Shawn Fonteno facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Shawn Fonteno
Fonteno in 2024
Born	Shawn Darnell Fonteno (1968-04-08) April 8, 1968 (age 57) Watts, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Other names	Solo Big Solo
Occupation	Actor rapper
Years active	1994–present
Known for	Portrayal of Franklin Clinton in Grand Theft Auto V
Children	1
Relatives	Young Maylay (cousin)

Shawn Darnell "Solo" Fonteno (born April 8, 1968) is an American actor and rapper. He is widely recognized for his role as Franklin Clinton in the popular 2013 video game Grand Theft Auto V. Besides his work in video games, Fonteno has also appeared in movies like The Wash.

Shawn Fonteno's Early Life

Shawn Fonteno was born and grew up in Watts, Los Angeles. He faced a challenging childhood. From a young age, he was involved in difficult situations. However, he later made the important decision to change his path. He chose to leave that lifestyle behind. This decision helped him focus on a more positive future.

Shawn Fonteno's Career Journey

Music and Rap Career

Shawn Fonteno started his music career as a rapper. He was known by his stage name, Solo. In the early 1990s, he worked with several record companies. These included DJ Pooh's Lench Mob and Death Row Records. He also performed as a hype man for the rapper Kam. You can see Solo in music videos like "Whoop! Whoop!" and "Peace Treaty." He was part of a duo with Kam, and they had a song called "Where I Come From."

Becoming Franklin Clinton in Grand Theft Auto V

Shawn Fonteno is most famous for his role in Grand Theft Auto V. He provided both the voice and the motion capture for the character Franklin Clinton. This means his movements and voice were used to bring Franklin to life. The game was released in 2013 and became very popular.

In 2021, Fonteno brought Franklin Clinton back to life. He teamed up with Slink Johnson, who voiced Lamar Davis in the game. They re-enacted a funny scene from the game. This scene, where Lamar "roasts" Franklin, became a huge internet sensation. Many people created their own funny versions of it online. Later that year, Fonteno and Johnson returned for new content in Grand Theft Auto Online. This new content even included a special nod to their famous "roast" scene.

In 2022, Shawn Fonteno shared his life story in a book. It is called Game Changer: My Journey From the Streets to Your Video Game Console. The book talks about how he changed his life. It explains his journey from a difficult past to becoming a successful actor.

Shawn Fonteno's Personal Life

Shawn Fonteno has a daughter named Bria. He is also related to another voice actor and rapper, Young Maylay. Young Maylay voiced the character Carl "CJ" Johnson in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Shawn Fonteno currently lives in Atlanta, Georgia.

Shawn Fonteno's Film and Game Appearances

Movies

Video Games

Published Works

• Game Changer: My Journey From the Streets to Your Video Game Console (2022)

See also

In Spanish: Shawn Fonteno para niños