Orlando Urdaneta

Who is Orlando Urdaneta?

Orlando Urdaneta is a well-known Venezuelan actor and television personality. He is one of the most outspoken critics of President Hugo Chávez and his fear of retaliation from the Bolivarian Circles made him decide to live in a self-imposed exile in Miami. He worked in "La hora de Orlando" which was broadcast by La Familia Cosmovision in Miami. He currently works for Telefutura Network's nightly program "Noche de Perros."

Urdaneta received in 1997 the Premio Municipal de Teatro, awarded the best actor and the best theater actor by La Casa del Artista in 1999. During the years 1998 and 1999, he also won the award as best actor from the Asociación Nacional de Artistas Cinematográficos for his role in Pandemonium and Cien Años de Perdón. As co-writer of Pandemonium, he won the award for the best film screenplay by La Casa del Artista.

He has hosted over the years several TV and radio programs, such as La Rueda de la Fortuna, D'Noche, Estudio 15, Buenos Días Venezuela, Orlando con Orlando, and Almorzando con Orlando, the latter seen on Televen in 2004. Also Aquí entre nos was seen throughout Latin America and the United States. On radio, he hosted with Pedro León Zapata, a humor and political satire program entitled Pájaro que vas volando. However, it was with his programs Titulares de Mañana and La Hora de Orlando, broadcast by Globovisión, that his criticism against the policies of Hugo Chávez became more vocal. The presentation of his theater production, Orlando en Cadena was sabotaged during July 2002 by the Bolivarian Circles and some of the public was allegedly attacked.