In addition to being a writer, actor and comedian, I’m an unabashed comic book geek and pop culture enthusiast. I love action heroes, science fiction, and counterculture with a side order of subversive humor thrown in for good measure. When I was given the opportunity to star as Captain Frank Irving on SLEEPY HOLLOW (Global/Fox), it was one of the most exciting moments in my career. I couldn’t have imagined so many years ago when my mom sent me to see a new space movie called STAR WARS, that it would one day lead to this. But it did.
I started my career writing for A DIFFERENT WORLD at the age of 19, which is where I also made my first appearance on a mainstream TV series. I later became one of the original cast members on MADtv, and wrote and appeared in over 40 episodes of the series. You might also know me as “Make 7-UP Yours” guy based on a series of ads I wrote and starred in.
Since then I’ve acted in many television and film projects including KING OF THE HILL, HOUSE, THE EVIDENCE, NECESSARY ROUGHNESS, OFFICE SPACE, MAGNOLIA, LIBERTY HEIGHTS, EVOLUTION, TIME MACHINE and DRUMLINE. Right now I’m also the voice of multiple characters on BLACK DYNAMITE.
Just before filming started for SLEEPY HOLLOW, I took a drive from Los Angeles to Wilmington, North Carolina where we shoot the show, in search of the Headless Horseman. I called my journey the “Road to Hollow”. I brought a camera crew and we documented the whole thing. You can read about it in my column in Huffington Post (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/orlando-jones/the-road-to-hollow-my-sea_b_3937667.html) and we’ll release a 3-part web series soon.
Even though SLEEPY HOLLOW is still in its infancy, it’s incredibly exciting to see it receive such wide acclaim from critics and fans alike. I am privileged to work with an extremely talented group of individuals – from the cast to the creators and producers of the show – all of whom give 150% to make SLEEPY HOLLOW what it is. It’s one of the best projects I’ve ever been involved with and I couldn’t be happier.
My character, Captain Frank Irving, is a New York City detective who is sent to the town of Sleepy Hollow after a local sheriff and a minister are mysteriously beheaded. Despite tales of a “headless horseman” committing the crimes, the skeptical and pragmatic Irving cautiously investigates the murders while several other mysteries begin to unfold. (Just a bit of a teaser, I’ve had the opportunity to read far ahead into my character’s development and I have to say, it blows my mind.)
Since the show’s inception, some of the best moments for me have been interacting with fans each week, either in live tweets, on Tumblr, live blogging, video Q&A, etc. If there ever was a fourth wall I think we’ve successfully smashed it. It’s been quite an honor to have been accepted into the SLEEPY fandom, and I’m regularly humbled by fan art and messages I get from people. It’s amazing.
I hope you enjoy the upcoming live blog with Scribble. Thanks for tuning in and I hope you love SLEEPY HOLLOW as much as I do.
~ OJ
The Sleepy Hollow star joins us for a live chat at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT today!
Join in the conversation below.
