User:Twentycigs/peter john warriner

Peter John Warriner (born 25th January 1984) is an English chef, musician, writer and actor, although he is possibly best known in the United States for his portrayal of the character Pedro "Sonny" Vasquez in the HBO television series Oz. He is currently on an indefinate hiatus from both his musical and acting careers, although he continues to work as an executive chef in his hometown.

Background and Early Career
Warriner was born in Kingston upon Hull to an English father and Welsh mother. Raised in the North East of England, he attended Cottingham High School, graduating in 2000. It is largely believed that he recieved no further education, deciding at the time to concentrate on his promising career as a chef, which began at the age of sixteen. Throughout his youth through to the present day he plays the electric guitar and is a composer of original songs. He became a chef since leaving school, working his way up through numerous restaurants in various cities, including Kingston upon Hull, London, Paris and New York. He has continued to return to the kitchen between stints in television work and touring as a musician.

Television Career
His first career break came in 2002 at 18 years of age, where he was spotted by an agent from a modelling firm who saw potential in his rogueish looks, referring to Warriner's face as that of an "unrepentant criminal". Following this chance meeting came television work, with minor speaking and non-speaking roles in English police drama The Bill, produced by Talkback Thames, and a short-lived speaking role in two episodes from series 3 of the TV flop Footballers' Wives starring English actress Zoe Lucker. Warriner's biggest acting role so far came in 2003 when he was asked by the producers of HBO's popular prison drama Oz to play the role of Pedro "Sonny" Vasquez in its sixth and final series. Due to its huge popularity Warriner's status was elevated massively both in the U.S and U.K respectively. Warriner claims to have bought his home and open his own restaurant on revenue generated from his appearance in Oz which lasted only episodes 2 through 5. His claims are largely believed to be a tongue-in-cheek exaggeration. He has not worked on television since although in an interview in the English newspaper The Guardian he claimed to have turned down an appearance on The Farm (UK TV series) in 2005, which was eventually won by English comedy/ventriloquist duo Keith Harris and Orville the duck. Warriner signed a contract in 2007 to appear in a series of television and newspaper adverts in the U.K to promote Jus-Rol pastry, but was dropped before any such advertisements aired due to allegations of cocaine use made by English tabloid The Sun (newspaper). After initially denying the claims, Warriner later admitted that he had battled drug and alchohol addiction for many years. It is largely believed that he has been teetotal for almost two years, though he still smokes cigarettes.

Musical Career
His most notable contributions to music remain his role as touring guitarist in UB40 on their 2007 tour of South Africa and his work as a studio session musician for Macy Gray on her fourth studio album, 2007's Big. Although he has recorded several albums of his own material, he has failed to find anyone willing to release it. He continues to play live in his hometown but is no longer regarded as a professional musician.

Personal Life and Controversy
He currently lives once again in his hometown of Kingston upon Hull with his fiance, comedienne Olivia Lee and their three children : Twins Rod and Jorl (born 2005) and Tommy (born 2008). He still works as a chef. By his own admission Warriner has been arrested over 20 times for drug related crimes. He has never served a prison sentence for a drugs related offence and caused controversy in July 2009 when he claimed that Humberside Police were willing to accept bribes. This claim was Never proven. In 2008 Warriner was ordered in court to pay £2,700 in damages to a photographer he assaulted, breaking the camera in the process.