"I definitely like to do work that has a message because there are so many movies that shape young minds," McAuley said from his home in Chino, Ca. "What surprises me is how in the country as a whole the same racist bigotry is out there like years ago."

"Pride" takes place in 1973 when Jim Ellis, a college-educated African-American, can’t find a job. Driven by his love of competitive swimming, he converts an abandoned recreational pool hall in a Philadelphia slum. When city officials mark the new Philadelphia Department of Recreation for demolition, Jim fights back by starting the city’s first African-American swim team, recruiting troubled teens from the streets.

With racism and violence abounding, Jim has to work hard to convince his swimmers that victory, in and out of the pool, is within their reach. He has to train the beginning swimmers for the upcoming state championships.

In the movie, McCauley plays a swimmer, Walt, the funny man of the crew. That’s a natural since McAuley is a comedian, as well as a dramatic actor, in real life and his career. He played Bucky in the 2004 movie "Fat Albert" and basketball player Orsten Artis in the 2006 movie "Glory Road."

Since beginning his career in high school, McAuley also has done television and many commercials for products such as Subway, Sprite, sprint, Southwest Airlines, Wendy’s, Dodge and Bell South.

McAuley was born in New Haven to Marion and the Rev. Ralph McAuley, who moved the family to California when Alphonso was about 5. They had three children at the time and now have seven, including two teenage girls who are accomplished dancers and also appear headed for the entertainment world.

Octavious McAuley, the clan’s oldest and owner of Pro-Style hair salon on State Street, moved back to New Haven from California several years ago. The McAuley kids’ maternal grandparents, Alphonso and Ada Raiford live in New Haven, so Alphonso and the rest of the family visit regularly.

Octavious McAuley said he’s proud of his brother, who always stood out as an entertainer, though he had no formal training and didn’t start to audition until high school. He said he knew his brother was a natural when he bought their mom a video camera during Alphonso’s junior high school years and the teen began filming himself as various characters, as well as others.

Alphonso McAuley’s penchant for acting and the interest of the other McAuley kids in some form of the arts, likely came from Marion McAuley, who attended Connecticut School of Broadcasting before starting her family and also was deeply involved in community theater in New Haven, as she currently is in California.

"He has a loud voice and lots of energy," Marion McAuley said of Alphonso. "I’m very excited about it (his success), mainly because he’s focused."

As much as she loves the footlights, Marion McAuley and her husband emphasized education with her children, as well as faith in God. Ralph McAuley is pastor of a small church.

Alphonso McAuley graduated from Cal State Fullerton, where he focused on radio, television and film, as well as Afro-Ethnic studies. He said there’s a nightly party in Hollywood for those who want to go, but he avoids that path because he doesn’t want to be thrown "off balance."

"My parents reared me in a solid way and also the people I keep around me are on the same page," Alphonso McAuley said, adding he’s received lots of solid advice from comedian and friend Bernie Mac. "We love God and we keep our work ethic. It’s truly a blessing; I don’t take anything for granted," he said.

While he loves acting, his ultimate goal is to direct a studio film. He’s in the midst of several short film projects now, including one, "Swipe" that is about to hit the film circuit. The film, under 10 minutes, is about two college students who find a credit card and find themselves in a dilemma: whether to charge like wild or return it. They manage to do both.

"People would be like, ‘Oh no, this is an African guy? He’s supposed to have a gun in his hand,’" McAuley said to highlight how stereotypical images take hold.

He has turned down roles that portray stereotypes without any meaningful context. He remembers one where they wanted him to hold a glass of wine, sing rap songs and "gyrate" all over women.

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