gifted writer and actor Rudy Deluca. Rudy later moved to Hollywood and collaborated with Mel Brooks on writing, producing, and acting in many of Brooks' films. Over 50 years later, fate reunited Rudy and Nick in Los Angeles.
Nick began his acting career under the name Nicholas James Tate in 1990 as a non-union extra on Law & Order. For the next four years, he lived in New York City, performing in murder mystery shows worldwide alongside now-famous actors Connie Britton and Aasif Mandvi. He chose his stage name as a tribute to silent film star Harold Lloyd, who attended Tate University in one of his silent films. From 2000 onward, Nick used his birth name, Nick Stellate, for his screen and stage credits. Most of his pre-2000 work was done while living in Mt. Vernon.
In 1996, Nick realized his childhood dream by earning the coveted SAG card. His determination helped him advance through the ranks of extras in New York until 1997 when he secured a featured extra role as Renee Zellweger's Hasidic bodyguard in A Price Above Rubies. After appearing as an extra in numerous TV shows, pilots, and films from 1997 to 1998, he voiced 13 characters on Pokémon, marking a turning point in his voiceover career. Today, Nick is credited with over 2,500 voices across animation, video games, and films.
Following his global recognition from Pokémon, Nick moved to Los Angeles in November 1998. His acting career flourished quickly, landing many lead and supporting roles in feature films as well as guest and co-starring roles on popular TV shows, portraying a range of characters from detectives and villains to bodybuilders and Eastern European thugs.
He has worked with and formed friendships with some of the industry's most talented performers, including Connie Britton, Paul Sorvino, Eric Roberts, Mickey Rourke, Al Pacino, Viggo Mortensen, Tony Shalhoub, Renee Zellweger, Val Kilmer, Christopher Meloni, and Faye Dunaway, among others.
Nick is deeply grateful for his career and shares his respect and appreciation wholeheartedly. "I'm living one of my dreams as an actor, and when I'm on set or behind the mic, I feel like I'm home," he told Filmstar magazine.
In addition to acting and voiceover work, Nick has raised financing and produced several projects. Over the past decade, he has voiced more than 500 characters for Storychimes, a children's entertainment company based in Los Angeles. He currently divides his time between New York and Los Angeles.
Nick's greatest inspiration throughout his career was his brother Frankie Stellate. Nick dedicates all his past, present, and future achievements to his beloved brother Frankie, who passed away on October 12, 2018.
"Frankie, this is for you—always was, always will be my brother!
