Actor, businessman and author, Ray Arroyo has strived to achieve excellence in his undertakings, and to help others to understand and achieve their own potential.

 

Born August 17, 1976, in New York, Arroyo was raised by his mother, a single parent, in the South Bronx. He attended Dewitt Clinton High School where he later dropped out to pursue a career in the corporate industry.

Having worked numerous jobs since the age of twelve, Arroyo started a small business, The Jewelry Metro Exchange, where he independently sold jewelry to his fellow classmates and friends. That business, The Jewelry Metro Exchange, led Ray to a contact who opened the door in the financial services industry.  

After being introduced to what was later considered to be the largest financial services company in the world, Ray Arroyo became the youngest in his base-shop to have recruited the most people and was awarded top recruiter in his hierarchy.

 At the age of 18, Arroyo was asked to be a guest speaker where he shared many experiences and provided a variety of techniques to better improve one’s business. 

Although, this was only the beginning of his career, Arroyo continued to break records in his base –shop, leading him to do more seminars and workshops. On August 18 of 2000, he was awarded #1 for best support and dedication from his fellow team mates and in July of 2000, #1 in prepaid legal services from his company.

Ray won many awards however, as most would consider these achievements to be a successful one, Ray, considered them to be just another progress.  Having provided himself with very little credit, somewhere between the years 1998 and 1999, Ray fell under a major depression, causing him to lose track of his goals and dreams. Lost, hurt and confused, Ray did not know where to turn. It was during this time where the contemplation of suicide had entered his mind.

Although, things seemed down for the fellow actor, Ray managed to stay positive by listening to motivational tapes, attending church and going to the gym.   Ray quotes, “It was these moments that caused me to re-evaluate my life and through these evaluations, caused me to seek GOD.”  During his depression, Ray found it very hard to sleep. This caused him to watch late night television; leading to the biographies of successful actors. Ray quotes, “I never thought about being an actor, it’s just, I’ve exhausted the corporate industry and found the entertainment industry to be something I love”.

In 2002, Ray had to make a major decision in-regard to letting go of the financial industry to pursue an acting career in the entertainment industry. Ray quotes” it wasn’t an easy decision. I had to go away for two weeks, to decide” .  Ray quotes” I enjoyed marketing, it was 8 wonderful years of my life”.

Having had no experience in the entertainment industry, this was a new journey for the rising actor. In 2002 he played a club goer in the feature film The 25^th Hour, Directed by Spike Lee,  Followed by a Muslim in The Law And order Episode, “American Jihad”.  Although extra- work seemed like the only work he could find at the time, Ray was later cast as a principal actor on an independent short film titled Cryder Point (written and directed by Jason Antos), where he played a security guard named Rodriguez. 

Arroyo worked as a principal actor in many films but landed his first major role in the feature film “Dinner with An Assassin”, where he played a police officer named Floyd.  Although this was an Independent feature film, Arroyo was awarded Best Drama designation at the Spaghettie Urban Junction Film festival  in 2005.

Arroyo continues to  pursuit a career in the entertainment industry  and is currently receiving his education through The Lee Strasberg  Theatre Institute. Although acting is Arroyo’s primary focus today, he is currently writing his first book,“The Counterfeits Of Love”, which is scheduled to be published in 2009.