Alexx O'Nell

Alexx O'Nell
Born
Alexander Leonard O' Neill

(1980-07-26) 26 July 1980 (age 44)
Madison, Connecticut, United States
Nationality American
Alma materBoston University
Occupation(s)Actor, Musician
Years active2007–present
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Spouse
​
​
(m. 2008; div. 2011)​
PartnerShama Sikander (2011–2015)

Alexander Leonard O'Neill (born 26 July 1980) is an American actor and musician who is based in India and South Africa and has appeared in films, series, and music videos in English and Indian languages.[1][2] He is best known for Ae Watan Mere Watan, Khufiya, Golondaaj, Roohi, Aarya, Main Aur Charles, Cheeni Kum, Madrasapattinam, Joker, Yeti Obhijaan, Chittagong and Urumi (Ek Yodha Shoorveer).

O'Nell began his acting career with community and regional theater in the United States,[3][4] later working in television advertisements in India and internationally,[1][2][5] and finally landing character roles and appearances in films such as the Hindi feature Cheeni Kum (2007) and the English feature Loins of Punjab Presents (2007).[1][2] He later gained recognition as a contestant on the hugely popular Indian celebrity dance competition Nach Baliye (season 3, 2007).

O'Nell's first leading role in a big-budget production came with Madrasapattinam (2010).[2] Following Madrasapattinam, O'Nell returned to television to star in the Indian primetime historical drama Jhansi Ki Rani in mid-2010,[2] and in early 2011 he also appeared in a guest role on the drama Dhoondh Legi Manzil Humein.[6] Late 2011 saw the release of the Hindi Language feature Jo Dooba So Paar (2011), with O'Nell in a supporting role. After almost a year's gap, O'Nell was seen in a lead role in Shirish Kunder's Joker (2012)[1] followed shortly thereafter by a cameo in A. L. Vijay's Thaandavam (2012)[7] released in late August and late September 2012 respectively. Finally, O'Nell starred in Bedabrata Pain's Chittagong (2012), released on October 12, 2012. O'Nell appeared in a double-lead role in the multilingual Urumi (2011),[8][9] and the unreleased English-language Vasco Da Gama,[8][9] (in which he plays a triple role) directed by acclaimed Indian director Santosh Sivan. Urumi released in select markets (Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu) in 2011 and 2012, which was the second most expensive Malayalam film of all time. The stage of completion and expected release date for the English-language Vasco Da Gama are unknown. O'Nell's next releases were the Malayalam films Gangster and Manglish, releasing in April and July 2014, respectively. He was recently seen in the 2016 release Ek Yodha Shoorveer (2016) (a Hindi dubbed and re-edited version of Urumi (2011) ), Tigmanshu Dhulia's Raag Desh (2017), Inside Edge (2018), Bose: Dead/Alive (2018), Doctor Rakhmabai and Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy. He has also acted in RRR, Captain Miller and many critically acclaimed Bengali films like Yeti Obhijaan, Ek Je Chhilo Raja and Golondaaj.

  1. ^ a b c d "Alexx O'Nell in Shirish Kunder's 'Joker'". The Times Of India, IANS. April 12, 2011.
  2. ^ a b c d e Alexx O’Nell at IMDb
  3. ^ "An American and the Bollywood barrier". Ruchika Kher, ians.in. April 12, 2011.
  4. ^ "Alexx O'Nell's resume at IMDB". IMDb.
  5. ^ PRASHANT GOLECHA (July 17, 2007). "Bollywood bites Shweta Keswani's beau Alexx". Archived from the original on 2012-05-24. Retrieved 2011-04-19.
  6. ^ "Ralph Gets Candid". Star One. January 20, 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-03-26. Retrieved 2011-04-19.
  7. ^ ""Thaandavam",Details". IMDB.
  8. ^ a b "Alexx: 'Santosh Sivan's 'Urumi' exposes Vasco da Gama's cruelty!'". MovieTalkies.com. 6 April 2011. Archived from the original on 10 April 2011. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
  9. ^ a b Blessy Chettiar (April 11, 2011). "Santosh Sivan is the Steven Spielberg of Indian cinema: Urumi star Alexx O'Nell". Mumbai: DNA.