Early Life and Career
Da Silva was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey. In a 2001 episode of This American Life, an extended interview with Da Silve detailed his rise to fame. During this interview, Da Silva explained that he was the first street ball athlete ever to be signed to an advertising contract by Nike. Da Silva's signing with Nike preceded other future street ball players and had an immediate and lasting impact on the sport of basketball as well as sports advertising. He performed with Alicia Keys, in 2001 in New York City’s Niketown while promoting the well known Nike campaign. He was subsequently mentioned in Scoop Jackson’s main division, titled ‘Sole Provider’, which recognized the best of Nike’s 35 year chronicle. In 2003, Luis was also the youngest player signed to the Harlem Wizards Show basketball team.
After such great exposure through his endorsements, Midway Games offered Luis a lead in the newly developed video game, L.A. Rush, which sold 1 million units internationally. He has also worked with Midway performing the video game motion capturing for NBA Ballers, NBA Ballers: Phenom, NBA Ballers: Chosen One, NBA 2K8, NBA 2K9 and AND 1 Streetball video games. He has been featured in magazines SLAM and DIME and on the front page of the Wall Street Journal and the cover of TIME overseas.
In 2006, Stephon Marbury and Steve & Barry's announced that Da Silva would hit the road on the Starbury SLAM Tour(SM), with the first of many appearances at Steve & Barry's stores and schools across 120 cities in 60 days to perform his unique style of Hip Hop-themed basketball wizardry in front of kids and parents. Andy Todd, president of Steve & Barry's, said "Trikz is not only a phenomenal performer; he's also a phenomenal guy who kids will enjoy seeing and hearing."
In August 2007, Da Silva fulfilled a childhood dream when he was invited to participate in a Harlem Globetrotters mini-camp in Houston, TX and two days into the camp was offered a contract to join the legendary team.
In October 2008, the Maryland Nighthawks announced that they selected Luis "Trikz" da Silva with the 14th overall pick as part of their official "Travel team" of the PBL this year, and are set to tour China and other Asian countries during the season.
In 2009, Da Silva achieved a personal goal of setting a Guinness World Records of 24 consecutive neck catches of a basketball. In 2009, Da Silva became the youngest person ever inducted into the City of Elizabeth Athletic Hall Of Fame.
Da Silva has been working on creating his niche in the film industry in such films as "The Brave One" (co-starring Academy Award winner Jodie Foster) and "Pride & Glory" (co-starring Edward Norton & Colin Farrell).
Da Silva has produced and directed an instructional DVD entitled "Freestyle 101" which has been created into an Apple application available on iTunes and Apple store. This DVD is a streetball tutorial that is devoted to inspiring children, adolescents and adults to use basketball in a creative and challenging way of physical fitness. He also became a vegan in 2010 to set an example for others of living a healthy lifestyle through diet and exercise.
Da Silva performed with Sean Combs because of his hit single, ‘Dirty Money - Hello, Good Morning (NCAA Edition) ’ for the time of the 2010 NCAA Finals half-time Show commercial Da Silva also performed during the 2010 World Basketball Festival, in New York City, during the Jay-Z performance taking place in the Radio City Music Hall, all presented by Nike.
March 2011 marks the release of Da Silva's "Freestyle 101" DVD onto Amazon.com, which is a full-length 47 minute instructional DVD designed to teach and motivate anyone interested in learning basketball's most extraordinary trick moves. This is exclusive DVD is only available for purchase at Amazon.com in a collaborative effect with Nightowl Productions and Freestyle Dreams Media.
In 2011, Da Silva plays a new role in the summer blockbuster "Fast Five" alongside Vin Diesel and Paul Walker. He appeared alongside Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum in the 2012 comedy, 21 Jump Street. With the release of 2013 “Dead Man Down”, in which Luis is again working with Colin Farrell, Da Silva gained his most note-worthy role as “Terry”, the henchman of a notorious gang. His performance landed him on the red-carpet with fellow co-stars Terrance Howard, Noomi Rapace and Dominic Cooper. This lead role is followed up by a role in the 2013 summer hit “The Heat” featuring Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy.
Read more about this topic: Luis Da Silva
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