Biography

Ricardo "Smalls" Strickland is an American actor, stand-up comedian, and former professional football player, 6′ 2″ (188 cm) tall. His exact birthday and birthplace are not publicly confirmed in major sources. A Desert Storm veteran, he played defensive tackle for the San Francisco 49ers and briefly attended medical school before pursuing entertainment. He began his career on Mad TV and Saved by the Bell, and is best known for his recurring role as Ruben Banks on the UPN series All of Us (2003–2006, produced by Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith). As a stand-up comedian he has performed at The Ice House, The Improv, and The Laugh Factory in Los Angeles. His most notable film credits include a role in Heat (1995, directed by Michael Mann), a role in Up Close and Personal (1996, with Meryl Streep and Tim Robbins), a role in Bringing Down the House (2003, with Eddie Murphy and Quincey Damon), a role in Surviving Christmas (2004, with Bryan Cranston and Ed Burns), a role in Today You Die (2005), Frank the Security Guard in Blades of Glory (2007, with Will Ferrell and Jon Heder), and a role in The Little Things (2021, with Denzel Washington and Rami Malek). On television he also appeared in ER, The Huntress, The Hughleys, The Steve Harvey Show, and Ghost Whisperer (2005).