User:Johnwest21/sandbox

John West aka Velli was (born June 16, 1970) is an American film and television actor, and former professional football player. West is best known for his role as Ray Ray in the hip hop comedy Bar-BE-Q and as the baliff on the hit TV show Martin in 1997. West's other films and TV appearances include: Southland, Faster, New York Undercover, Waist Deep, Empire, Music & Murder, The P.A.C.K., S.M.O.K.E , Sista's For Life , Chicago Englewood https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:John_West_(X)_in_Music_%26_Murder_TV_Series.jpg

Contents 1	Early life 2	Career 3	Filmography 3.1	Film 3.2	Television 4	Trivia 5	References Early life John West aka Velli was born on June 16, 1970, in Chicago, Illinois,[1] to Marsha and John West. West is the only child. Convinced by his mother Marsha, John decided to play high school football after being a huge fan of NFL Chicago Bears Walter Payton.[citation needed] West graduated from Robeson High School in Chicago in 1988.[1] After showcasing his football talent as a running back in high school, John began to get offers from various colleges around the country.[citation needed] He attended Alabama A&M University.[1] West was converted to cornerback by the head coach Ray Green. College coach Ray Green noticed West speed and hitting skills.[citation needed]

Career After John West aka Velli had made an impact on college level, West was signed as a free agent[citation needed] with the NFL Los Angeles Raiders.[1] West later kept his career going as he joined the World Football League of American Football 1995 by getting drafted by the London Monarchs. From the WLAF, West starred[citation needed] with the Ottawa Rough Riders and Shreveport Pirates of the Canadian Football League[1] fall 1995. Then West was lured by the Arena Football League in 1996, Then back to the NFL where West retired early.[citation needed]

Then Martin Lawrence's brother Robert Lawrence and Martin Lawrence gave West a break[citation needed] on the hit TV show Martin. Following appearances in such television series as Martin 1997 and New York Undercover 1997,[1] West was cast in the movie The P.A.C.K as the famous Coroner, which he got rave reviews.[citation needed]

West decided to step out on his own as a first time film producer and director after watching other film directors behind the camera. West walked out on faith and funded his first major film entitled Bar-Be-Q.[1] It was filmed in 1999 and distributed in 2000 in select theaters around the US, by John West himself. West was turned down by several film distribution companies and was focus on getting the film out on his own. This film was the first ever on screen movie for Omari Hardwick, who is known as Ghost on the hit TV Show Power on the Starz Network. It is also the first ever film for Steve Howse aka Layzie Bone of Bone Thugs N Harmony as well.[citation needed]

After John's aka Velli success of his first ever film, John was offered a role as a Gangster's sidekick in the blockbuster film Waist Deep. Which also starred Larenz Tate, The Game, and Tyrese Gibson. West soon caught the eye of Eddie Murphy, which landed him a role as a bully in Norbit. As well playing a small role in Faster with mega star The Rock, where West played a prison inmate. Moving forward West landed roles on such TV shows as Southland where he played Officer Moore. West did not stop there where he was cast as a rapper on the hit TV show Empire.[citation needed] https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:John_West_(X)_%26_Tichina_Arnold_%26_Thomas_Ford_on_hit_T.V._Martin_1997.jpg

Filmography Film Filmography

Main article: John West Filmography

Films

Year Title Role

1996 Martin (Season 5 Episode 6) Ref

1997 Martin (Season 5, Episode 15) Baliff

1997 New York Undercover (Season 3, Episode 8) Court Officer

1997 New York Undercover (Season 3, Episode 12) Court Officer

1997 The P.A.C.K Coroner

1997 Ravage Sergeant Armstrong

1998 Why Do Fools Fall in Love Drug Dealer

2000 Bar-B-Q Ray-Ray/Food Line Man/Ugly Man

2003 The Watermelon Heist Judge's Father

2006 Shadow: Dead Riot Riot Inmate

2006 Waist Deep Banger

2007 Norbit Bully

2010 Faster Inmate

2019 Chicago Englewood. John-West Docu-Film John West

2019 $.M.O.K.E

2019 A Sista's Revenge

2019 Sista's For Life

2020 O.N.L.Y L.U.V

2020 War of the Dragon Benny

2020 My Baby Missin(The Atlanta Children Murders)

2021 This Ain't Da 60's

2021 L.U.V At Any CO$T

2021 Deep Cover 2 Television Year Title Role

1996 Martin (Season 5 Episode 6) Ref

1997 Martin (Season 5, Episode 15) Baliff

1997 New York Undercover (Season 3, Episode 8) Court Officer

1997 New York Undercover (Season 3, Episode 12) Court Officer

2011 Southland (Season 4, Episode 7) Officer Moore

2011 Southland (Season 4, Episode 6) Officer Moore

2013 Luther DSU Simon 2015 Empire Rapper (The Outspoken King) 2017 Music & Murder Agent Baxter (Strange Day) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:John_West_aka_John_West_Jr.jpg Trivia First person to ever take a film and distributed it in select theaters around the U.S. and overseas without major distribution. (BAR-BE-Q) 2000. Also making deals with pay-per-view. Bar-be-q comedy film is listed in the museum at University of Indiana Black Film Collection. John was very close to Afeni Shakur(Died 2016) Mother of Rap Super Star Tupac Shakur[6][citation needed] https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:John_West_aka_John_West_jr_%26_Omari_Hardwick_in_Bar-Be-_Q_Film.jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:John_West_aka_John_West_Jr._%26_Afeni_Shakur_Rip)_Tupac%27s_Mom.jpg

References "John West Collection, 1997-2000". Black Film Center/Archive, Indiana University Bloomington (Finding aid).