Erick Betancourt

Erick Betancourt Actor/Writer was born in The Bronx, New York. At an early age, his family moved to Providence, Rhode Island where he split his childhood and adolescence between the Bronx and Providence. Betancourt served two years for a felony drug conviction, however, it was a journey where he immersed himself in reading literature, classes, and nonviolence programs, and where he met fellow inmate Bruce Riley, and after being paroled Betancourt and Riley staged a production at the Perishable Theatre in Providence, Rhode Island. Once bitten by the acting bug, Betancourt began to make his way and started his trek of acting classes at Providence's own Trinity Rep Co., along with Black Box Theatre, Mixed Magic in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, and GAMM Theater. During his studies at the Community College of Rhode Island, Virginia Tech suffered a shocking loss that semester known as the Virginia Tech Shooting, and as an advocate for Nonviolence, Betancourt founded a Nonviolence Club on campus bring awareness to professors, campus police, and students to exercise Nonviolence teachings on and off-campus. Later that same year, he received a Nonviolence Training Certification from Dr. Bernard Lafayette, Jr. And soon while earning his BFA in Acting from The University of Rhode Island, he minored in Nonviolence Peace Studies where he was honored with an Undergraduate Student Excellence Award in Leadership and Service. In 2013, he was the honorary guest speaker for the high school graduating class at the Rhode Island Juvenile Detention Center where he spoke of his own experience and how he changed his life around through education and theatre. And twice, Providence Mayors have recognized his contribution to the City and the Citizens of Providence, Rhode Island by presenting him with an Outstanding Citizen award. After leaving Providence, Betancourt attended The Actors Studio Drama School, Pace University, where he earned an MFA in acting and attended many live recordings of Inside the Actors Studio, Bravo Network Show hosted by James Lipton. Today, Betancourt is a Lifetime Member of the legendary Actors Studio and a member of the LAByrinth Theater Company.