Raw Leiba
Leiba got his first taste of acting in 1999 in an uncredited role as a pro football Wide Receiver in Oliver Stone's "Any Given Sunday

Any Given Sunday

Any Given Sunday is a 1999 American drama film directed by Oliver Stone depicting a fictional professional American football team. The film features an ensemble cast, consisting of Al Pacino, Cameron Diaz, Dennis Quaid, Jamie Foxx, James Woods, LL Cool J, Matthew Modine, John C...

". Blessed with a chiseled physique, combined with a tough workout regiment Leiba started finding work as a Sports and Fitness model and became one of the most sought after "body models" even landing on AMC'S (American Movie Classics) "Shirtless: Hollywood's Sexiest Men" along with the likes of Brad Pitt

Brad Pitt

William Bradley "Brad" Pitt is an American actor and film producer. Pitt has received two Academy Award nominations and four Golden Globe Award nominations, winning one...

, Russell Crowe

Russell Crowe

Russell Ira Crowe is a New Zealander Australian actor , film producer and musician. He came to international attention for his role as Roman General Maximus Decimus Meridius in the 2000 historical epic film Gladiator, directed by Ridley Scott, for which he won an Academy Award for Best Actor, a...

 and Denzel Washington

Denzel Washington

Denzel Hayes Washington Jr. is an American actor, screenwriter, director, and film producer. He first rose to prominence when he joined the cast of the medical drama, St. Elsewhere, playing Dr...

.
After starring in number of Independent film

Independent film

An independent film, or indie film, is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies, independent films are also produced...

 features Raw Leiba decided to put his acting and athleticism to the ultimate test by competing in TLC'S (The Learning Channel

TLC (TV channel)

TLC is an American cable TV specialty channel which initially focused on educational content. Since 1991 TLC has been owned by Discovery Communications, the same company that operates the Discovery Channel, Animal Planet and The Science Channel, as well as other learning-themed networks...

) "Help Wanted

Help Wanted

Help Wanted may refer to:* Help Wanted , a film with Lois Meredith* Help Wanted , a film directed by Fred Zinnemann* Help Wanted , the forthcoming solo album from Eric Avery...

" a spinoff of the ABC Reality show

Reality television

Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...

 "The Next Action Hero" where competitors compete in a variety of stunts including fire burns, high falls and the ever dangerous Air-ram ratchet while still maintaining character and performing lines.

Tinseltown came calling and Raw Leiba signed to do play a character originally named "Cave" Stringer Bell's bodyguard on the highly acclaimed and Peabody award

Peabody Award

The George Foster Peabody Awards recognize distinguished and meritorious public service by radio and television stations, networks, producing organizations and individuals. In 1939, the National Association of Broadcasters formed a committee to recognize outstanding achievement in radio broadcasting...

 winning show "The Wire

The WIRE

the WIRE is the student-run College radio station at the University of Oklahoma, broadcasting in a freeform format. The WIRE serves the University of Oklahoma and surrounding communities, and is staffed by student DJs. The WIRE broadcasts at 1710 kHz AM in Norman, Oklahoma...

" working with famed directors Joe Chapelle and Ernest Dickenson and renown stunt coordinator Jeff Gibson. Leiba starred on 3 Wire episodes "Reformation

Reformation (The Wire episode)

"Reformation" is the tenth episode of the third season of the HBO original series, The Wire. The episode was written by Ed Burns from a story by David Simon & Ed Burns and was directed by Christine Moore...

", "Middle Ground

Middle Ground (The Wire episode)

"Middle Ground" is the eleventh episode of the third season of the HBO original series, The Wire. The episode was written by George Pelecanos from a story by David Simon & George Pelecanos and was directed by Joe Chappelle. It originally aired on December 12, 2004...

" and "Mission Accomplished

Mission Accomplished (The Wire episode)

"Mission Accomplished" is the twelfth and final episode of the third season of the HBO original series, The Wire. The episode was written by David Simon from a story by David Simon & Ed Burns and was directed by Ernest Dickerson. It originally aired on December 19, 2004.-Title reference:The title...

". The Wire "Middle Ground" episode featured the warehouse death of Leiba's character "Cave" the bodyguard and kingpin Russell Stringer Bell (Idris Elba

Idris Elba

Idrissa Akuna "Idris" Elba is a British television, theatre, and film actor. He has starred in both British and American productions. Elba grew up in Canning Town, East London. One of his first acting roles was in the soap opera Family Affairs. He has worked in a variety of TV roles including ...

) at the hands of Omar Little

Omar Little

Omar Devone Little is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, portrayed by Michael K. Williams. Omar is a renowned stick-up man who lives by a strict moral code and never deviates from his rules, foremost of which is that he never robs or menaces people who are not involved in "the game"....

and "Brother" Mouzone. Raw Leiba has since gone on to do TV and Major Motion pictures both in the U.S. and Brazil. see Knights of Prosperity (ABC), Kidnapped (NBC), LifeSupport (HBO)and was named Gym Magazines "Fittest Human" for 2007.

External links