Make 7-Up Yours

Background:

"Someone I met years ago explained to me the difference between a personality and an actor, a personality being Eddie Murphy or Roseanne Barr, and an actor being Morgan Freeman and Alfre Woodard or Marlon Brando. And in the shrinking world of sound bites, the Internet, and other mass media, there were going to be fewer actors and more personalities." Orlando Jones

Most known as the original spokesperson of 7-Up with his popular line "Make 7-Up Yours!", actor, writer, and producer Orlando Jones is credited to the TV show Mad TV, in which he performed from 1995 to 1997. This vegetarian actor was also recognized playing roles in such motion pictures as The Replacements (2000), Evolution (2001), and Drumline (2002).

Recently, Jones was reported to costar with Oscar winning actor Martin Landau in the ABC's drama Evidence. Both stars will portray the role of detectives that attempt to construct crimes.

Baseball Boy

Childhood and Family:

Orlando Jones was born on April 10, 1968. The son of a former professional baseball player for the Philadelphia Phillies, Orlando was originally from Mobile, Alabama, but grew up in the state South Carolina.

Teenage Jones attended the Mauldin High School in Mauldin SC, graduating in 1985. He then enrolled in the College of Charleston, South Carolina, and received his degree in 1990.

Across The Ashley River Bridge

Career:

Realizing his interest in the entertainment industry, Orlando Jones set up his own production company named Homeboy's Productions and Advertising. Soon after, he scored his first Hollywood job in 1987, writing for the NBC comedy A Different World. In 1991 and 1992, Jones penned the Fox's series Roc (starring Charles Dutton) and co-produced The Sinbad Show (starring comedian Sinbad) in 1993. He also made a quick appearance on the Fox sitcom Herman's Head in 1992.

After hosting Fox's music series Sound FX, in 1994, Jones nabbed a regular role in the comedy series Mad TV. For two years (1995-1997), he portrayed a comedic version of such various people as Snoop Doggy Dogg, Dennis Rodman, Ike Turner, O.J. Simpson, and Dexter. With a bit part in his first big screen film, In Harm's Way (1997), Jones then joined Larry David in the feature Sour Grapes (1998), playing the character of an itinerant man. Subsequently, he appeared in Woo (1998), Mike Judge's first directed film Office Space (1999, costarring David Herman), and Barry Levinson's praised drama, Liberty Heights (1999). Since then, he rolled in other motion picture work including Mike Judge's slapstick Office Space (1999) and Paul Thomas Anderson's Magnolia (1999). Audiences can also watch him in the comedy New Jersey Turnpikes (1999) and Barry Levinson's melancholy Liberty Heights (1999).

During the 2000s, Jones' career began to branch out. In addition to his witty appearances in the 7-Up campaigns, Jones won the lead role of Clifford Franklin in The Replacements (2000, along with Gene Hackman and Keanu Reeves) and played several unique characters in Harold Ramis' Bedazzled (2000). In the following year, he appeared in the comedy Chain of Fools (2000) and appeared in the video movie, From Dusk Till Dawn 3: The Hangman's Daughter, which was released in 2000. In 2001, he nabbed the role of Daryl Chase in the action-comedy Double Take (2001, alongside Eddie Griffin) and worked with David Duchovny and Julianne Moore in Ivan Reitman's sci-fi comedy, Evolution (2001, as Prof. Harry Phineas Block).

Jones added to his acting resume such films as Simon Wells' sci-fi The Time Machine (2002), Drumline (2002, as Dr. Lee), Biker Boyz (2003), Runaway Jury (2003), and House of D (2004). He also lent his voice to the TV series Father of the Pride and the virtual game Halo 2. Jones is recently reported to be starring in the ABC's crime-drama Evidence with Oscar winner Martin Landau.

"No matter how accustomed you become to this business, sometimes you have to pinch yourself and say, 'Jesus Christ, this is a long way from riding my bike across the Ashley River Bridge.' " Orlando Jones