Alano Miller
Theater-trained actor Alano Miller played imposing, often morally complex characters on such high-profile television series as "Jane the Virgin" (The CW, 2014-) and "Underground" (WGN America, 2016-). Born in Orlando, Florida, he was the youngest of eight children by parents of Cuban, Bahamian and Jamaican descent. His introduction to performing came through public speaking competitions, which he began participating in at the age of five years old; by his teen years, he had earned dozens of major oratorical awards and three national titles, as well as a National Foundation for the Advancement of the Arts award and a Presidential Scholar Award from President Bill Clinton in 1997. After high school, Miller received his bachelors' degree from the SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Theatre Arts and Films, and a master's degree from Penn State University; he soon applied his training to theater roles in regional and New York productions, including Nathan Louis Jackson's "Broke-ology" at Lincoln Center in 2009. His screen career also began during this period, first in short films and later in supporting roles on TV series like "Damages" (FX/Audience Network, 2007-2012). From 2014 to 2015, he played the malevolent Roman Zazo, who murdered and later impersonated his own benevolent twin, Aaron, on the acclaimed comedy "Jane the Virgin." Miller then joined the cast of "Underground," playing another imposing character: the escaped slave Cato, who inspired equal amounts of fear and loathing from his fellow fugitives.