From Roxbury to Hollywood

The career of a talented young former Roxbury resident has shifted into high gear this year with a featured role on a TV series and the launch of his own clothing line.

Victor Wallace has come along way from a difficult childhood that he says included being bullied at school, and a brief period of homelessness with his mother, Bellkiss Maldonado, as they moved to Florida and then California to pursue his dream of being an actor.

“I don’t know what it was about Victor, but the kids at school would always bully him,” Maldonado said during a recent, rare visit back to New Jersey to visit family while Wallace is enjoying a break in production for the Nickelodeon series “Talia in the Kitchen.”

The handsome young man, with a big smile and a bigger Afro-style head of hair, plays Chris, a member of the young group of kids at the center of the half-hour show, currently airing at 7:30 p.m. Monday through Fridays. He was not a featured member of the original cast, but was given a speaking role after a few episodes of the “telenovela” (limited-run)-formatted teen sitcom.

“It is a supporting role,” Wallace said. “I play the best friend of Tyson, who is Talia’s love interest. Chris and Tyson play on the soccer team, and I work in the restaurant that is in competition with Talia’s. He’s a very fun kid, 15 years old. He always comes in at the right time, and is a little over the top.”

Wallace was born in Belleville, but he and his mother immediately moved to the River Park section of Landing in Roxbury, where he caught the acting bug at an early age.

“At a tender age of 8, Victor would write, direct and star in plays he would put together for the neighborhood kids and family functions,” Maldonado said. “He would knock on everyone’s door and promote his plays. and in school, he was always involved in plays and talent shows.”

“All my life, as far back as I remember, I liked to put on little shows,” he said. “I like to do different characters and make people laugh.”

Wallace and his mother moved to Florida when he was 14 so he could attend a performing arts high school in Coconut Grove, but professional work proved to be elusive. Kicked out of her mother’s home, Maldonado struggled to put a roof over their heads.

“We had absolutely nowhere to go,” Madonado recalled.

At one point, she accepted an invitation for them to stay in the home of a new acquaintance, but they had to leave when the man turned violent.

Finally, some acting opportunities came through. One breakthrough was a chance to work with acclaimed independent actor-director Robert Townsend on his 2013 film “Playing for Love.”

Committed to growing Wallace’s career, they moved to Hollywood, where mother and son struggled once again to survive before Wallace finally won his role on “Talia in the Kitchen.”

“That was a miracle,” Maldonado said. “We were living in a suburb of LA. It was not a good situation. Victor saw a lot of things he shouldn’t have.”

With new success and a new life, Wallace has branched out into fashion, launching his own clothing line, Success by Vic Wallace. He also has a more supportive group of friends, including best friend Liam Obergfall, who plays his best friend Tyson on “Talia in the Kitchen.”

“It’s been an amazing journey,” he said.

Staff Writer William Westhoven: 973-428-6627; wwesthoven@GannettNJ.com.

Victor Wallace on social media:

•Facebook: Victor Wallace Official

•Instagram: @vicwallace

•Clothing line website: www.starvictor.bigcartel.com/