Omar Prince

Omar Prince      I met him at the opening night of Mosaic Theatre's A Measure of Cruelty. He's slim, dark haired, designer stubbled, fortyish I'd guess, and very charming. And he has this really cool name: Omar Prince. It's his real name, and that's good, because he's an actor.

Time only for a short chat, we agreed to swap emails, and I found out that: Omar Prince is a member of AEA, AFTRA and SAG and is in therapy, a state in which he believes all actors should reside.

He's an only child, born in Havana and raised in front of a television set in West New York, New Jersey, a very Cuban barrio. He learned English watching Danny Kaye and Carol Burnett and wanted to move right inside that TV and be one of those people. So he grew up to study at H.B. Studios and graduate from The American Academy of Dramatic Arts. He writes poems, songs, librettos and ridiculous (his word) plays. And he honed his chops doing Shakespeare, Ibsen and Shaw. And, of course, film and television.

His parents are ultra-conservative Cubans who tried to leave Cuba in 1962 but were not allowed out until 1969. His father was a professional Ja-Alai player and his mother was a model for Catalina swimsuits. During the seven year wait to come to America his father spent five years in a work camp and his mother washed clothes to keep herself and Omar alive.

He's a Roman (Cuban) Catholic with a very bad temper, Cuban and Scorpio, who's irritated by hypocrisy and delighted by unabashed sincerity. And he's most proud of his daughter, actress, dancer and singer, Lorelei Lianne Prince. 

Omar Prince was married, divorced and is now in a relationship and waiting to sign his name on the dotted line. He loves all stuffed animals and when I asked for something fabulous he came back with Love! Live! Laugh! And use a good soap!  Omar Prince as Montgomery Clift

Oh, one more thing: Omar Prince is starring in The Rarest of Birds! A live one man show coming May 4, 5, 6 to the Miami Beach Cinematheque. Written by John Lisbon Wood and Omar Prince and directed by Bill Fabris the 75 minute piece is based on the life and work of Hollywood 40s and 50s actor Montgomery Clift. From the promo: Clift spoke six languages. Elizabeth Taylor begged him to marry her. He was friends with Picasso, Matisse and Gertrude Stein. He became the first uninsurable actor in Hollywood. Marilyn Monroe said he was the only person more messed up than her.

The Miami Beach Cinematheque is at Historic City Hall, 1130 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach.

305-673-4567 http://mbcinema.com

Omar Prince as Montgomery Clift