Franklin Ojeda Smith

Franklin Ojeda Smith
Height: 5′ 11″
Eyes: Brown / Hair: Bald

Born on the Sea Islands of South Carolina, Franklin and his siblings joined their mother in the Fort Apache section of the South Bronx in 1953. A native Gullah speaker, Franklin says, “my dialect was so rich that I was put into classes with students who only spoke Spanish and the teacher spoke neither”.

Early on he met lifelong friends and was adopted into a Puerto Rican family (The Ojedas). In the South Bronx, he attended the same junior (P.S. 52) and high schools (Morris) as General Colin Powell. As a collegian at Hampton Institute/University in Virginia, Franklin excelled as a baseball player (he won a national batting championship) but more importantly, he found his grounding in academic life.

Now a professor emeritus, Franklin had been at Stockton University in New Jersey for over forty years. But he says, I avoided my secret, inner passion since my early teens, then cancer ran me down. I had an epiphany. I said yes! Franklin explains that “back in the day the ‘barb wires of Society ‘ were more visible” and early on he chose baseball over acting; then academia and not baseball.

Dr. Smith made his stage debut in the role of ‘Troy Maxon’ in August Wilson’s Fences. Subsequently, he has focused on The Big Screen, TV, Commercial, and Voice over endeavors. A noted storyteller and orator, Franklin says, “…the kids are grown, the dog is dead and now that I may, I choose acting.”

FILM

FILMROLEDIRECTOR
Gossamer FoldsEdwardPaperclip Limited: Lisa Donato
The Long Way BackPsychicBreaking Glass Pictures: E.B. Hughes
But Deliver Us from EvilCharles BurtonIndican Pictures: Joshua Coates
My Bakery in BrooklynMr. ZubalMoonrise Pictures: Gustavo Ron
No Beast So FierceJarrodSynkronized: Tim McCann
Emily & TimMinisterMarVista Entertainment: Eric Weber
Soul MenIsaac Hayes (voice)MGM: Malcolm D. Lee
Myra's AngelMr. JamesBreaking Glass Pictures: Skye Dennis
A Little GameMelIPA Asia Pacific: Evan Oppenheimer
McCanickJuliusWell Go USA: Josh C. Waller
Letting GoTherapistOsiris Entertainment: Jake Torem
Won't Back DownMr. KingTwentieth Century Fox: Daniel Barnz
Steps in the SandJimPro Films: Ivailo Hristov
InvincibleLesBuena Vista Pictures: Ericson Core
Cost of a SoulJackieRogue Pictures: Sean Kirkpatrick
Cayman WentAniston Turnkey41inc.us: Bobby Sheehan
The UndyingHenryMTI Home Video: Steven Peros
My BrotherLiberian AttachéPolychrome Pictures: Anthony Lover
Street Dogs of South CentralNarrator -ScratchAnimal Planet: Bill Marrin
Gowanus 83 (Short)Mr. PerkinsMichael E. Wood
A Second Chance (Short)RufusTom Wardach

TELEVISION

TVROLEDIRECTOR
High MaintenanceRecurringHBO: Ben Sinclair
She's Gotta Have ItGuest StarNetflix: Spike Lee
Time After TimeCo StarABC: Marcos Siega
BlindspotRecurringNBC: Rob Seidenglanz
BlacklistGuest StarNBC: Michael W. Watkins
Boardwalk EmpireRecurring HBO: Allen Coulter
Royal PainsRecurringUSA Network: Jay Chandrasekhar
Nurse JackieCo-StarShowtime Networks: Randall Einhorn
Rescue MeCo-StarFX Network: Evan Reilly
MercyCo StarNBC: Frank Prinzi
Lemur KingdomNarratorAnimal Planet: Dawn Sinsel
The Wire - 'Misgivings'RecurringHBO: Ernest Dickerson
Law & Order CI -' D.A.W 'Co-StarNBC: Frank Prinzi
Cold Case - 'Badlands'Co-StarCBS: Tim Matheson
Hack - 'Blind Faith'Guest Star CBS: Rick Rosenthal

SPECIAL SKILLS

God Voice, Professor of Sociology, Gullah Dialect, Dog Training, Baseball Scout

THEATER

Upon Request

COMMERCIALS

Upon Request – CESD Talent Agency