Mo Gallini is one of those actors we feel like we’ve seen everywhere. Perhaps that’s due to his more than seventy screen roles dating back as far as 1993. Since his first role, we’ve been enjoying Mo’s work as a villain. Though he’s not always typecast that way, it is what Mo is better known for. It hasn’t always been easy for actors of mixed descent to break into Hollywood, but thanks to Mo and others like him, things are changing rapidly. Lately, we’ve been watching him play Jose Vargas in Chicago Fire. Seeing him play a wounded and depressed hero is a nice change of pace.
1. The Basics
Mo Gallini was born in Miami, Florida on February 15, 1966. His birth name was Mohamed Ghalayini, and his parents were Lebanese and Cuban. Having a mixed heritage allowed him to travel and see the world from different perspectives. Mo’s early experiences probably helped him to interpret roles later in life through a deeper understanding of how people who are very different from each other think.
2. First Time
After he moved to L.A. Mo met a director by the name of David Anspaugh who gave the tall (6’1) actor a chance as an uncredited football player in the 1993 film Rudy. It was the beginning of his long career, and he didn’t even get to have his name in the credits. However, it all came out well for him in the end since that role clearly led to others and eventually became the stellar career we all know him for.
3. Website & Social Media
If you want to know more about Mo from his own perspective, he’s allowing the public to get to know him after a fashion. You’ll find him on his private website, or you can follow ManOfMo on Instagram. Some stars are so private you never know anything about them, while others post their every whim and thought on their feed. Mo has found a delicate balance in his internet presence. He gives away just enough to keep us wanting more without ever really getting tiresome.
4. Educated Man
Before he went west with his family in 1985 Mo went to school. From 1983 to 1985 he attended the University of Florida. We didn’t find any information on what degree program he was involved in, but he has at least two years of higher education.
5. For The Win
Mo is on our long list of actors who have never received as much credit and as many awards as he deserves for his outstanding work. However, we did find one film he won an award for in 2008. In the film Selfless, he played the role of thief Westley Stone. The Bend Film Festival (2008) awarded him Best Supporting Actor honors.
6. Philosophical
Those who do check out Mo’s Insta feed will notice something if they go looking. While Mo isn’t in-your-face about what he believes, he does clearly have a spiritual or at least a philosophical side. Not overly often, but on occasion, the handsome actor posts something profound and moving that shows he’s more than an attractive face and an outstanding talent for making movies and shows better.
7. Loves Elvis
In an era when people are always looking for the biggest, best and newest thing, some people still appreciate the classics. It appears that Mo is a fan of Elvis. He even visited Graceland, which he was quite excited about. He also posted a picture of the ticket. The King of Rock and Roll is hard to say no to if you’re a music lover. We can safely assume that Mo is at least a lover of classic rock music. If not, then he must really like sequined jumpsuits.
8. Hosted TMI
TMI is Hollywood’s longest-running comedy show. Created in 2012, at the Second City Theater, TMI has had a star-studded list of guest hosts that rivals the red carpet at times. From those humble beginnings with a cast of just twenty in one location with six writers, they’ve built the show to what it is today. With locations in Cleveland, Chicago, London, Los Angeles, New York, and Texas, the cast boasts over fifty actors and twenty writers these days. TMI even moved to a larger L.A. venue, the Hollywood Acme Comedy Theatre, back in 2015 and again to the well known and loved The Hudson Theatre in 2018. In March of 2018, Mo Gallini was given the honor of being part of TMI. Naturally, he turned in a fantastic performance as host, but we’d expect nothing less.
9. Lots of Work to Do
He may be busy with fires in Chi-town right now, but this is one actor whose work is never really done. In recent years Mo has become one of those faces and talents that’s in demand. Ever since he played Enrique in 2 Fast 2 Furious, it seems like we find another show or movie he appears in every few weeks. That may be an exaggeration, but we’re glad to see more of him.
10. Good, Bad, I’m the Guy With the Gun
Playing the bad guy isn’t all bad. You get to wear the best costumes with leather or sharp suits and crisp power ties. Moreover, you get to drive high-end cars, hang out in casinos, and secret lairs. With any luck, you’re surrounded by beautiful young bodies, because they’re a staple in any villain lair. Plus there are the weapons. Any villain worth his salt gets to handle some pretty cool guns. The Internet Movie Firearms Database only has a couple of entries for guns Mo has gotten to handle on film. In season seven of CSI: NY for example, Mo carried a Berretta 3032 Tomcat.
Final Thoughts
Mo Gallini aka Mohamed Ghalayini has been on our to-watch list for over twenty years now, and he’s not leaving anytime soon if we’re lucky. Despite the lack of Academy recognition, Mo always turns in a fantastic performance and leaves us looking for the next time we see his name on a cast list. What do you want to see him in next? Let us know.
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