Noam Shapiro

Noam Shapiro is of Israeli lineage, but is a proud third-generation New Yorker. Born to artist parents, his mother and father lived an eclectic lifestyle; from living in a 9,000 sq ft. loft above a Greenpoint, Brooklyn spice factory, to brokering deals with a high-ranking mobster to save a friend with a deadly debt. They moved to Lower Manhattan upon Noam's birth, settling in a Canal Street loft on the SoHo/Chinatown border. He stood out from the crowd from the very beginning, as the only non-Chinese baby at Beekman Hospital. His family prophetically nicknamed their bustling neighborhood "Ground Zero," because to them it was the center of the universe. Noam's perspective on the world was shaped largely by his environment; Canal Street was New York's underground Hip-Hop mecca - where he cultivated his love of the genre. His block was also the biggest hot spot for fake jewelry, bootleg movies, and three-card monte games where gullible tourists got robbed on a daily basis. Noam was in school three blocks from the World Trade Center on 9/11. He made it home and watched the buildings fall from his living room window. Noam enjoyed a near decade-long rap career where he was blessed to meet his childhood idols, including Talib Kweli and Lupe Fiasco, and perform at iconic venues and events such as Lincoln Center, Webster Hall, and the Puerto Rican Day Parade. Noam's interest in acting began when he started directing his own music videos. It eventually became his main focus and led him to the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. Since graduating AMDA, Noam has worked consistently in theatre; playing Romeo in "Romeo and Juliet," Verges in "Much Ado About Nothing," and working with award-winning playwright Chisa Hutchinson in "Choosing Love" at the Vineyard Theatre. His work in film is also notable; having been directed by Larry Banks (Juice), starred alongside Hassan Johnson (The Wire), and acted in the award-winning film, "High Score." Noam is most proud of the plays and films he's written, such as "RADIO", a Hip-Hop themed play taking place in early 90's New York - a fun, nostalgic, and gritty look at the neighborhood, people, and music that shaped him. He is currently (10/20) in post-production for "EZus JeZus," inspired by the real-life event of Noam getting caught in the crossfire of a barbershop shootout. He is also in (10/20) pre-production for his film "O.T.," co-produced by and co-starring Luke Tennie (Deadly Class). Noam currently splits his time between Queens and L.A. He teaches Acting for Stage and Film at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy's New York campus as well as various nationwide workshops. He hopes to continue his success in the industry and work with idols such as Martin Scorsese, Spike Lee, Larry David, Stephen Adly Guirgis - and many more.