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Obama Look-Alike
Dealing with Newfound Fame
and Racism
By David Greene
Even though he is Latino, Morris Park
resident Louis Ortiz, 37, has been
capitalizing on his resemblance to
President-elect Barack Obama, signing
with a talent agency and landing a bit
part on an HBO series. But Ortiz is now
dealing with racism as well as receiving
threats on his cell phone. Ortiz was born in Manhattan and spent several years in Puerto Rico
before growing up on Commonwealth Avenue in Parkchester, and now resides in the Morris Park
section of the Borough.
Dealing with Newfound Fame
and Racism
By David Greene
Even though he is Latino, Morris Park
resident Louis Ortiz, 37, has been
capitalizing on his resemblance to
President-elect Barack Obama, signing
with a talent agency and landing a bit
part on an HBO series. But Ortiz is now
dealing with racism as well as receiving
threats on his cell phone. Ortiz was born in Manhattan and spent several years in Puerto Rico
before growing up on Commonwealth Avenue in Parkchester, and now resides in the Morris Park
section of the Borough.
Recalling Obama's thrust into the spotlight during his campaign against Hillary Clinton for the
Democratic Party nomination, Ortiz says, "Four months ago it started as a joke, somebody said,
'You hit the front page', and it was a big head shot of Obama." He adds, "I actually thought they
were just making fun of my ears." As the jokes continued over the course of the next month, Ortiz
recalled how his new friend Pat, a bartender at the local watering hole, the Williamsbridge
Tavern, advised the future President's look-alike to cut the beard and goatee. Ortiz recalls, "I
took it off and put on my first suit and there was Obama." Ortiz would sit for his head shots the
following day, which were mailed to 75 different casting directors and talent and modeling
agencies. Ortiz eventually signed with Ugly NY Talent Agency on W. 26 Street. After signing, Ortiz
says, "We were all just pretty much crossing our fingers that this guy got elected, not only for
America's sake but for my sake... and he got elected!"
Democratic Party nomination, Ortiz says, "Four months ago it started as a joke, somebody said,
'You hit the front page', and it was a big head shot of Obama." He adds, "I actually thought they
were just making fun of my ears." As the jokes continued over the course of the next month, Ortiz
recalled how his new friend Pat, a bartender at the local watering hole, the Williamsbridge
Tavern, advised the future President's look-alike to cut the beard and goatee. Ortiz recalls, "I
took it off and put on my first suit and there was Obama." Ortiz would sit for his head shots the
following day, which were mailed to 75 different casting directors and talent and modeling
agencies. Ortiz eventually signed with Ugly NY Talent Agency on W. 26 Street. After signing, Ortiz
says, "We were all just pretty much crossing our fingers that this guy got elected, not only for
America's sake but for my sake... and he got elected!"
Since his appearance change, Ortiz was first interviewed by Amber Milt of News 12 The Bronx,
and has since been interviewed by Monica Morales of NBC. Ortiz caused quite a commotion as he
was joined by a cameraman from Germany-based RTL and three Secret Service-looking friends,
as he was mobbed in Times Square recently. Since then Ortiz had a cameo in a Latin R & B
video, "I Need You," by Sony/Epic recording artist, The Dey. This week Ortiz has an audition for a
part on a computer software infomercial, and has a walk-on appearance on the HBO hit, "Flight of
the Concords." Ortiz revealed the plot, explaining, "The attache to New Zealand actually thinks I'm
the real Barack Obama. It's going to be real funny." Ortiz, who had worked for Verizon for 11
years, before he was fired two years ago, he claims, for a bogus reason, was reinstated during
arbitration, but after returning to work, was fired again, so a career change could be in order.
Ortiz says, "I'm going to go to acting school... HBO, Hollywood, here I
come."
OBAMA ATTACKS After the election night bat attack on Ali Kamara, 17, on Staten Island, and
after Angel Moreno, a Bronx resident who remains in serious condition in the intensive care unit of
University Hospital in Syracuse, N.Y. was assaulted by an off-duty soldier on November 9, Ortiz
reveals his bodyguards are no longer just for show. "I actually don't do it as a spoof anymore,"
Ortiz continues, "I actually do it for real security purposes, even though I'm not paying anybody.
But when I want to expose myself somewhere, or just have a little fun, I want to do it in an Obama-
friendly atmosphere, because the Republicans are obviously not too fond of Obama."
Being Puerto Rican and growing up in the Bronx, Ortiz has dealt with his share of racist slang
used against him, but now resembling a Black man who is about to become America's 44th
President, Ortiz says, "Racism is alive and well, because I feel it more now, looking like a Black
man, than I ever did for 37 years on this planet as a Puerto Rican man." Recalling one of his first
incidents, Ortiz recalled walking into a bar and one man at the bar quipped, 'Put a bullet in him.'
Ortiz now asks, "What does that mean? They're racist? Republicans? or maybe both." Ortiz says
he received his first threatening phone call recently, and says, "I'll be more upset if it was a joke
than the real thing, because I don't think my friends should play with me like this."
A graduate of Stevenson High School's Class of '88, Ortiz, sounding a bit diplomatic himself, says
of Obama's victory, "It's obvious that racism is not dead, but it's also obvious that America has
passed a threshold beyond people's beliefs, I mean a lot of people never thought they'd see a
Black President. It's here, it's now. We're living in historic times."
Asked what the President-elect's term will look like, Ortiz perdicts, "It's going to be really tough for
him, you know; he walked into a world of crap," adding, "He has the right idea for middle class
America and all Americans, and I think the world is not only looking at Obama, but America, in a
very different way." Ortiz expects to start acting class shortly and is writing down his experiences
as an Obama look-alike for a possible, upcoming book. If the Obama camp gets wind of Ortiz, they
may want to use him as a decoy to throw off the media and/or any potential assassins.
# # #
and has since been interviewed by Monica Morales of NBC. Ortiz caused quite a commotion as he
was joined by a cameraman from Germany-based RTL and three Secret Service-looking friends,
as he was mobbed in Times Square recently. Since then Ortiz had a cameo in a Latin R & B
video, "I Need You," by Sony/Epic recording artist, The Dey. This week Ortiz has an audition for a
part on a computer software infomercial, and has a walk-on appearance on the HBO hit, "Flight of
the Concords." Ortiz revealed the plot, explaining, "The attache to New Zealand actually thinks I'm
the real Barack Obama. It's going to be real funny." Ortiz, who had worked for Verizon for 11
years, before he was fired two years ago, he claims, for a bogus reason, was reinstated during
arbitration, but after returning to work, was fired again, so a career change could be in order.
Ortiz says, "I'm going to go to acting school... HBO, Hollywood, here I
come."
OBAMA ATTACKS After the election night bat attack on Ali Kamara, 17, on Staten Island, and
after Angel Moreno, a Bronx resident who remains in serious condition in the intensive care unit of
University Hospital in Syracuse, N.Y. was assaulted by an off-duty soldier on November 9, Ortiz
reveals his bodyguards are no longer just for show. "I actually don't do it as a spoof anymore,"
Ortiz continues, "I actually do it for real security purposes, even though I'm not paying anybody.
But when I want to expose myself somewhere, or just have a little fun, I want to do it in an Obama-
friendly atmosphere, because the Republicans are obviously not too fond of Obama."
Being Puerto Rican and growing up in the Bronx, Ortiz has dealt with his share of racist slang
used against him, but now resembling a Black man who is about to become America's 44th
President, Ortiz says, "Racism is alive and well, because I feel it more now, looking like a Black
man, than I ever did for 37 years on this planet as a Puerto Rican man." Recalling one of his first
incidents, Ortiz recalled walking into a bar and one man at the bar quipped, 'Put a bullet in him.'
Ortiz now asks, "What does that mean? They're racist? Republicans? or maybe both." Ortiz says
he received his first threatening phone call recently, and says, "I'll be more upset if it was a joke
than the real thing, because I don't think my friends should play with me like this."
A graduate of Stevenson High School's Class of '88, Ortiz, sounding a bit diplomatic himself, says
of Obama's victory, "It's obvious that racism is not dead, but it's also obvious that America has
passed a threshold beyond people's beliefs, I mean a lot of people never thought they'd see a
Black President. It's here, it's now. We're living in historic times."
Asked what the President-elect's term will look like, Ortiz perdicts, "It's going to be really tough for
him, you know; he walked into a world of crap," adding, "He has the right idea for middle class
America and all Americans, and I think the world is not only looking at Obama, but America, in a
very different way." Ortiz expects to start acting class shortly and is writing down his experiences
as an Obama look-alike for a possible, upcoming book. If the Obama camp gets wind of Ortiz, they
may want to use him as a decoy to throw off the media and/or any potential assassins.
# # #
- PHOTO 1: Barack Obama look-alike Louis Ortiz reads about Obama supporter Angel
Moreno, attacked in an upstate N.Y. bar. - PHOTO 2: Barack Obama look-alike Louis Ortiz reads about Obama supporter Angel
Moreno, attacked in an upstate N.Y. bar. - - PHOTO 3: Barack Obama look-alike Louis Ortiz spends a quiet Sunday playing dominos
and watching the N.Y. Giants. - PHOTO 4: Wearing his first suit, Presidential impersonator Louis Ortiz is looking for a new
career as a Barack Obama impersonator. - PHOTO 5: A photo of the real President-elect Barak
- Photo credits: David Greene
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