Post by alexis on Feb 13, 2006 16:03:18 GMT -5
Fairfield youth is ‘Phil of the Future' on Disney Channel
By Linda Tishler Levinson
Nov 19, 2004 - Ricky Ullman hopes his role on a Disney Channel show is just the beginning of his future.
Having graduated from Fairfield Warde High School, Ullman sees his role as Phil Diffy on "Phil of the Future" as a starting point for his acting career. The show centers on Phil, a teen from the year 2121 whose family is stranded in today's world after their time machine breaks down while they are on vacation. It's just been renewed for a second season.
"It's a great launch pad," he said. "There's a fan base that follows Disney."
He pointed to the success of actress and singer Hilary Duff following her role in "Lizzie McGuire."
"Disney is at such an exciting time right now," he added.
While Ullman considers this role a start, the 18-year-old has been acting most of his life.
"I did performances in my living room until I was 7," he said.
Then he attended acting camp around age 8. He had the lead in "Peter Pan."
"I was hooked," he said.
He began working with a manager to get acting jobs a year later. His first film was an independent movie, "Crossfire."
After that Ullman acted in commercials and had theater roles.
Those roles included a national tour with the musical "The King and I" with Marie Osmond and Hayley Mills. He also had a part in the Stamford Theater Works production of "A Rosen by Any Other Name." For that role he received a Best Actor award nomination from the Connecticut Critics Circle.
He then began getting television roles. He had a guest appearance on "Law & Order: Criminal Intent." He also had a role in the movie "Growing Up Brady."
More recently, starred in the Disney Channel movie "Pixel Perfect" and had a guest starring role on "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit."
He will appear in the ABC Family film "Searching for David's Heart," which premieres Nov. 21.
Born in Israel
He was born Raviv Ullman in Eilat, Israel, where he and his parents lived on a kibbutz. His parents had met in Israel but wanted to return to Connecticut to be close to family.
At age one, Ullman moved to Norwalk and a year later moved to Fairfield.
While in high school in Fairfield he was president of the Student Council during his sophomore year, and volunteered for TAP (Teen AIDS Prevention) and HOBY (Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership).
During his junior year he directed a school production of "The Odd Couple."
His parents, Brian Ullman and Laura Ehrenkranz, his sister Tali and brother Nadav still reside in Fairfield. He is the grandson of Rabbi Joseph Ehrenkranz of Stamford.
While Ullman admits it is harder to be an observant Jew as an actor, "it definitely plays a huge part in who I am and who I want to be."
He shares a home with five friends in Los Angeles, and they keep a kosher kitchen. He also attends synagogue services as often as possible.
Ullman compares his role on "Phil of the Future" to his experience as sixth-grader, the year he left Hillel Academy in Fairfield and began attending public school.
"All my schooling was based on Judaism," he said.
Attending public school forced him to learn more about the world at large, just as Phil must adapt to a different time, he said.
Ullman said he uses that experience in his role as Phil so that the "show has a real sincerity to it."
Ricky Ullman will appear in the ABC Family film "Searching for David's Heart," on Nov. 21.
By Linda Tishler Levinson
Nov 19, 2004 - Ricky Ullman hopes his role on a Disney Channel show is just the beginning of his future.
Having graduated from Fairfield Warde High School, Ullman sees his role as Phil Diffy on "Phil of the Future" as a starting point for his acting career. The show centers on Phil, a teen from the year 2121 whose family is stranded in today's world after their time machine breaks down while they are on vacation. It's just been renewed for a second season.
"It's a great launch pad," he said. "There's a fan base that follows Disney."
He pointed to the success of actress and singer Hilary Duff following her role in "Lizzie McGuire."
"Disney is at such an exciting time right now," he added.
While Ullman considers this role a start, the 18-year-old has been acting most of his life.
"I did performances in my living room until I was 7," he said.
Then he attended acting camp around age 8. He had the lead in "Peter Pan."
"I was hooked," he said.
He began working with a manager to get acting jobs a year later. His first film was an independent movie, "Crossfire."
After that Ullman acted in commercials and had theater roles.
Those roles included a national tour with the musical "The King and I" with Marie Osmond and Hayley Mills. He also had a part in the Stamford Theater Works production of "A Rosen by Any Other Name." For that role he received a Best Actor award nomination from the Connecticut Critics Circle.
He then began getting television roles. He had a guest appearance on "Law & Order: Criminal Intent." He also had a role in the movie "Growing Up Brady."
More recently, starred in the Disney Channel movie "Pixel Perfect" and had a guest starring role on "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit."
He will appear in the ABC Family film "Searching for David's Heart," which premieres Nov. 21.
Born in Israel
He was born Raviv Ullman in Eilat, Israel, where he and his parents lived on a kibbutz. His parents had met in Israel but wanted to return to Connecticut to be close to family.
At age one, Ullman moved to Norwalk and a year later moved to Fairfield.
While in high school in Fairfield he was president of the Student Council during his sophomore year, and volunteered for TAP (Teen AIDS Prevention) and HOBY (Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership).
During his junior year he directed a school production of "The Odd Couple."
His parents, Brian Ullman and Laura Ehrenkranz, his sister Tali and brother Nadav still reside in Fairfield. He is the grandson of Rabbi Joseph Ehrenkranz of Stamford.
While Ullman admits it is harder to be an observant Jew as an actor, "it definitely plays a huge part in who I am and who I want to be."
He shares a home with five friends in Los Angeles, and they keep a kosher kitchen. He also attends synagogue services as often as possible.
Ullman compares his role on "Phil of the Future" to his experience as sixth-grader, the year he left Hillel Academy in Fairfield and began attending public school.
"All my schooling was based on Judaism," he said.
Attending public school forced him to learn more about the world at large, just as Phil must adapt to a different time, he said.
Ullman said he uses that experience in his role as Phil so that the "show has a real sincerity to it."
Ricky Ullman will appear in the ABC Family film "Searching for David's Heart," on Nov. 21.
