Luis Da Silva

Luis Fernando "Trikz" Da Silva Jr. (born August 3, 1982) is an American actor, basketball player, author, and producer. He gained fame after headlining the 2001 Nike Freestyle ad campaign.[1]

This article is about American basketball player and actor. For the Brazilian sprinter, see Luís da Silva.

Luis Da Silva Jr
Luis Trikz Da Silva Jr in 2016
Born
Luis Fernando Da Silva Jr.

(1982-08-03) August 3, 1982
Elizabeth, New Jersey, U.S.
OccupationActor, freestyle basketball pioneer, author, producer
Years active2001–present
Websitewww.luisdasilvajr.com

Basketball career

In a 2001 episode of This American Life,[2] Da Silva was the first streetball athlete to be signed to an advertising contract by Nike.[1] He performed with Alicia Keys in 2001 in New York City's Niketown while promoting the well known Nike campaign. He was subsequently mentioned in Scoop Jackson’s main division, titled Sole Provider, which recognized the best of Nike’s 35-year chronicle.[3] In 2003, Da Silva was the youngest player signed to the Harlem Wizards Show basketball team.[4]

Midway Games offered Da Silva a lead in the newly developed video game, L.A. Rush, which sold 1 million units internationally. He has also worked with Midway performing the video game motion capturing for NBA Ballers, NBA Ballers: Phenom, NBA Ballers: Chosen One, NBA 2K8, NBA 2K9 and AND 1 Streetball video games.[5] He has been featured in magazines SLAM and DIME and on the front page of The Wall Street Journal and the cover of TIME overseas.

In 2006, Stephon Marbury and Steve & Barry's announced that Da Silva would hit the road on the Starbury SLAM Tour, with the first of many appearances at Steve & Barry's stores and schools across 120 cities in 60 days to perform his unique style of hip hop themed basketball wizardry in front of kids and parents. Andy Todd, president of Steve & Barry's, said "Trikz is not only a phenomenal performer; he's also a phenomenal guy who kids will enjoy seeing and hearing."[6]

In August 2007, Da Silva fulfilled a childhood dream when he was invited to participate in a Harlem Globetrotters mini-camp in Houston, TX and two days into the camp was offered a contract to join the legendary team.[7]

In October 2008, the Maryland Nighthawks announced that they selected Da Silva with the 14th overall pick as part of their official "Travel team" of the PBL this year, and are set to tour China and other Asian countries during the season.[8]

In 2009, Da Silva achieved a personal goal of setting a Guinness World Record of 24 consecutive neck catches of a basketball.[9] In 2009, Da Silva became the youngest person ever inducted into the City of Elizabeth Athletic Hall of Fame.[5]

Da Silva performed during the 2010 World Basketball Festival in New York City, while the Jay-Z performance took place in the Radio City Music Hall, all presented by Nike.[10]

Acting career

Da Silva began appearing in such films as The Brave One and Pride & Glory in the late 2000s.

Da Silva has produced and directed an instructional DVD entitled Freestyle 101, which has been created into an Apple application available on iTunes and Apple store.[11] This DVD is a streetball tutorial that is devoted to inspiring children, adolescents and adults to use basketball in a creative and challenging way of physical fitness.

March 2011 marks the release of Da Silva's Freestyle 101 DVD onto Amazon.com, which is a full-length 47-minute instructional DVD designed to teach and motivate anyone interested in learning basketball's most extraordinary trick moves. This is exclusive DVD is only available for purchase at Amazon.com in a collaborative effect with Nightowl Productions and Freestyle Dreams Media.[12]

In 2011, Da Silva played in Fast Five and in the 2012 comedy 21 Jump Street, gaining increasing exposure. With the release of 2013's Dead Man Down, Da Silva had his biggest role yet, as Terrence Howard's righthand man, Terry.[13] This was followed up by a role in the 2013 summer hit The Heat featuring Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy.

In 2014, Da Silva completed filming roles for several upcoming films, like Convergence, Aztec Warrior, American Heist, American Project, American Hero, Triple 9, and Mr. Right.

Da Silva has won roles in many of John Travolta's recent pictures, Gotti, Trading Paint and Cigarette.

Da Silva does television guest starring and co-starring roles on series like Graceland, Person of Interest and Power.

Filmography
Film/Television
Year Title Role Notes
2004 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Marvin TV – 1 episode
2007 The Brave One Lee
2008 Pride and Glory Dominican Bodega Customer
2009 Clear Lake, WI Jason
2010MercyBurned PrisonerTV – 1 episode
Southern Fried StingsGuyTV – 1 episode
America's Most WantedVariousTV – 9 episodes
Burn NoticePrison GangTV – 3 episodes
2011Loving the Bad ManAlejandro Garcia De La Paz
The MorticianBenny
Fast FiveDiego
TremeBrazilian ForemanTV – 1 episode
RemnantsRussAlso associate producer
In a PickleLatino toughs
CO2Latino gang member
2012Dragon EyesDash
21 Jump StreetLuis
BayTown DiscoLarge VatoFilming
Hound DogsOrlandoPilot episode
2013Dead Man DownTerry
Body of ProofOscar RamirezTV- 1 episode
The HeatDealer #4
Aztec WarriorChupacabra Leader
2015Kickboxer: VengeanceStahl
Mr. RightEspinoza
2015-2016PowerMexican Hitter
2016Triple 9Luis Pinto
I Am WrathCharley
WolvesDefender W.4th
PatersonBlood in convertible
2017 Hidden America with Jonah RayGabriel
GottiDr. Carmine
The Girl Who Invented KissingLuis
2018 Speed KillsPanama
Trading PaintDiner Redneck
Video games
Year Title Role Notes
2004 NBA Ballers Trikz
2005 L.A. Rush Trikz Lane Main role
2006 AND 1 Streetball Trikz

Writing career

Da Silva published his first children's book titled A Boy Named Boo, which he wrote and illustrated.[14]

References
  1. Rovell, Darren (June 14, 2001). "Bedazzling ballhandlers make video a Stomping success". Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  2. "Radio Archive by Date".
  3. "Fotoday". Archived from the original on August 23, 2010. Retrieved October 2, 2010.
  4. "Luis Da Silva" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 20, 2011. Retrieved October 12, 2008.
  5. "City of Elizabeth". Archived from the original on June 5, 2010. Retrieved October 11, 2010.
  6. LeWinter, Marlon. "Luis 'Trikz' Da Silva Joins Team Starbury".
  7. "Harlem Globetrotters". Archived from the original on September 30, 2011. Retrieved April 2, 2011.
  8. "Maryland Nighthawks Select Trikz and Pat da Roc in 2008 PBL Draft". October 17, 2008. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  9. "Shaquille O Neal Attempts GWR". Archived from the original on July 5, 2010. Retrieved April 13, 2010.
  10. "13 Tip Off".
  11. "The Trikz". Archived from the original on August 26, 2010. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
  12. "Freestyle 101".
  13. "The Premiere of FilmDistrict's 'Dead Man Down' at ArcLight Hollywood".
  14. "A Boy Named Boo by Luis Trikz Da Silva, Jr".
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