Raymond Ablack

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Raymond Ablack
Born
Raymond Ablack

(1989-11-12) November 12, 1989 (age 35)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
EducationRyerson University
Occupation(s)Actor, comedian
Years active2005–present

Raymond Ablack (born November 12, 1989) is a Canadian actor and comedian. He began his career in the early 2000s as a child actor on stage, performing as Young Simba in The Lion King at the Princess of Wales Theatre. He later gained recognition for playing Sav Bhandari in the teen drama television series Degrassi: The Next Generation from 2007 to 2011.

From 2014 to 2017, Ablack starred in the web series Teenagers; he won an Indie Series Award for his performance in 2016.[1] He has also played recurring roles in Orphan Black (2013–2016), Shadowhunters (2016–2018), and Narcos (2017).[2]

Since the early 2020s, Ablack has achieved wider attention for his performances in several popular Netflix series such as Maid (2021), Workin' Moms (2023), and Ginny & Georgia (2021–present).[1][3]

Early life

Ablack was born to and raised by Indo-Guyanese parents in Toronto, Ontario.[4] Growing up, he played in a competitive hockey league.[5] Ablack has three siblings: two younger sisters, Cassandra and Rebecca (who is also an actress and she was featured alongside him in Ginny & Georgia), and a younger brother, Jared.[6]

Career

As a child actor, Ablack appeared in television commercials and advertisements.[7] In 2001, he won the role of Young Simba in the theatre production of The Lion King at the Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto.[8] He performed the role for one year.[9]

Years later, in 2007, Ablack achieved international exposure when he was cast in the recurring role of Sav Bhandari on the long-running Canadian television series Degrassi: The Next Generation.[10][11] Ablack starred on the series from 2007 until 2011, and appeared in more than 100 episodes. During this time, Ablack also had a guest spot on the television series Life With Derek.[12]

Ablack at the 2010 Gemini Awards promoting Degrassi: The Next Generation

Since his time on Degrassi, Ablack has worked on several film and television productions, including recurring roles in the BBC/Space television series Orphan Black, the Syfy series Defiance, and the Freeform series Shadowhunters.[13]

Ablack's first role in a feature-length film came in 2013 with the release of the independent feature film Fondi '91 (2013), which was filmed on location in Fondi, Italy and received mixed reviews from critics upon release.[14][15]

From 2014 to 2017, Ablack portrayed Gabriel in the web series Teenagers.[16] In 2016, for his performance in the second season of Teenagers, Ablack won an Indie Series Award for Best Supporting Actor – Drama.[1][17] For his performance in the third and final season, Ablack was nominated for an International Academy of Web Television Award in 2017,[18] and a second Indie Series Award in 2018.[19]

Ablack played the recurring role of DEA Agent Stoddard in the third season of the critically acclaimed Netflix series Narcos, which premiered on the streaming platform in 2017.[20]

In 2019, he played the recurring role of Sunil Doshi in Burden of Truth.[21] That year, he also appeared alongside Zoey Deutch, Judy Greer, Jermaine Fowler, Noah Reid, and Jai Courtney in the American comedy drama film Buffaloed.[22] The film had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 27, 2019.[23]

In 2021, Ablack played a supporting role in the Netflix miniseries Maid, which was released on October 1, 2021. His performance and physical appearance in the series, specifically a scene in which he appears topless while wearing a cowboy hat, attracted considerable attention on social media platforms such as Twitter,[24] with Marie Claire writing that "the Canadian actor has become our favorite Netflix heartthrob."[25]

In November 2021, he was cast in a romantic comedy feature film called Love in the Villa, also produced by Netflix.[26]

Since 2021, Ablack has starred as Joe, a restaurant owner and one of the main love interests, on the popular Netflix series Ginny & Georgia.[27] Ginny & Georgia premiered on February 24, 2021.[28] Ablack appeared in all 10 episodes of the first season of the series.[29][30] Ablack returned for the second season of Ginny & Georgia in 2023.[3]

In 2023, Ablack played a recurring love interest role in the final season of the comedy series Workin' Moms.[31]

In addition to working as an actor, Ablack sometimes writes and performs stand-up comedy in Toronto.[32]

Charity work

Ablack has done extensive charity work throughout his career, mostly through Degrassi, including school-building missions with Me to We and Free the Children.[33][34]

In 2007, Ablack traveled to Africa with five other Degrassi cast members to build a school in Kenya and, in 2008, he travelled again with his cast members to do charity work in Ecuador.[35] A documentary of Ablack and his cast mates' trip aired on MTV in Canada.[35]

In 2010, he travelled with his fellow Degrassi cast mates to India to help build more schools.[36]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2013 Fondi '91 Anil
Home Away Pete Short film
2014 Latter Noah Short film
Sly Cad Concierge Short film
2015 Beeba Boys Grewal's Gangster
Pieces Brother Short film
2017 Ashes Jay
2018 Acquainted Alex
Shook Ashish Short film
2019 Buffaloed Prakash
Dinner For Three Kevin Short film
La Professoressa Leo Short film
2020 The Broken Hearts Gallery Clayton
Inside the Actors Cult Teacher Short film
Survival Smarts Ray Short film
The Beacons of Gondor Ranger 1 Short film
2022 Love in the Villa Brandon
Stay the Night Roshan

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2007–2011 Degrassi: The Next Generation Savtaj 'Sav' Bhandari 118 episodes
2009 Taking a Chance on Love Shopkeeper TV movie
Life with Derek Kevin Episode: "Truman's Last Chance"
Degrassi Goes Hollywood Savtaj 'Sav' Bhandari TV movie
2010 Degrassi Takes Manhattan TV movie
2011 How to Be Indie Raj Episode: "How to Fake Your Way Through a Freaky Formal"
2013–2016 Orphan Black Raj Singh 4 episodes
2014–2017 Teenagers Gabriel Web series; 20 episodes
2015 Defiance Samir Pandey 6 episodes
2016 Degrassi: Next Class Savtaj 'Sav' Bhandari 2 episodes
Annedroids Dave Episode: "Bionic Grandma"
2016–2018 Shadowhunters Raj Recurring (seasons 1–2), 6 episodes
Guest (season 3), 1 episode
2017 Ransom Piers Allard Episode: "Joe"
The Kennedys: After Camelot Sirhan Sirhan Episode: "Family Bonds"; credited as Ray Ablack
Narcos Stoddard 5 episodes
2018 Good Witch Bryce Episode: "Family Time"
Private Eyes Jordan Episode: "Finding Leroy"
2019 Burden of Truth Sunil Doshi 4 episodes
2020 Nurses Kabir Pavan 7 episodes
2021–present Ginny & Georgia Joe Main cast; 20 episodes
2021 The Wedding Ring Anthony Prentice TV movie
Maid Nate Recurring role; 5 episodes
Boyfriends of Christmas Past Nate Sagar TV movie (Hallmark)
2023 Workin' Moms Ram 11 episodes

Audio drama

Year Title Role Notes
2022 Mistletoe Murders Sam

Filmmaking credits

Year Title Writer Producer Director Notes
2019-2020 Cookie Biscuits Comedy No Yes Yes 4 episodes
2020 Inside the Actors Cult Yes Yes No
Survival Smarts Yes Yes No
The Beacons of Gondor No Yes No

Awards and nominations

Year Association Category Nominated work Result Ref
2016 Indie Series Awards Best Supporting Actor – Drama Teenagers Won [37]
2017 International Academy of Web Television Best Male Performance – Drama Nominated [38]
2018 Indie Series Awards Best Supporting Actor – Drama Nominated [39]
Alternative Film Festival Best Cast Ashes Nominated Shared with cast [40]
2020 Canada Shorts Film Festival Best Comedy Inside the Actors Cult Won Shared with cast [41]
Best Writer Won Shared with Dalmar Abuzeid [41]
Seoul Web Fest Best Comedy Nominated [42]
Best Action The Beacons of Gondor Won Shared with cast [43]
Best Short Nominated [42]
Indie Short Fest Outstanding Achievement Award – Producer Won Shared with Scott Paterson, Dalmar Abuzeid, Shane Kippel, & Samantha Ghost. [44]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Where You've Seen The Ginny And Georgia Cast Before". CINEMABLEND. March 5, 2021. Retrieved May 6, 2021.
  2. ^ "Q&A: Toronto actor Raymond Ablack on his role in Netflix's Narcos". Toronto Life. September 1, 2017. Retrieved May 6, 2021.
  3. ^ a b "These Two "Ginny & Georgia" Stars Are Real-Life Siblings". Teen Vogue. January 17, 2023. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
  4. ^ "Toronto Actor Raymond Ablack on his role in Narcos". September 2017.
  5. ^ freethechildrenintl (May 20, 2009), Charity Cup - Students vs. Teachers Hockey Game, retrieved June 25, 2016
  6. ^ "Ginny and Georgia: surprising family connection between two stars revealed". HOLA. March 22, 2021. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
  7. ^ "Raymond Ablack Biography". www.buddytv.com. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
  8. ^ "Local actor Ray Ablack on the road from Lion King to Netflix's Narcos". thestar.com. August 31, 2017. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
  9. ^ "THE MORNING SHOW July 10 2013 9:08am 05:57 Actor Raymond Ablack".
  10. ^ "17 Questions". Seventeen. October 21, 2008. Retrieved April 7, 2016.
  11. ^ "Ginny & Georgia's Raymond Ablack Has Been Busy Since His Degrassi Days". www.msn.com. Retrieved May 6, 2021.
  12. ^ Will Ashton (March 5, 2021). "Where You've Seen The Ginny And Georgia Cast Before". CINEMABLEND. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  13. ^ "Exclusive Interview with Teenagers' Raymond Ablack". TalkNerdyWithUs. November 25, 2015. Retrieved April 7, 2016.
  14. ^ "Fondi '91". July 11, 2013. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
  15. ^ "Fondi '91, reviewed: A nice-looking coming-of-age film that doesn't quite get there". Retrieved August 22, 2016.
  16. ^ "New web series Teenagers attracts Degrassi alum". January 15, 2014. Retrieved April 7, 2016.
  17. ^ "Indie Series Awards: 7th Annual Indie Series Awards Winners". Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  18. ^ "2017 IAWTV Awards". International Academy of Web Television. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  19. ^ "9th Annual Indie Series Awards Nominations". www.indieseriesawards.com. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  20. ^ "Local actor Ray Ablack on the road from Lion King to Netflix's Narcos | The Star". thestar.com. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
  21. ^ Pedersen, Erik (May 31, 2019). "'Burden Of Truth': The CW Renews Legal Drama Starring Kristin Kreuk For Season 3". Deadline. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  22. ^ "'Buffaloed': Film Review | Hollywood Reporter". www.hollywoodreporter.com. February 12, 2020. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
  23. ^ Hayes, Dade (March 5, 2019). "Tribeca Film Festival Unveils Feature Lineup, With Screen Time For John DeLorean, Muhammad Ali, Chelsea Manning". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
  24. ^ Reed, Sam. "Raymond Ablack's Twitter Moment". InStyle. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  25. ^ Quinci LeGardye (October 8, 2021). "Who is Raymond Ablack From 'Maid' and 'Ginny and Georgia'?". Marie Claire Magazine. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  26. ^ Jackson, Angelique (November 17, 2021). "'Ginny & Georgia's' Raymond Ablack Joins Kat Graham and Tom Hopper in Netflix's 'Love in the Villa'". Variety. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  27. ^ Ramos, Dino-Ray (August 13, 2019). "Netflix Orders New YA Series 'Ginny & Georgia', Antonia Gentry and Brianne Howey Topline Main Cast". Deadline. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
  28. ^ Nemetz, Dave (January 14, 2021). "Ginny & Georgia First Look: Is Netflix's New Dramedy the Next Gilmore Girls?". TVLine. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  29. ^ "'Ginny & Georgia' Star Raymond Ablack Is Ready To Be Your Leading Man". Bustle. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  30. ^ Ojomu, Nola (February 25, 2021). "Netflix viewers thirsting over Raymond Ablack in Ginny and Georgia". Metro. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
  31. ^ Dowling, Amber (April 26, 2023). "Catherine Reitman on Ending 'Workin' Moms,' That Surprise Guest Star, and Her Love Letter to Late Father Ivan Reitman". Variety. Retrieved February 11, 2024.
  32. ^ "Season 10 Degrassi Star: Raymond Ablack!". Vervegirl. Retrieved April 7, 2016.
  33. ^ "www.metowe.com" (PDF).
  34. ^ "Degrassi star speaks out about youth volunteer work - News - The Moose Jaw Times Herald". www.mjtimes.sk.ca. Retrieved April 7, 2016.
  35. ^ a b Arendt, Hannah (December 25, 2021). "Raymond Ablack: How He Began His Career As A Canadian Actor And Comedian? Know All Details Here!". Lake County News. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  36. ^ "Hanging with Degrassi's Raymond Ablack". Seventeen. July 19, 2010. Retrieved April 7, 2016.
  37. ^ "7th Annual Indie Series Awards Winners".
  38. ^ "Home". International Academy of Web Television. Retrieved October 7, 2017.
  39. ^ "9th Annual Indie Series Awards Nominees".
  40. ^ "AltFF Alternative Film Festival (2018)". IMDb. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
  41. ^ a b "Canada Shorts | 2020 Festival Results". canadashorts.com. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
  42. ^ a b "2020 Nominations". SEOUL WEBFEST. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
  43. ^ "2020 Award Winners". SEOUL WEBFEST. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
  44. ^ "Indie Short Fest (2020)". IMDb. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
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