Who is Shawn Fonteno?
Shawn Darnell Fonteno, also known under the nickname Solo, was born on 8 April 1968 under the zodiac sign of Aries in Watts, Los Angeles, California USA, and holds American nationality. He’s a 52-year-old African-American actor, voice actor, and rapper, probably best recognized for providing his voice to Franklin Clinton in the highly popular action-adventure video game “Grand Theft Auto V” (2013).
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How rich is he, as of now? Shawn Fonteno Net Worth
As of mid-2021, Shawn Fonteno’s net worth is estimated at over $1 million, earned through his successful contribution to the entertainment industry since he launched his career back in 2000.
Early Life, Parents, Siblings, Educational Background
Shawn Fonteno spent his early years in Watts, a neighborhood in southern Los Angeles, where he was raised by his father Thomas Fonteno, and his mother, whose name isn’t disclosed.
It’s also unknown whether he has siblings or is an only child. His cousin is famous American rapper Young Maylay. Regarding his education, Shawn went to Locke High School.
Gang Member and Music Career
Before he started pursuing his professional career as a rapper and actor, Shawn was a member of an African American street gang. As a drug dealer, a car stealer, and a thief, he faced several dangerous and life-threatening situations, and was even at a high risk of being shot during a conflict.
Fortunately, this traumatic experience led him to leave the gang and turn his life around. He then turned to music, and started performing under the stage name Solo. In no time he co-formed a rap duo called Kam & Solo, along with rapper Kam, and associated with Ice Cube’s Lench Mob Crew. In 1999, the duo released the music video for the single “Where I’m Coming From”, but then disbanded.
Acting Career
Shawn Fonteno started his acting career in 2000, when he made his debut feature film appearance in the role of Big Mo in the comedy “3 Strikes”, written and directed by DJ Pooh, and alongside Brian Hooks, Faizon Love, and David Alan Grier The film was.
It was a modest box office success even though it received negative reviews. In the following year, he continued his collaboration with DJ Pooh, and appeared in his next project, the stoner comedy film “The Wash”, in which he portrayed Face and shared the screen with him, Snoop Dogg, and Dr. Dre. His next role came in 2017 when he featured as Bam in the stoner comedy film “Grow House”, alongside DeRay Davis and Lil Duval, also written and directed by DJ Pooh.
Voice Acting and Video Games
In 2004, Shawn Fonteno was invited to be a part of the action-adventure video game “Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas”, by DJ Pooh, who served as a writer and co-producer of that, so he lent his voice to a gang member of Grove Street Families. The video game was published by Rockstar Games, and is the fifth main entry and seventh installment of the “Grand Theft Auto” series, and his cousin Young Maylay did the voice-over of the main protagonist Carl ‘CJ’ Johnson. The game was critically acclaimed and considered one of the best video games ever made, also one of the best-selling of all time.
Shawn’s next major project came in 2013, when he was chosen to provide his voice to one of three main protagonists, street gangster Franklin Clinton, in the seventh main entry and 15th installment of the “Grand Theft Auto” series, entitled “Grand Theft Auto V”. The game became the fastest-selling video game of all time, earning over $1 billion in its first three days, as well as receiving critical acclaim. It earned him a BTVA Video Game Voice Acting Award nomination for Best Vocal Ensemble in a Video Game, which he shared with other cast members.
Black Love pic.twitter.com/oMGi0gD7qe
— Shawn Fonteno (@Shawn_Fonteno) November 8, 2021
He would later reprise the role in the 2021 live-action re-enactment of a cut scene in the game, entitled “The Original GTA V: Lamar Roasts Franklin In Real-Life”.
Appearance and Vital Statistics
Shawn Fonteno has short dark brown hair and dark brown eyes. He stands at a height of 5ft 11ins (1.80m), while his weight is around 194lbs (88kgs). Information about his vital statistics, biceps size, and shoe size isn’t available.
Personal Life and Hobbies
Shawn Fonteno is a married man, and the name of his wife is Bridgette Johnson; the couple tied the knot at a wedding ceremony held on 9 August 1996. They have one child, a daughter named Bria Fonteno. Their residence is still in Los Angeles.
Shawn is an avid fan of Harley Davidson Motorcycles, and enjoys spending his spare time riding and customizing them.
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