Published: May 15, 2006

Former Montreal Athlete Joins Major Hollywood Production Cast

Share This Story

Nils Oliveto gets a Role in "Horrorween"

Montreal, QC (rushprnews) - It was a long shot, but he made it. Fifty thousand applications and three mega open casting calls in Los Angeles, Toronto, and New York later, Montreal actor Nils Oliveto was picked for a role in the Hollywood production "Horrorween" produced and directed by Ed Meyer.

A former member of the Canadian National Track and Field Team, Nils was also training for the 2006 Turin Winter Olympic Games as a bobsledder. Unfortunately, his Olympic dream ended last fall when he was cut from the final roster. There is indeed a growing trend among top caliber athletes to turn into acting upon retirement. "Arnold, The Rock, Brian Bosworth, the list goes on. All these guys managed to apply their discipline and hard work into their acting craft," explains Nils. "There's a common denominator between high performance athletics and Hollywood, and that is determination."

"Not making the Olympic team, after 15 years of hard labor, was hard to swallow," says the Longueil native. "I needed to redeem myself and reset my ambitions. Going back into acting and win parts for major Hollywood films was the logical next step. I am extremely competitive, and the idea of winning a part against 50,000 other actors from all over North-America was a huge turn-on for me."

Canadian athletes have also contributed to this trend. Estella Warren (from Planet of the Apes) was a world class synchronized swimmer; former Quebec boxer Deano Clavet co-starred in "The Whole Nine Yards" as well as numerous local TV shows; and Olympic diving medalist Alexandre Despatie has expressed an interest in eventually working in front of the camera after the 2008 Olympic Games. Nils Oliveto is yet another member of a growing list of actor-athletes.

Directed, written and produced by Ed Meyer, the horror movie spoof "Horrorween," will star comedian Chuck Lamb (aka the Dead Body Guy). "The media exposure that has been generated about him at the hands of his brilliant Montreal-based publicist Anne Howard is absolutely astounding and I don't know of anyone in the movie industry who has not heard of him as a result of her work. To stand next to Mr. Lamb or even in his shadow is a guaranteed attention-grabber making him one of the hottest newcomers on the scene."

Oliveto is no stranger to Hollywood production. He has been featured in major Hollywood blockbusters like "Windtalkers" (starring Nicolas Cage), "Showtime" (starring Robert De Niro and Eddie Murphy), and the hit TV show "Boston Public". "You learn a lot when you work with guys like De Niro." Nils studied his acting craft in Montreal, Oklahoma City, and with world-renowned teacher Jon Simmons in Los Angeles.

Ironically, he's still seeking an agent in Montreal "I had an agent and a manager in Los Angeles when I lived there. I find it funny that I'm still looking for any kind of representation in my hometown!" he laughed. "I am very fluent in English, French, and Italian - so not finding acting work in my own province is no excuse!"

"Horrorween" is set to be released for Halloween 2007. Production will begin this Fall. Oliveto's publicist is Anne Howard at Rushprnews.com.

Media Contact:
Anne Howard
Agency: www.RushPRnews.com
514-523-3771
anne@rushprnews.com

alan@newsblaze.com