A UBS banker won a coveted role alongside Hollywood great Robert De Niro. Thanks to his pushy banking cred, he expanded his tiny role in the film.
Mark Axelowitz (pictured below), a managing director and private banker for UBS in New York, caught the acting bug 13 years ago after he won a small role on popular U.S. crime drama «Law and Order.»
Unfortunately, he was panned by a famous casting director, leading him to acting classes and a series of smaller film and television appearances alongside his day job at UBS.
Alongside De Niro
He was elated to win a role in HBO's «Wizard of Lies,» which tells the story of Bernie Madoff and the largest Ponzi scheme in history, according to «Institutional Investor».
Axelowitz has a brief scene in the film with Robert De Niro, who plays Madoff (pictured with Axelowitz at far left and De Niro at right).
But true to the banker stereotype, the banker quickly talked the film's director, Barry Levinson, into expanding his screen time with a second speaking scene.
Banker and Comedian
The banker-turned-actor donates all his earnings from the sideline to charity, and has some advice to prevent falling for fraudsters like Madoff: don't put your eggs all in one basket.
«If you only have 3 to 5 percent in one investment, even if it's a Ponzi scheme, it stinks but it ain't changing your life.»
Axelowitz isn't the only UBS banker with an unusual hobby: Hong Kong banker Anthony Solimini is a wealth manager by day, and stand-up comedian by night.
