Irving Rameses "Ving" Rhames (born
May 12 1959) is a
Golden Globe-winning
American actor.
Biography
Early life
Rhames was born in
New York City,
New York to
African-American parents Reatha, a homemaker, and Ernest Rhames, an auto mechanic.
[Ving Rhames Biography (1959?-)] He was named after retired
NBC journalist
Irving R. Levine[Newsmakers - Newsweek Entertainment - MSNBC.com] and grew up in
Harlem, Manhattan. A good student, Ving entered New York's
School of Performing Arts, where he discovered his love of acting. After high school he studied drama at
SUNY Purchase where he met fellow actor
Stanley Tucci, who gave him his nickname "Ving". He later transferred to
Juilliard, where he began his career in New York theater.
[Ving Rhames]
A keen fitness and weight-lifting enthusiast, Rhames is also well known for his strong spiritual beliefs and
benevolent attitude toward other people.
