Former Ohio State men’s basketball player Otis Winston transitioned his career into acting and has landed prominent roles in different movies and TV series. Aside from his on-screen career, the S.W.A.T. actor has dipped his toes into a business venture and owns a production company, F’o’CUSED PRODUCTIONz.
Winston made his acting debut in 2011 through the TV series The Game, followed by his appearances in notable series like Chicago Fire, The Chi, Evening Shade, and S.W.A.T.
Also, he made film appearances in minor roles in Greenland (2020), B-Boy Blues (2021), The Matchmaker (2021), Plane (2023) and The Out-Laws (2023).
In 2024, Winston saw his third appearance in the Venom film franchise, appearing inVenom: The Last Dance, starring Tom Hardy, Rhys Ifans, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Juno Temple, Clark Backo, Ivo Nandi, Peggy Lu, and Dash McCloud. Previously, he had appeared in the film’s first two installments: Venom (2018) and Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021).
Key Takeaways:
- Otis Winston was born with a speech impediment and couldn’t speak properly until ten.
- He was raised alongside his three brothers & a sister and is the youngest of five children.
- Otis is an athlete who did track and field and basketball for the Buckeyes.
- Winston is a head girls’ track coach at New Albany High School.
- He began acting in 2011 and later established a production company, F’o’CUSED PRODUCTIONz.
What Is Otis Winston’s Age? Where Is He From?
Otis Winston was born Otis D. Winston in Youngstown, Ohio, US, to his parents, Donald and Barbara Winston. As of 2024, Winston is 50 years old. On July 15, 2023, his brother Brian wished him his 50th birthday and said all four brothers crossed the 50th milestone.
He was born with a speech impediment and couldn’t speak properly until he was ten years old.
Winston, the youngest of five kids, has four older siblings: three brothers, Kevin, Donald Jr., Brian, and a sister, Tanesha. The Winston brothers were raised by their mother, Barbara, in public housing on Youngstown’s west. Later, she moved her kids to Toronto in southeastern Ohio.
In an interview, Otis mentioned how his mother ended up in Toronto. Winston revealed that his dad was a pastor and a street man. Due to his street activities, Donald ended up spending many years in prison.
When the family had just moved to Toronto, police surrounded their house to arrest Donald, but Otis still wonders how his dad managed to run away without getting caught at that time.
After Donald went to prison, Otis and the family couldn’t see him until Otis was 19 years old. After they moved to Toronto, Donald again ended up in jail for 10 or 11 years.
Meanwhile, Otis was asked why he was moving to Toronto. His dad, a pastor, had moved there to take over the church. However, he was arrested, and it couldn’t happen.
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All About Otis Winston’s Career: From Sports To Acting
Otis was an athletic guy from an early age and grew up watching the Buckeyes. Furthermore, he is a former two-sport star in track and field and basketball for the Buckeyes. He was also the captain of the Basketball and Track teams at OSU.
In addition, he holds a 30-year-old record at Ohio State University. While trying to eke out a professional career, he played hoops in Russia. At that time, Winston was working on a journal that would turn into a script when he returned to America.
Meanwhile, Winston has faced many challenges in his life. Winston moved on from his sports career to the film line and contributed well, helping new talents.
He was a software engineer at one time. However, he lost his job and received a mental boost from his son to embrace his acting career.
In an interview, Winston shared his thoughts of losing his job. Otis was inspired when his son said, “Daddy, you have a job. Remember, you’re an actor. Be an actor, daddy.”
Since then, Winston has been actively working in the entertainment world. In 2011, Winston acted and directed a movie. In 2017, he made a short movie titled Split Decision.
The following year, Otis starred as Officer Louis Tierney in Chicago Fire. The same year, Otis got to work in Venom as Chasing Guard. Likewise, Winston can be seen in Games People Play, The Ghost Who Walks, Greenland, The Chi, and Venom: Let There Be Carnage.
In 2023, Winston worked on two projects, Plane and The Out-Laws, which followed his third appearance in the Venom film franchise, Venom: The Last Dance.
Otis Winston Owns F’o’CUSED PRODUCTIONz – Experience As A Coach
Athlete-turned-actor Otis Winston has dedicated over a decade to this field. He established his own production company, F’o’CUSED PRODUCTIONz, where he has already completed multiple projects.
One of the projects includes School of Hard Knocks, a show centered on two rival schools with different racial backgrounds that are forced to come together and the challenges the teachers, students, and community face.
Winston is also a head girls track coach at New Albany High School, and he was once asked what made him open an independent production company. Winston said he became involved in coaching because he wanted to give something to newcomers or kids in this field.
Otis didn’t want other kids to reach their full potential, which he experienced in high school. So, he began volunteering and eventually became the head coach.
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Otis Winston Is The Father Of Two Kids With His Ex-Wife
Winston was married in the past, but the details about his ex-wife remain unclear. However, it is known that Winston and his ex-wife parted ways after she filed for divorce in March 2010. The reasons behind their divorce remain unclear, but they came after Winston lost his job.
While together, the former duo became parents of two kids, both sons named Promise and Reign.
The eldest one, Reign, is carrying his dad’s legacy as the Ohio State men’s track and field star. Furthermore, his high jump career began during his junior year of high school.
Meanwhile, Otis is a supportive father, and he can be seen supporting his son in his career. Winston has also attended games with his son, and as a coach, he takes good care of Reign.
Additionally, Otis posts snaps of his son on Instagram. Reign can also be followed on Instagram as @reigndawan, where he shares images of his life and events.
Likewise, his daughter, Pistol, is 21, as mentioned in her Instagram bio. On July 1, 2024, her dad made a post dedicated to his kids, and he also noted that his daughter is graduating in two years.
Otis also disclosed that Promise is currently working at a law firm and studying at Ohio Dominican University, per her IG bio.
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Hey, I am Dipesh, a passionate web content writer who loves creating engaging stories and covering trending news. As a versatile writer, I’ve had the privilege of contributing to various websites. From sports to celebrity news, I’ve immersed myself in diverse topics. My articles offer readers a deeper understanding of various fields, including celeb controversies and scandals. My interest goes far from only the glamour of Hollywood. As a sports enthusiast, I take the opportunity to analyze the lives of athletes. Whether writing blog posts or articles, I try to bring a unique perspective to every project I take.
