We had the good fortune of connecting with Antony Del Rio and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Antony, putting aside the decision to work for yourself, what other decisions were critical to your success?
The single most important factor that has contributed to my success was a shift in mindset. For so long I had the perfectly planned out vision of what my career was supposed to look like. I wanted to be an actor on the big screen and despite enjoying (and being somewhat decent at) other facets of the entertainment industry, I felt I couldn’t work on anything outside of my on-camera goal. After realizing I had developed a habit of saying “no” to a lot of good opportunities from fear of being pigeonholed as anything other than an actor, I knew I needed to make a change. It was then that I decided to pivot my outlook to a more optimistic and opportunistic one. In the days that followed, a voice acting opportunity presented itself and I decided to break my streak and say “what the hell?!” Once I made myself available to possibilities outside of my immediate focus, I opened the door to a slew of new projects. I didn’t realize it at the time, but I had agreed to what would jump-start a new, successful, and rewarding career in this niche field.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Everyday I get to stand behind a mic to bring characters in video games and cartoons to life and I can’t get enough of it. I’ve been working in the animation industry as a voice actor for 12 years now and it wasn’t until 2020 that I truly realized what makes me most excited about my profession. Nickelodeon is bringing back a show that I would watch every day as a kid, I was in love with it, and now I get to be a part of the new iteration. It’s literally the first project I have done that I can honestly say I “fangirled” over. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had the chance to work on a lot of amazing things that I am very proud of, but this show shaped my childhood. I realize now just how impactful these shows and video games can be and I am proud that, even if in small part, I can inspire, entertain, and provide the same joy and impact that these shows brought me as a kid. If someone had told me 12 years ago that this is what I’d be doing as my career, I would never believe it. Who knows, maybe the next 12 years I’ll be doing something completely different. If there’s one thing that I’ve learned throughout all of this, it’s that new and exciting opportunities are being thrown at you all the time and I think it’s important to recognize them and seize them when they present themselves.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
First thing in the morning we head over to this tiny authentic Sicilian hole-in-the-wall in North Miami Beach called Dolci di Sicilia. Here we order some ragu stuffed arancine balls, cappuccinos and cannolis. Another must in Miami is a trip to the Everglades- stopping at any of the parks along Tamiami Trail that offer airboat rides is an experience to be had. It is no secret that Joe’s Stone Crab is a Miami staple, but what most people don’t know is that instead of making a reservation and spending $$$ at the restaurant, there is an adjacent to-go cafe where I opt for lobster rolls and the crab cake sandwich. I was raised in Kendall so I have to take you to my local favorites. The croquetas at Islas Canarias are the best bar none, but their chicken noodle soup can literally cure the soul. For the starter pack on a Colombian night out, we would go to a bar in Wynwood called El Patio. There we’d dance till 2am to latin music before heading out to the ultimate night cap spot- Los Perros in West Kendall to stuff our faces with a Colombian-style twist on hot dogs and hamburgers you’ve never had before.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would be remiss not to give a shoutout to my parents for helping me get to where I am today. I am very aware that you don’t get the chances that I have had in my life without making plenty of sacrifices, and they have made many for my benefit. As many latino families in Miami know, it is kind of this unspoken rule where we’re meant to grow up with our family, move into a house just a couple blocks down, and raise our children close to the abuelitos. I went an untraditional route and was encouraged to pursue what I loved, regardless of the distance and obstacles- although hard at times. A big shout out to the Roxy Theatre Group. This was the performing arts center I went to growing up in Miami. As a kid you’re given countless ideas of what you could be when you get older and Roxy, Charlie Sothers, and the whole crew at this organization were instrumental in my decision to pursue acting. I would also like to shout out the cast of the very first animated show I worked on. I was fortunate enough to be cast in Marvel’s Super Hero Squad which aired on Cartoon Network. It was working beside some of the great voice actors like Tom Kenny (Spongebob), Tara Strong (Timmy Turner), and Charlie Adler (Transformers) that solidified my love for the animation world.

Instagram: www.instagram.com/antonydelrio

Youtube: www.youtube.com/antonyd102

Other: imdb.me/AntonyDelRio

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