If you’re a fan of Showtime’s The Chi , then you are very aware of track-suit wearing, bluetooth earpiece toting, baby daddy of Emmett, Darnell. Since joining in Season 2, veteran actor Rolando Boyce has played the colorful, always-loaded-with-an-opinion character, with a mixture of genuineness, heart and comedy.
Boyce is no stranger to the South Side setting of the series as he was born and raised here. The Panamanian actor started in Chicago Theater after serving as an an Army Reservist in the Desert Storm War.
Boyce’s theater credits include Fences at Court Theatre; Topdog/Underdog at Madison Repertory; A Soldier’s Play at Congo Square; 2 at Eclipse Theatre (Jeff nomination for best play); Unforgettable: The Story of Nat King Cole and The Jackie Wilson Story with Black Ensemble Theatre in Washington, D.C.; A Raisin in the Sun at Hidden Stages; and The Last Apple, When the Water Turns Clear, In the Wine Time, Fortunes of the Moor and The Dreamers at ETA Creative Arts Foundation.
Rolando got his big TV break appearing on the iconic Fox series Prison Break. You can also witness Boyce’s acting talents in Journey of the Heart, Came Here Whole, Under the City and R. Kelly’s Trapped in the Closet (Chapters 1,2,3 and 12), which received a Grammy Award nomination for best video in 2005.
We had a chance to sit with Rolando Boyce and talk about Season four of The Chi, which premieres this Sunday on Showtime, and where his character arc is heading. Watch below:
RELATED: Official trailer for THE CHI fourth season premiere on Sunday
Created and executive produced by Emmy winner Lena Waithe (Twenties, Boomerang) and executive produced by Academy Award, Emmy and Golden Globe winner Common (Selma), The Chi returns on Sunday, May 23 at 9 p.m. ET/PT.
Colin Costello is the West Coast Editor of Reel 360. Contact him at colin@reel360.com or follow him on Twitter at @colinthewriter1
