Mandell Frazier

Mandell Frazier is an American actor best known for portraying a wealthy homeowner on the primetime television soap opera drama OWN's "Tyler Perry's If Loving You Is Wrong" (2015), Victor Newman daughter's bodyguard on the 9 time Emmy Award winning soap opera drama CBS's "The Young & the Restless" (Y&R) (2015) and actress/comedienne Kym Whitley's personal trainer on the hit Reality TV series OWN's "Raising Whitley" (2014).He's also a Motivational Speaker and former celebrity personal trainer from Detroit, Michigan, USA. His father, Herbert A. Frazier, Jr. was a native of Washington D.C., USA, served in the U.S. Navy and was awarded the American Campaign Medal for performed duties in the American Theater of Operations during World War II. He was a church deacon and worked for Chrysler Corporation as a proud UAW autoworker. His mother, Dolores Frazier, is a well-known and respected international missionary/evangelist born in Cleveland, Ohio, USA.The youngest of 7 siblings, Frazier comes from a family of Ministers and Musicians. His oldest brother, Zachary, was the original drummer for Grammy Award winner, singer, songwriter, bandleader, music producer and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer George Clinton of Parliament-Funkadelic (P-Funk) and also played for 10 time Grammy Award winner singer-songwriter Chaka Khan, 3 time Grammy Award winners/Rock and Roll Hall of Famers The Temptations, The Dramatics, Etc. Frazier attended grammar school at McKenny Elementary and Taft JHS in Detroit, Michigan, USA. When he was 13, his family relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, USA after his father retired from Chrylser Corporation after 32 years of service to help support his wife's ministry.One year later his family relocated to Chicago, Illinois, USA where he attended Percy L. Julian HS and DeVry University majoring in Computer Information Systems. When Frazier was 19, his parents decided that he needed a new environment because of his declining GPA and moved him to Terre Haute, Indiana, USA with the intention of transferring him to Indiana State University (ISU) however after getting hired as a production associate for Hulman and Company (Founders of the Indianapolis 500/Brickyard 400), Frazier decided to put college on hold and join the workforce. He would often joke that he was making more money than his college professors.Frazier relocated back to Atlanta, Georgia, USA in 2000 after being signed by a modeling agency for winning a Model Search contest in Chicago, Illinois, USA however his modeling career was short-lived due to industry politics so he focused his attention on health and fitness and became a AAAI/ISMA certified personal trainer and was eventually promoted to personal training director for LA Fitness in 3 different states (e.g., GA, IN, CA), once managing the largest club in the country and having high profile clientele including Entertainers, Media Personalities, Professional/Collegiate Athletes, Models, Choreographers/Dancers, CEO's, Politicians, Etc.Also, while living in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, Frazier became a popular freelance musician (i.e., percussionists) who played for his church, independent gospel artists, did live recordings, concerts, spot tours and could often be seen playing in various drum circles/jam sessions throughout the city. In 2006, Frazier relocated back to Indiana, USA after learning his mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and his father was having multiple health problems.Although, Frazier first began acting at the age of 10 performing in a very popular gospel stage play production written and directed by his mother. It was during this time that Frazier developed a closer relationship with God and discovered his "true passion" after performing in a local church play and shortly thereafter began training with veteran actor, playwright, author and producer Bob Berry at his workshop in Carmel, Indiana, USA and eventually hired him as his private acting coach.Frazier had originally intended on living in Indiana, USA for a couple years until his parent's health improved, unfortunately his father passed away unexpectantly during a national church convention and although his mother was a breast cancer survivor she was alone after nearly 51 years of marriage which delayed Frazier's plans of moving to California, USA to pursue his acting career.In 2011, with the blessings of his mother, Frazier finally relocated to Los Angeles, California, USA and began world-class training at the prestigious Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre (UCB), SAG-AFTRA Los Angeles Conservatory and the SAG Foundation. In 2013, Frazier met actress/comedienne Kym Whitley at the NAACP Theatre Awards at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills, California, USA and was asked to be in the season 2 finale of her hit Reality TV show OWN's "Raising Whitley" (2014) where he played her personal trainer.In 2014, Frazier was an invited VIP guest of Ms. Whitley for syndicated radio host Tom Joyner's annual Fantastic Voyage Caribbean Cruise where he met and auditioned for actor, director, screenwriter, playwright, producer, author, songwriter Tyler Perry and booked the role of a wealthy homeowner on his primetime television soap opera OWN's "If Loving You Is Wrong" (2015) and shortly thereafter obtained his Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) card.Also in 2014, Frazier teamed up with NYFA film student Shantal Freedman to play a bumbling petty thief 'Dwyer' in her final graduation project at the New York Film Academy. The short film titled "Ticketed" (2015) went on to become an official selection for the 2015 Short Film Corner at Cannes International Film Festival, the LA Shorts Fest and won Best Student Film at the LA Cinema Festival of Hollywood. Frazier also received an Honorable Mention for Best Accompanying Actor at the Los Angeles Film Review Independent Film Awards 2015.Frazier has played many diverse roles on television including his portrayals of real-life figures but his most challenging role was when he was cast in Investigation Discovery's "Beauty Queen Murders: Fatal Obsession" (2013) as Larry Hazlett a former high school teacher who was sentenced to death for the rape and murder of former Rosamond beauty queen Tana Woolley in 1978.Frazier who stands at 6'2" and 220lbs is known for his infectious smile, athletic physique and leading man looks has been cast for several television series lead roles including CBS's "The Doctors: My Husband Tried to Murder Me" (2016) as Christopher Hanney an ex-NYPD detective who was sentenced to life in prison for setting his wife on fire, The Weather Channel's TV series "Hurricane 360: Battle of New Orleans" (2014) as John Keller a former US Marine who saved 200+ residents during Hurricane Katrina, "Tornado Alley: I Survived a Tornado" (2014) as Robert Reed who was hailed a hero after pulling 12 people from rubble after a monster EF-4 tornado, TV One's "Celebrity Crime Files: Contenders to Offenders" (2014) as Henry Tillman a former American boxer who defeated Mike Tyson twice as an amateur who went on to win the gold medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics and Nickelodeon's hidden camera dating TV show "Undercover Cupid" (2014) with comedic host Nyima Funk from The CW's "Whose Line Is It Anyway" as a boot camp instructor and game show host.In 2015, Frazier was asked to be one of the ambassadors at U.S. President "Barack Obama's Global Preparation Academy Health and Wellness Event" in Los Angeles, CA, USA alongside then Los Angeles Lakers Head Coach Byron Scott, then Brooklyn Nets Head Coach Lionel Hollins and World Series Champion/Cincinnati Reds Hall of Famer Eric Davis.In 2016, Frazier was presented a Certificate of Recognition from County of Los Angeles Supervisor (1st District) and former U.S. Congresswoman Hilda L. Solis for his presentation of "Mandell's Message: Faith, Fitness, Focus" at the East Los Angeles Library My Brother's Keeper Festival (U.S. President Barack Obama's initiative). Frazier enjoys supporting Alexandria House (a non-profit transitional residence for women and children in need) and volunteering feeding the homeless at The Midnight Mission (a human services organization) on Skid Row. Frazier resides in Los Angeles, California, USA, with his wife and Executive Assistant, Tonya. Show less «