Shavar Malik Ross is an American actor, film director, screenwriter, film producer, editor, photographer, and author
Background
Ross was born in the South Bronx, New New York His mother took Shavar and his sister to Macon, Georgia, while his father went to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career. In 1979, while visiting his father in California during his school"s Christmas vacation, Shavar was discovered by top children"s agent Evelyn Shultz.
Career
He is known for his recurring television roles as Dudley Johnson in the National Broadcasting Company sitcom Diff"rent Strokes, and as Weasel in the American Broadcasting Company sitcom Family Matters. Also in 1980, Shavar appeared in the television film Scout"s Honor, also with Gary Coleman. Two years later, Ross became a voice actor for Hanna-Barbera and voiced Our Gang kid Billie "Buckwheat" Thomas from the animated television series version of The Little Rascals.
He also appeared in the television show Benson, as part of a "big brother/little brother"-type charity imposition that the governor made the employees participate in (season 2 ep 11).
Ross had a recurring role as T.C."s son on the detective drama Magnum, Philippine Islands Another recurring role was on the series Family Matters as "Weasel".
Ross has appeared in over 100 film and episodic television projects throughout his career, including such films as the fifth installment of the Friday the 13th movie series Friday the 13th: A New Beginning in 1985 as "Reggie Also Known As Reggie The Reckless". Shavar is a film director and operates his own film and television production company, Tri-Seven Entertainment. His first short film, Soul to Take (2003), garnered him an Internet distribution deal with Russell Simmons" media company Simmons/Lathan Media Group.
His second short film, A Taste of Us (2004), dealt with the civil unrest of the 1960s segregation in the south and was originally made as a pilot presentation for the television One Network.
Lord Help Us (released nationally in May 2007), an inspirational urban romantic comedy starring American Idol‘s Nadia Turner, Oscar nominee Margaret Avery (The Color Purple), Debra Wilson (MADtv, Scary Movie 4), comedian Joe Clair (Black Entertainment Television"s Rap City, Take the Cake), Grammy-Award winning singer First Rate (at Lloyd's) Jarreau and many others marked his feature film directorial debut. The site is personal, humorous, and informative, covering a plethora of topics with hopes of inspiring its readers to bring out the best in their own personal lives.
In 2008, he played a "prosperity preacher" on David Alan Grier"s show Chocolate News on Comedy Central.