Became famous for his infamous portrait painting clientèle, which included the late John Gotti and numerous commissions for cast members from The Sopranos (1999), _Goodfellas_, A Bronx Tale (1993) and more. These friendships, along with Bell's interest in large-format thematic painting series that play out like movie storyboards, led him into the world of acting.
Won his first art show at the age of 5.
His maternal Uncle's murder for hire trial in Passaic back in the early '70s is still to date the longest running murder trial in the history of the State of New Jersey, and is one that got the now-famous trial lawyer F. Lee Bailey disbarred from the State of New Jersey.
Got his artistic talent from his maternal Grandmother, Violet Vallery, a self-taught artist from Lyndhurst, New Jersey. He shared such a special bond with her and has her name "Violet" tattooed along his forearm.