He was born to the noble Orsini family, and was the brother of Pope Nicholas III (r. 1277–80).
In the consistory of 12 March 1278 Pope Nicholas III created him cardinal assigning to him the diaconate of Sant'Eustachio.
He participated in the 1280–1281 conclave that elected Pope Martin IV (r. 1281–5).
He died during the sede vacante after the death of Honorius IV.
Monte Giordano, an artificial hill in rione Ponte lying southeast of Ponte Sant'Angelo, historically a stronghold of the Orsini family, takes possibly its name from him [1]