There’s an air of coolness about actor Delroy Lindo that permeates every role he plays. From the stage to the big screen, Lindo projects a understated magnetism that’s hard to ignore. With a resume of high profile movie roles ranging from his portrayal of a manic-depressive numbers boss in Malcolm X, to his most recent as a calculating drug lord in the recent "Romeo Must Die," Lindo has firmly secured himself as a consistent and mainstream entertainment commodity. In his latest film, (the summer blockbuster "Gone in Sixty Seconds" with Nicolas Cage and Angelina Jolie), Lindo easily demonstrates why he’s in constant demand. "I view what I do as a gift," says the actor about his superlative reputation. "As an actor you breathe life into another character and I take very seriously."

Born in England to parents of Jamaican descent, Lindo’s proclivity for the performing arts lead him to the renowned American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco, where he excelled in classic and contemporary dramas. From there he made the rounds in Hollywood where he immediately landed his first film role playing an Army sergeant in "More American Graffiti". However, after that roles soon became scare for an actor of his talents, so he decided to try his luck on Broadway. "Man there was nothing for me when I first began my career. Back then as a black actor Hollywood was offering wasteland parts, you know drug dealers, pimps and the like, and I felt that someone with my abilities deserved more."

Lindo spent the better part of a decade working in New York and gaining credible notices for himself as an artists. In 1988 he made his Broadway debut in "Master Harold and the Boys, and in 1988 he earned a Tony nomination for his portrayal of Harold Loomis in "Joe Turner’s Come and Gone". Looking to flex his creative muscle in film, Lindo still longed to build a career in Hollywood, an opportunity which finally came when director Spike Lee offered him roles in Malcolm X and "Crooklyn". "Man that part really opened doors for me. Spike was hot and his films were receiving lots of attention, which in turn shined a lot of light on my work as an actor. Those two films gave me a name in Hollywood."

Lindo’s star has rose rapidly from there. Since 1992 the actor has clocked back-to-back roles in a diverse mix of films that include: "Soul of the Game," "Ransom," "First Time Felon," and "The Devil’s Advocate". In 1999 he played Mr. Rose, a pivotal, but largely ignored role in the screen adaptation of the John Irving novel "The Cider House Rules". "I was proud of my work in that film, but I discovered was that people weren’t ready to deal with a black man who’s a pedophile. It’s ironic because people can accept a black man playing a pimp or a hustler, but then have a problem when it crosses a portrayal becomes overtly sexual. As an actor it’s always interesting to see how people react to your performances."

Lindo latest role as Detective Roland Castlebeck in Gone in Sixty Seconds, is decidedly different from his role in House Rules. An ace officer, Lindo is in hot pursuit of a renegade group of car thieves lead by Randall "Memphis" Raines (Nicolas Cage). "My job is to prevent Nicolas and his cohorts from pulling off this big heist," he says. "The character I play is extremely good at what he does, but recognizes that he’s up against formidable competition with this particular group of thieves. Through the course of the film my character develops an admiration for these guys even though it’s his job to lock them up. It was a good part to play."

Although Lindo’s calendar is quickly filling up with new film offers, for the next for months the actors plans to catch up on some much needed R&R/ "Man I’ve been working pretty much non-stop for sometime now, and what I want to do is take a little time off and enjoy that success I’ve built. Yes, I think it’s time for me to stop and smells the roses."

You read about "Love Beat The Hell Outta Me," in this column earlier this year. Now the indie flick starring Glenn Plummer and Terrance Howard debuts in Chi Town and Hotlanta on June 30. Directing/producing brother Kennedy and Paul Goldsbery are hoping to drum up some hard-hitting dollars. Visit there website at www. lovebeatthehelloutofme.com

According to a recent study by the University of Southern California revealed that African-American actors make up 16% of the characters seen on TV. "Not true," says actress Anne-Marie Johnson, who heads SAG’s Ethnic Employment Opportunity Committee the numbers are misleading. "The numbers fail to convey that in many instances blacks are often seen in small parts, "in background roles…almost like furniture." Look for Johnson to release her own findings soon.
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