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- Actor
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Joaquin Phoenix was born Joaquin Rafael Bottom in San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Arlyn (Dunetz) and John Bottom, and is the middle child in a brood of five. His parents, from the continental United States, were then serving as Children of God missionaries. His mother is from a Jewish family from New York, while his father, from California, is of mostly British Isles descent. As a youngster, Joaquin took his cues from older siblings River Phoenix and Rain Phoenix, changing his name to Leaf to match their earthier monikers. When the children were encouraged to develop their creative instincts, he followed their lead into acting. Younger sisters Liberty Phoenix and Summer Phoenix rounded out the talented troupe.
The family moved often, traveling through Central and South America (and adopting the surname "Phoenix" to celebrate their new beginnings) but, by the time Joaquin was age 6, they had more or less settled in the Los Angeles area. Arlyn found work as a secretary at NBC, and John turned his talents to landscaping. They eventually found an agent who was willing to represent all five children, and the younger generation dove into television work. Commercials for meat, milk, and junk food were off-limits (the kids were all raised as strict vegans), but they managed to find plenty of work pushing other products. Joaquin's first real acting gig was a guest appearance on River's sitcom, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1982).
He worked with his brother again on the afterschool special Backwards: The Riddle of Dyslexia (1984), then struck out on his own in other made-for-TV productions. He made his big-screen debut as the youngest crew member in the interstellar romp SpaceCamp (1986), then won his first starring turn in the Cold War-era drama Russkies (1987). In the late '80s, the Phoenix clan decided to pull up stakes and relocate again--this time to Florida. River's film career had enough momentum to sustain the move, but Joaquin wasn't sure what lay in store for him in the Sunshine State. As it happened, Universal Pictures had just opened a new studio in the area and he was cast almost immediately as an angst-ridden adolescent in Parenthood (1989). His performance was very well-received, but Joaquin decided to withdraw from acting for a while--he was frustrated with the dearth of interesting roles for actors his age, and he wanted to see more of the world.
His parents were in the process of separating, so he struck out for Mexico with his father. Joaquin returned to the public eye three years later under tragic circumstances. On October 31, 1993, he was at The Viper Room (a Los Angeles nightclub partly-owned by Johnny Depp) when his brother River collapsed from a drug overdose and later died. Joaquin made the call to 911, which was rebroadcast on radio and television the world over. Months later, at the insistence of friends and colleagues, Joaquin began reading through scripts again, but he was reluctant to re-enter the acting life until he found just the right part. He finally signed up to work with Gus Van Sant (who had directed River in My Own Private Idaho (1991) and Even Cowgirls Get the Blues (1993)) to star as Nicole Kidman's obsessive devotee in To Die For (1995). The performance made Joaquin (who had dropped Leaf and reverted to his birth name) a critics' darling in his own right.
His follow-up turn in Inventing the Abbotts (1997) scored more critical kudos and, perhaps more importantly, introduced him to his one-time fiancée Liv Tyler. (The pair dated for almost three years.) He returned to the big screen later that year with a supporting role in Oliver Stone's U Turn (1997), then played a locked-up drug scapegoat in Return to Paradise (1998). He and "Paradise" co-star Vince Vaughn re-teamed almost immediately for the small-town murder caper Clay Pigeons (1998), which Joaquin followed with a turn as a porn store clerk in 8MM (1999). The film that confirmed Phoenix as a star was the historical epic Gladiator (2000). The Roman epic cast him as the selfish, paranoid young emperor Commodus opposite Russell Crowe's swarthy hero. Determined to make his character as real as possible, Phoenix gained weight and cultivated a pasty complexion during the shoot. He received international attention and an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for that role.
Later that year, he appeared in two indies, playing a dock worker in The Yards (2000) (which he counts among his favorite experiences--and one of the only films of his that he can sit through) and the priest in charge of the Marquis de Sade's asylum in Quills (2000). He received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor as the legendary musician Johnny Cash in the biography Walk the Line (2005). He also recorded an album, the film's soundtrack, for which he received the Grammy Award for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media.- Actress
- Producer
- Writer
Roselyn Milagros Sánchez Rodríguez is a Puerto Rican singer-songwriter, dancer, model, actress, producer, and writer. On television, she is best known for her roles as Elena Delgado on the CBS police procedural Without a Trace (2005-09), as Carmen Luna on the Lifetime comedy-drama Devious Maids (2013-16), and as Elena Roarke on the new Fantasy Island (2021-present). In film, Sánchez has appeared in Rush Hour 2 (2001), Boat Trip (2002), The Game Plan (2007), and Act of Valor (2012).- Music Artist
- Music Department
- Actor
Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Ricky initiated his singing career in the Latin all boy-band group Menudo. After leaving the group, he moved to New York to study acting. After finishing his studies, he relocated to Mexico where he performed as actor in "Mama ama el Rock", "Alcanzar una Estrella II". In 1991, he began to focus his career as a soloist singer, eventually becoming an international superstar with the release of his self-titled English language album in 1996.- Actress
- Writer
Paola Lázaro is a Puerto Rican actress and dramatic writer who currently portrays Juanita Sanchez, better known as "Princess", in Season 10 of the AMC horror drama series The Walking Dead.
Paola was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She holds an MFA in Playwriting from Columbia University.
Her play Tell Hector I Miss Him at Atlantic Theater was nominated for a Drama League Award for Best Production of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Play and for an Outer Critics Circle Award for the John Gassner Playwriting Award. In 2017 she was selected as a Sundance Theatre Lab writer with her play There's Always the Hudson (2017 Relentless Award finalist) and as a Sundance Institute Time Warner Storytelling Fellow. Paola is Atlantic Theater Company's 2016-2017 Tow Playwright-in-Residence. In 2015 she was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play for her role in To the Bone. She was recently selected for the Van Lier Playwright Residency at the Public Theater 2018-2020.- Actor
- Soundtrack
Raul Julia was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Olga Arcelay, a mezzo-soprano singer, and Raúl Juliá, an electrical engineer. He graduated from Colegio San Ignacio de Loyola High School in San Juan. Here he studied the rigorous classical curriculum of the Jesuits and was always active in student dramatics. Julia was discovered while performing in a nightclub in San Juan by actor Orson Bean who inspired him to move to the mainland to pursue other projects. Julia moved to Manhattan, New York City in 1964 and quickly found work by acting in small and supporting roles in off-Broadway shows. In 1966, Julia began appearing in Shakespearean roles, creating a deliciously conniving Edmund in "King Lear" in 1973 and a smoldering Othello in 1979. Julia also made his mark on the musical stage playing one of the "Two Gentlemen of Verona" during its run in 1971, and a chilling role of Mack the Knife in "The Threepenny Opera" in 1976 and as a Felliniesque film director in "Nine" in 1982. The stage successes led to his movie works where he is better known.
One of his best movie roles is a passionate political prisoner in Kiss of the Spider Woman (1985). Julia also appeared as dramatic heroes and memorable villains in a number of films and made-for-TV-movies. His later roles included the crazy macabre Gomez Addams in two Addams Family movies. With his health declining from 1993 onward after he underwent a surgical operation for stomach cancer, Julia kept on acting, where he traveled to Mexico during the winter of 1993-1994 to play the Brazilian Amazon forest activist Chico Mendes in The Burning Season: The Chico Mendes Story (1994), for which he posthumously won a Golden Globe and an Emmy Award. His last theatrical movie was filmed shortly after The Burning Season: The Chico Mendes Story (1994) when he traveled to Australia to shoot all of his scenes for Street Fighter (1994), based on the popular video game where he played the villainous General M. Bison. His last role was a supporting part in another made-for-TV movie titled Down Came a Blackbird (1995).
On October 16, 1994, the weakened and gaunt Raul Julia suffered a stroke in New York City where he fell into a coma a few days later and was put on life support. He was transferred to a hospice in nearby Manhasset, Long Island where his weakened body finally gave up the struggle on October 24, at age 54. His body was flown back to Puerto Rico for burial where thousands turned out for his state funeral to remember him. Two honoring ceremonies were held at Colegio San Ignacio de Loyola High School, and at the Headquarters of the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture prior to his burial.- Actress
- Soundtrack
Charlotte Ayanna was born on 25 September 1976 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She is an actress, known for Training Day (2001), Love the Hard Way (2001) and Kate & Leopold (2001).- Actor
- Writer
- Producer
Raised in the backstage wings of Las Vegas hotels by his Cuban father, Puerto Rico-born Kamar de los Reyes knew the second he was hoisted onto the stage to dance with Lola Falana at the age of 8, that he not only wanted to perform, but he wanted to be out front.
Kamar's father, a Cuban drummer and percussionist, would see two of his three sons follow in his footsteps: one a world-renowned drummer, the other a world-renowned percussionist. Kamar, the youngest of the brood, chose to go another route. While in high school, he discovered the arts as a singer and dancer. During his senior year, a stage role as El Gallo in "The Fantastiks" marked his acting debut. Shortly thereafter, Kamar would go to Los Angeles, to visit his brother Daniel, who was playing percussion for the Cher video "We All Sleep Alone." Kamar landed a dancing role and subsequently went on to work with Kenny Ortega in the feature film Salsa (1988) and the television series Dirty Dancing (1988). Later in 2001, Kamar would work again with Ortega in the VH-1 movie The Way She Moves (2001). Only this time, he would work as the lead actor.
In 1989, Kamar began to focus only on his acting career; "I was baptized by fire," he likes to say. With very little professional experience as an actor, he landed a role in the critically acclaimed Off Broadway play "Blade to the Heat" and rose to critical attention for his portrayal of gay Irish-Mexican boxer Pedro Quinn. The rest, I guess you can say, is history.
Kamar has steadily performed alongside a virtual Who's Who in television, movies, stage, and music for more two decades, including projects such as The Gifted (2017)), Sleepy Hollow (2013), One Life to Live (1968), Shooter (2016), and Blue Bloods (2010), to name just a few. He would star in the made-for-television movie The Way She Moves (2001); in Nixon (1995), directed by Oliver Stone; and in the feature film Salt (2010), starring Angelina Jolie. You might also recognize him as the face and voice of Raul Menendez in the most successful video game franchise in history, Call of Duty: Black Ops II (2012), Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 (2018), and Call of Duty: Vanguard (2021).
Joining forces with his actor wife Sherri Saum, they created MaPá Productions and recently starred in and produced their first short film, First Strike Butcher Knife (2017), which premiered at the Los Angeles Short Film Festival to critical acclaim.
An avid gym rat and self-professed weekend warrior, Kamar resides in Los Angeles with his wife and twin sons, Michael Luis and John Rubén. Kamar is also very active in helping with the recovery efforts of his beloved island Puerto Rico. To date, Kamar and his brother Daniel de los Reyes, along with Day Glow Relief, have made five trips to the hurricane-ravaged island. "We want to make sure that the relief aid makes it into the hands of the people who need it most, but also create awareness so that the people of Puerto Rico aren't forgotten," he has said- He is an actor known for Leo's room (2009), O Tempo e o Vento (2012) and Zanahoria (2013). He is well known for his versatility, he has played a variety of parts and he particularly stands out interpreting complex and realistic characters. His film debut was in 2009, playing the leading role in Enrique Buchichio's El Cuarto DE Leo (Leo's Room), released during the San Sebastián International Film Festival. Martín portrayed the character of Leo, a young man who is going through a process of identification with a sexual orientation and self-acceptance. For this work he received several awards including the Uruguayan Film Critics Association award for Best Actor and Best Male Revelation, Best Actor at the Festival Del Mar - Ibiza, Spain and Best Actor at the Festival DE la Luna, Spain. In 2014, the Enrique Buchichio's film Zanahoria was awarded the Colón DE Oro, the highest award, in the fortieth edition of the Festival DE Cine Iberoamericano DE Huelva, Spain.
- Actor
- Stunts
- Additional Crew
Vico Ortiz (They/Them) is a proud Latine/x non-binary/gender fluid actor/activist born and raised in Puerto Rico. They received their education at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Los Angeles. Their first breakthrough role was in the hit Amazon series, "Transparent" which opened their career to the LGBTQ+ entertainment community and paved the way to more recognized TV appearances in shows such as "The Fosters", "Lucifer" and "Criminal Minds'' among many others. More recently, Vico has had guest starring roles in "American Horror Story: 1984 ", the Starz award winning series "VIDA" and a recurring role in the GLAAD nominated Freeform comedy "Everything's Gonna Be Okay", returning for its second season in 2021. Vico also received a 2021 Queerties Award nomination for their series regular role in the award winning digital series "These Thems". In the next year (2021) Vico will also star as a series regular in the upcoming Amazon Prime Video original post-apocalyptic horror "Narcos vs. Zombies" playing U.S. Military Sgt. Valencia set for release in the fall of 2021.
Vico Ortiz is also a rising star in the world of drag performers creating the original and dynamic Drag King "Vico Suave'', a character that was created by mixing their Hispanic/Caribbean and American culture while exploring their own gender fluidity and sexuality. Their character of "Vico Suave'' is most recognized for their performance in "VIDA" on Starz. They also made a commitment to use their character of "Vico Suave" as an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. Some of the LGBTQ+ organizations they're committed to supporting are The Dru Project and the Los Angeles LGBTQ Center to name a few. Vico's mission is Visibility. To showcase diversity in the Latine/x culture on Stage, TV and Film. They want young queers and people around the globe to see characters on screen that are relatable no matter their background, their sexual orientation or gender identity. Their passion is to educate society on gender, inclusive language, and join the stream of voices within the entertainment industry that is constantly pushing and advocating for LGBTQ+ rights and their positive portrayals in the media.- Actress
- Writer
- Producer
Cristela Alonzo was born on 6 January 1979 in San Juan, Texas, USA. She is an actress and writer, known for Cristela Alonzo: Middle Classy (2022), Cristela Alonzo: Lower Classy (2017) and Cars 3 (2017).- Actress
- Writer
Ari Meyers was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico on Sunday, April 6, 1969. She began an acting career at age 12, with her role as Al Pacino's stepdaughter in Al Pacino's Author! Author! (1982) and hasn't looked back, since. Ari dictated her first play, "The Super Magic Show," for her nursery school class to her mom, actress Taro Meyer, when she was 5. She directed, came up with the scripts, and choreographed the dancers! At age 5, Ari became a child model but took a hiatus when she decided she would rather play than go to auditions. Her most famous role to date is that of "Emma Jane McCardle," which she portrayed on the 80s sitcom, Kate & Allie (1984) for six years, until 1990. In 1991, Ari Meyers graduated from Yale with honors and a double major in philosophy and theatre arts, and she was also an honor student throughout her high school years. As a narrator, she released several audio books: for example in 1995 "Earth Angel - A Kitten's Tale," a traditional story written and directed by her mother and produced by Ari and Taro, too. With her mother, she acted in Memories of Midnight (1991). Since 2016, she started working as a postpartum nurse and a lactation consultant in a hospital in Los Angeles, California.- Actor
- Additional Crew
- Soundtrack
He was the son of a Puerto Rican seaman. He was self-educated and spent much of his childhood in Brazil singing on the streets to raise money for food. He became an actor after having been a circus performer, radio actor, and vaudeville performer. He worked in the chorus of the 1927 stage production of the musical "Show Boat". Black American film historian Donald Bogle considers Hernandez's early success in films during the early twentieth century to have been an event that paved the way for the high visibility and success of Black Actor and Academy Award winner Sidney Poitier.- Marcel has been in front of the cameras since his home birth in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, where he began acting in commercials at an early age. He moved to Los Angeles at the age of 8 and took his hobby of acting and turned it into a full-fledged career as a star in the critically acclaimed Netflix sitcom One Day at a Time (2017), where he played the role of Alex Alvarez for four seasons. He debuted on the big screen as the lead of the 20th Century Fox film Breakthrough (2019), along with actress Chrissy Metz.
With Award-Winning directors for parents, Carlitos Ruiz Ruiz and Mariem Pérez Riera, and a notable television host, writer, and comedian, Silverio Pérez, for a grandfather, Marcel has known the other side of the industry well through growing up on a set at his parents' own production company. After signing with powerhouse talent agency CAA, at 19 years old Marcel continues to mature his craft for acting and works on developing and producing his own film/TV projects, content for social media platforms, music, photography and even a clothing line. In addition to being a creative talent, Marcel also excels in athletics including basketball and soccer, a passion since he was little. - Most Canadians would know Bruce Gray as the star of the TV series Traders (Gemini Award), but most Americans would recognize him as the Father of the groom in My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Although he began his acting career on stage in the 60s, he quickly moved into daytime dramas: contracted to Somerset, High Hopes and the Edge of Night in the 70's. A move to Hollywood in the 80s led to guest star roles on hundreds of TV shows, recurring on Murder She Wrote, Medium, Tour of Duty, Falling Skies, How I met your Mother. Bruce gained notoriety in the gay community as "Shickle The Pickle" on Queer As Folk, then for football fans by playing a team owner on Playmakers for ESPN.
- Actor
- Producer
- Writer
David Barrera is an award-winning veteran film and television actor with over one hundred Film and TV credits including Castle, Dirty John, The Big Bang Theory, CSI: Miami, The Closer, N.C.I.S., Criminal Minds, The Mentalist, Heroes, The West Wing, NYPD: Blue and 24 for which he received an ALMA Award nomination. Most recently, David has been seen in recurring roles on critically acclaimed shows like Bosch, What/If with Renée Zellweger, Hulu's Chance opposite Hugh Laurie, HBO's Emmy Nominated Generation Kill and Netflix record breaking Monster: The Jefferey Dahmer Story. David has been seen in films such as Universal's family comedy Evan Almighty starring Steve Carrell. Other film credits include Infinity directed by Matthew Broderick, The United States of Leeland, starring Don Cheadle, and No Way Back with Russell Crowe.
David received his B.F.A. from the prestigious acting conservatory at Southern Methodist University and earned his M.F.A. from the Professional Actor Training Program at The University of California, San Diego (La Jolla Playhouse). While at U.C.S.D he was awarded the Princess Grace Award in acting. He resides in Los Angeles with his talented wife, actress Maria Canals-Barrera and their two beautiful daughters.- Actress
- Producer
Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Ortiz grew up in Orlando, Florida. An early love of dancing led to roles in local theater productions. As her interest in theatre and acting grew, Valery eased out of dancing and began focusing on acting. Eventually, she enrolled in the University of Central Florida to obtain a Bachelor's in Fine Arts Degree.
After a hosting gig for Nickelodeon's Splat! ended, Valery took a road trip to Los Angeles for a two-week vacation and ended up relocating permanently when she quickly started working on a local television show called LATV Live as a VJ. She was next cast in one of her most memorable roles to date in the cult comedy hit 'Date Movie' as Jell-O, a Jennifer Lopez impersonator.
Over the years, Ortiz has worked on several popular television series. She starred as Raquel on VH1's one-hour scripted series 'Hit the Floor', Madison Duarte, on the groundbreaking teen drama 'South of Nowhere', and more recently, Dina Duran on the live action-comedy series 'Gabby Duran and The Unsittables' on Disney Channel.
Valery recently completed production on the feature film 'Skeletons In The Closet' starring opposite Terrence Howard, Cuba Gooding, Jr. & Clifton Powell along with a starring role in the Lifetime movie 'Cloudy With A Chance Of Christmas' directed by Jake Helgren. Off screen, Valery is working on her bilingual children's book series and an exciting new partnership.
In her free time, Valery enjoys reading, decorating, writing and pushing herself to new heights in fitness. She also enjoys lending her time to different charities and organizations. Ortiz currently resides in Los Angeles.- Actor
- Additional Crew
- Producer
Michelan (Michael) was born in San Juan, PR, where his US Army family was stationed at the time. He is known for his film, television, and theatrical work. Micha's films include, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991), The Muppets (2011), and Muppets Most Wanted (2014). His television work includes, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Babylon 5, and The Muppets TV series. These performances, and all Micha's other film and television roles, came after his twenty year in the New York theatre, where he played in many Broadway productions including, "Fiddler On The Roof", "Cabaret", and "Raggedy Ann". A new live show with the Muppets played the Hollywood Bowl and the O2 Arena in London.- Born into a poor but very close-knit family in the small town of Toa Alta, Puerto Rico, Dayanara Torres was discovered during her senior year of high school by two scouts from the Miss Puerto Rico pageant. Although she never imagined she could compete in the pageants she grew up watching, she went ahead with their advice and represented her town in the pageant. To her great surprise, Dayanara not only won the Miss Puerto Rico crown but months later and after much preparation and training she also won the most prestigious of all beauty pageants, taking home the Miss Universe crown (1993) and becoming the youngest winner in the history of the pageant. She was only 18. Her victory not only made her a "national treasure" on her island of Puerto Rico, but also catapulted her into global stardom.
Dayanara became an international ambassador for UNICEF and continued to travel around the world as its representative even after the end of her reign.
Upon finishing her year as Miss Universe and handing over her crown to the next pageant winner in Manila, Torres became an overnight sensation in the Philippines, where she became the host of the two most popular television shows, "Eazy Dancing" and the highly rated variety show "ASAP" still broadcast throughout Asia today. Although her first ever acting role was as Sara in the Puerto Rican film "Linda Sara" directed by Oscar nominee Jacobo Morales; her next projects "Basta't Kasama Kita", "Hataw Na" and "Type Kita, Walang Kokontra" were just a few of the twelve movies she starred in throughout the four years she lived in the Philippines. In 1995 she endowed the Dayanara Torres Foundation which provided aid and scholarships to destitute kids and families in the Philippines.
Returning to Puerto Rico in 1999, Torres hit the top of the Billboard charts throughout Latin America and the Philippines with singles from her album "Antifaz", several of which also charted as Hot Latin Tracks.
After marrying and divorcing, Dayanara, the single mother of two young boys, decided to rebuild her career and quickly landed the recurring role of Elise on CBS's "Young and the Restless" as well as that of Special Correspondent for "Access Hollywood" (NBC). Not long after, she completed 66 episodes as the star of prime-time drama "Watch Over Me" (My Network TV/FOX). In 2009, Dayanara played a battered woman and mother in "The Nail" alongside William Forsythe, Leo Rossi and Tony Danza. In 2013, she starred in romantic comedy "200 Cartas" (200 Letters") with actors Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jaime Camil.
Dayanara is also a published author and her book "Married To Me" / "Casada Conmigo" (version in Spanish) is a girlfriend's guide to getting through a divorce as gracefully as possible.
In 2017, Dayanara participated and won "Mira Quien Baila" which gave a $55,000 grant to her charity, the San Jorge Children's Hospital Foundation in her native Puerto Rico. She has since become a judge on the show (2018, 2019 & 2020 & 2021).
In 2018, The Latin Recording Academy named her a Latin GRAMMY Leading Lady in Entertainment.
The magazine covers she has graced include, People en Español, Cosmopolitan, Shape, Latina, Vanidades, Caras, Imagen, Ocean Drive, Asian Bride, Siempre Mujer, Good Housekeeping and Marie Claire, among others.
Additionally, she has being the spokesperson for such well-known brands as L'Oreal, Diet Coke, Vidal Sassoon, Ray Ban, Mazda, Carefree, Pantene, Advil, Crest, Metro 7 clothing line, Hydrience/Clairol, as well as Got Milk! She was twice named "Model of the Year" by Premios Juventud (Latin Youth Choice Awards).
Dayanara's charity work includes San Jorge Children's Hospital Foundation for over 20 years, hosting fundraising events on behalf of the Covenant House CA, Same Sky, PSA's for the Susan G. Komen Foundation, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Da Vida Walk for the Oncological Hospital in Puerto Rico, spokesperson Asthma and Allergy Foundation and serving as the California Ambassador for the March of Dimes for five years.
At the beginning of 2019 Dayanara was diagnosed with Melanoma, stage 3, and in the midst of undergoing radiation treatments and thereafter she has been educating her followers about Melanoma and Skin Cancer throughout her social media platforms. It has had a huge impact and doctors and dermatologists have noticed a marked rise in Hispanics going to check their skin at their health care providers. So much so that MDedge, a medical publication, published an article last year entitled "The Dayanara Effect" Increasing Skin Cancer Awareness in the Hispanic Community" about the effect she has had on Hispanic patients as has given a new face to metastatic Melanoma.
She co-hosted Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest on ABC for two years in a row (2023 and 2024) and the 2023 Premios Juventud Awards on the Univision Network and often co-hosts Univision's El Gordo y La Flaca. - Music Artist
- Actor
- Composer
Elmer Figueroa de Arce, better known as Chayanne, was born in Puerto Rico, the third of five siblings. He is married to Venezuelan Mariana Elizabeth "Marilisa" Maronesa de Figueroa, with whom he has a son, Lorenzo Valentino and a daughter, Isadora Sofia. Chayanne debuted as a singer at ten years of age, becoming a part of a Menudo-type group "Los Chicos." His recording career includes 14 albums/CDs, 5 of these with Los Chicos and 9 others as a solo performer; all in Spanish. As an actor for television he worked on the popular soap opera "Pobre Juventad, " he was also the star of "Tormento," "Sombras del Pasado," "Provocame" and "Gabriel". As an actor in films he was featured in the Jacobo Morales film Linda Sara, opposite ex-Miss Universe Dayanara Torres. "Dance With Me" was his first English acting job where his undeniable charm and expertise on the dance floor served him well. Additionally, he guest-starred in various episodes of "Ally McBeal."- Actress
- Producer
- Director
Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and raised in Orlando, FL, Adrienne is an award-winning actor, director, writer, and overall filmmaker. She is the founder of The Garage Productions, which has several award-winning films and web series, all of which showcase the underrepresented, the BIPOC Community, the LGBTQIA+ community, and differently-abled people.
Adrienne has played opposite Naomi Watts, Aziz Ansari, Joaquin Phoenix, Sam Rockwell, and Michelle Williams just to name a few. Adrienne's favorite TV credits include "Better Call Saul", "Ray Donovan", "Fosse/Verdon" and "The Deuce" . She is also known for her role in "Sunlight Jr." which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival, playing opposite Naomi Watts, and the lead role in the award-winning short film "Thick Heart" where she won Best Actress at the Top Shorts Film Festival.
Most recently, Adrienne produced and assisted directed a coming-of-age drama called "Brownsville Bred", which premiered at SXSW and won the "Audience Award" for the best episodic pilot. Adrienne was also a winner of the "Sundance Collab Film Challenge" for her personal documentary called "Little Bean" and has been named "Women Directing Mentorship Semifinalist" through Series Fest sponsored by Shonda Rhimes company Shondaland.
Adrienne has directed several award-winning short films and web series, in the horror/thriller, Comedy, and Drama genres. She has currently directed her first feature film, a psychological drama called I'M OKAY, WE'RE OKAY which she co-wrote, produced, and starred in. Adrienne has also directed a coming-of-age drama pilot called "This Boy's Vida; Made In America".
Adrienne Acevedo Lovette was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico and is of Spanish, Taino (indigenous), Afro-Latino, and English descent.- Actress
- Producer
Ayanna Berkshire is an American stage and screen actress, a resident artist of Artists Repertory Theatre and a 2020 recipient of the TCG and Fox Fellowship Foundation Resident Actor Fellowship, recognized for distinguished career achievement. She is best known for her role as Cora in the film, Twilight. Originally from a remote island chain in Washington State, Ayanna was just three years old when she began performing for audiences as a young dancer and actress. She had her first agent at 13 years old and has been working professionally since the age of 20.- Janice Rivera was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She is known for Bulletproof (1996), Mars Attacks! (1996) and Blame It on the Vodka (1992). She has been married to Frank Montelione since 20 December 1998. They have one child.
- Director
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- Additional Crew
Miguel Arteta was born in 1965 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He is a director and producer, known for Beatriz at Dinner (2017), Succession (2018) and Enlightened (2011). He is married to Justine Arteta.- Actor
- Music Department
- Producer
Shalim Ortiz is a Puerto Rican artist that has been one of the few Latino actors of his generation to successfully establish himself both in the English and Spanish markets. Working throughout the arts, Shalim has received critical acclaim in acting (television & film), theatre & as a recording artist.
At a young age Shalim joined the Thespian Society of Performing Arts and developed an intense passion; theater has played a key role in his life ever since. As an adult, he landed the lead in Oliver Mayer's much acclaimed cabaret musical entitled 'Rocío In Spite Of It All'. The L.A. Times praised Shalim's performance proclaiming: "silken-voiced Shalim steals several scenes as a dazzled fan who befriends these dueling divas".
Shalim has starred in some major television series such as "CSI: Miami," and "Cold Case," with one of his most memorable acting roles on NBC's "Heroes," where he played "Alejandro Herrera." In addition, Shalim has built strong and long-term relationships with the Lifetime and Hallmark channels staring in the mini-series "Maneater" (Sarah Chalke, Judy Greer) and the feature film "Expecting a Miracle" (Teri Polo, Cheech Marin).
In addition to his love of theater, Shalim has enjoyed success in another of his passions; music. Produced by Emilio Estefan, Shalim has written and recorded two albums (Sony Records). Combining his Spanish roots with Latin beats he used influences from rock and ballads to create a unique sound that has led to gold album record sales in both Spain and Latin America.
Perhaps his most significant achievement has been breaking into the Hollywood mainstream market. Shalim has starred and played acting roles in "The Wingman" written by academy award nominee Jose Rivera, and "Bad ass" which premieres this year in which he shares credits with Danny Trejo and Ron Perlman. In the Spanish language market, Shalim is debuting as the lead in two Mexican films: "Sangre de Familia" which world premieres at the 2012 Guadalajara Film Festival, and "Abril y Mayo" which is expected to premiere in the second half of 2012.- Actor
- Composer
- Soundtrack
Tego Calderón was born in Santurce, Puerto Rico, in 1972. He grew up in Río Grande and Carolina, areas of Puerto Rico that maintain some of the strongest Afro-Caribbean influences on the island. Throughout his childhood Calderón was exposed by his parents to the groundbreaking music of salsa legend Ismael Rivera, as well as to Latin jazz.
Determined to take his place in the music world, Tego explored a diversity of musical influences, transforming himself into an accomplished musician as well as vocalist. He attended the Escuela Libre de Música of Puerto Rico, where he concentrated on percussion studies, while also mastering composition and lyrics.
In the late-1980s, Tego moved to Miami, where he graduated from Miami Beach Senior High School. It was there that Calderón began to soak up the influences of American hip-hop. Hearing the California gangster rap troupe N.W.A. proved pivotal.
Moving back to Puerto Rico, Calderón also found a new appreciation for such Jamaican dance hall performers as Buju Banton, Super Cat, and Ninja Man. Around the same time, the Reggaeton movement began to become a force in Puerto Rico. Calderón began to forge his own multicultural rap style, earning a reputation as a street poet with a fresh musical approach.
He credits fellow Puerto Rican hip-hop pioneer Vico C with inspiring him to rap in Spanish, instead of imitating the English catch phrases of African-American hip-hop. Establishing himself as a new voice of the streets, he made a series of appearances on best-selling Latin hip-hop compilations. A remix collection entitled "El Enemy De Los Guasibiri," released in 2004, consisted largely of tracks which had appeared on those early compilations.
"El Abayarde" released in 2002, broke sales records in the then-underground Reggaeton genre, selling a remarkable 50,000 on the first day of its release, and Calderón became an overnight Latin superstar. Just three months after making his solo debut, Calderón was greeted with a tumultuous response at a sold-out concert at Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan. The following day, he made history when he became the first rap artist to perform at the traditional National Day of Salsa celebration.
When Tego first headlined New York's Madison Square Garden in August 2003, the New York Times heralded him as "the most forward-looking performer" of the artists on the bill.
In October 2004, when he returned to the stage of the Garden as the star of the breakthrough "Megatón 2004" event, attendance had swelled from 12,000 to a sold-out 20,000, with a large number of non-Spanish-speaking fans in the audience.
As Latin rappers have been embraced by the American hip-hop culture, Calderón has been featured on a variety of mix tapes and has been invited to add his trademark vocal style to collaborations and remixes by the likes of Fat Joe's Terror Squad (the 1 smash, "Lean Back"), Usher, 50 Cent, Cypress Hill, and Wyclef Jean, among others.
From his appearances at New York's annual Puerto Rican Day parades in 2004 and 2005, to becoming the first Spanish-language artist to be featured on New York's Power-105, Calderón has been breaking cultural barriers. In a cover story on Calderón and Reggaeton, the Village Voice noted that Tego "almost single-handedly...steered his country's dominant youth culture out of the island and Latino neighborhoods, and into the American stream of pop consciousness." Among Calderón's achievements are Latin Grammy and Billboard Award nominations, a Source Award for "International Artist of the Year," a Tu Música award, and nominations for La Gente and Lo Nuestro awards.
Tego's music is an experimental nexus of urban Hip Hop roughness with the poetic Caribbean rhythms transmitted by the early sounds of Salsa music. Not only is Tego, like many of his Salsa heroes, a formidable storyteller...he also incorporates the lyrical percussion and fine rhythmic lines that can be found in the works of Luis Pales Matos.
Calderon's is by far more than just another Reggaeton performer; he is a consummate street poet at the Vanguard of the Puerto Rican musical and artistic scene. While others break...Calderon's music is the true essence of a real artist...He creates and repairs...not many current musicians can boast that.- Music Artist
- Actor
- Producer
Luis Miguel's exceptional artistic career began in 1982, when at the age of 12 he debuted with his first recording, "Uno + Uno Dos Enamorados (1 + 1 = 2 Lovers)". It became an immediate hit and catapulted him onto the Latin music charts, making him a household name in Spanish speaking countries all over the world. More albums followed and he received a Grammy, the first of four, for his duet with Sheena Easton for "Me Gustas Tal Como Eres (I like the way you are)" in 1985. In 1988 and 1989 the albums "Busca Una Mujer (Looking for a woman)" and "20 Años (20 Years)" were perhaps the most successful recordings with several hits including "La Incondicional (The Unconditional)" (the all-time most famous song of this singer) and "Tengo todo excepto a ti (I've got everything but you)" and celebrated the 20th anniversary of Luis Miguel. In 1991, he co-produced with the mexican composer Armando Manzanero his eighth album Romance, (first in a series of Bolero albums) which attained sales of 7 million internationally and garnered more than 70 Platinum albums worldwide. With the success of Romance he was responsible for popularizing the gender of the bolero to an entire new generation of music lovers. Along with his singing, his electrifying performances ranked him as #2 in the world with Performance and Amusement magazines for having sold the most tickets for consecutive dates at one venue (Auditorio Nacional in Mexico City, 1997). Other highlights of his remarkable career include a duet with Frank Sinatra, Come Fly With Me (Duets II), the first Spanish album to debut at Number 14 in the Billboard Top 200 (Romances, 1997), numerous Lo Nuestro Awards, hundreds of Gold and Platinum albums, three World Music Awards and a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, 1996. Also he performed the song "Sueña" (Dream on) included in the Spanish soundtrack of 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame'.
His aversion to record an English album has limited his fame only to the Hispanic countries.- Actress
- Producer
- Music Department
Kesia Elwin was born on 25 November 1976 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She is an actress and producer, known for Miracle at St. Anna (2008), Shrapnel (2023) and The Battle of Gorthene: La Battaglia di Gorthene.- Actor
- Writer
In the beginning, he tried to enter the musical group Menudo, but didn't make it. Later he entered the University of Puerto Rico in Rio Piedras, completing his studies in the Department of Drama. He moved to Mexico in 1999. He continues academic study with Patricia Reyes Spindola and Art Studies Center of Televisa (CEA).- Actress
- Producer
Joan Smalls is a fashion supermodel best known for her work Givenchy, Estée Lauder and as a Victoria's Secrets lingerie model. She appeared in five Victoria's Secret Fashion shows from 2011 through 2015. She has been a face Estee Lauder since 2011, and was the first Latina to represent Estée Lauder. Smalls has been in campaigns for Givenchy, Marc Jacobs, Gap, Estée Lauder, Stuart Weitzman, Moschino, Calvin Klein, H&M, Gucci, Chanel, Hugo Boss, Gucci among others. She appeared on the cover or been featured in many international fashion magazines including Vogue, GQ, Elle, Vanity Fair, Harper's Bazaar, Glamour, V and W among others. She was born Joan Smalls Rodríguez on October 23, 1984 in Hatillo, Puerto Rico, USA, the daughter of Eric Smalls and Betzaida Rodrigíguez. She attended and graduated magna cum laude from the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico with a B.A. in psychology.- Actress
- Additional Crew
Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Marisé has been working in theatre, film, television, music and radio for the last 15 years. Her first notable role was Neyshalí in the award winning feature film Lovesickness (2007) of Executive Producer Benicio Del Toro. Soon after, she played Cuban revolutionary Vilma Espín in Che: Part One (2008) and Che: Part Two (2008) directed by Steven Soderbergh. Later she played Elisa in the award winning British short film Lover (2009). In 2013 she was nominated for Best Actress at the NBCUniversal Short Film Festival for her role Lita in Mi corazón (2014) directed by Marielle Woods. Most recent appearances include Nelly in the NBCUniversal TV series Crossbones (2014) staring John Malkovich, Mariela in the feature film The Vessel (2016) of Executive Producer Martin Sheen, Tanya Ibar in the Spanish mini series En el corredor de la muerte (2019) co-staring with Miguel Ángel Silvestre, and Leticia Ozuna in the Showtime pilot Hombre directed by Jonás Cuarón co-staring with Gael García Bernal.- Actor
- Additional Crew
- Producer
Tony Oliver was born on 12 May 1958 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He is an actor and producer, known for Lupin the 3rd: The Mystery of Mamo (1978), Akira (1988) and Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (1993). He has been married to Barbara Oliver since 7 July 1979. They have two children.- Supporting actor Alex Colon launched his film career in the early 1970s appearing in dramas ranging from religious tract The Cross and the Switchblade (1970), to the gentle comedy Harry and Tonto (1974), to the fact-based made-for-TV action movie Raid on Entebbe (1976). Colon made his final film appearance in The Getaway (1994). Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Colon moved to New York to become a stage actor in 1970. He made his Broadway debut playing a mouthy delivery boy in Neil Simon's drama The Gingerbread Lady in 1970. In addition to acting, Colon directed the occasional theatrical production in New York, Southern California and Puerto Rico.
- Actor
- Director
- Cinematographer
Alex Elin Goyco, a Puerto Rican/Dominican actor, cinematographer, and director, is a rising star worth keeping an eye on in the industry. His exceptional talent and versatile skills have earned him recognition, including a 2021 Emmy® Award win. Hailing from the Caribbean, Goyco has made his mark in both Los Angeles and New York City, showcasing his abilities on both coasts. With a knack for excelling both in front of and behind the camera, he's become a notable figure in the production world. Beyond his professional endeavors, Goyco's passions include fitness, acrobatics, and hitting the open road on his motorcycle. With his Emmy® win and continued success, Goyco's trajectory promises even greater achievements ahead.
Instagram: @AlexElinGoyco. SAG/AFTRA- Carlos Colón Jr. was born on 21 February 1979 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He is an actor, known for WWE Smackdown! (1999), WWE NXT (2010) and GLOW (2017).
- Actor
- Art Department
- Soundtrack
Shawn Elliott (born Eliezer Santiago) grew up in New York performing as both an actor and singer. He has two sons, Roland and Russell Santiago from his first marriage to Gloria Fernandez. He also has an adopted daughter and possibly two more children. His current wife and fellow actor is Donna Murphy, to whom he has been married since 1990.- Actor
- Additional Crew
Alberto Morin was born on 26 December 1902 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He was an actor, known for Two Mules for Sister Sara (1970), Tripoli (1950) and The Green Hornet (1966). He died on 7 April 1989 in Burbank, California, USA.- Actress
Felipa Gómez was born on 10 September 1870 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She was an actress. She died on 15 April 1967 in Pacheco, Buenos Aires, Argentina.- Actor
- Additional Crew
- Writer
Steve Kramer was born on 24 December 1950 in San Juan Capistrano, California, USA. He is an actor and writer, known for Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro (1979), The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008) and Chronicle (2012). He has been married to Melora Harte since 25 October 1987.- Actor
- Soundtrack
Tony Martinez was born on 27 January 1920 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He was an actor, known for Rock Around the Clock (1956), The Naked Dawn (1955) and Cabarlo (1987). He was married to Myra, Josephine Madero and Beatrice Limon. He died on 16 September 2002 in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.- Music Artist
- Actor
- Composer
Daddy Yankee was born Ramon Ayala on February 3, 1976, in Villa Kennedy, Santruce, Puerto Rico. One of the top reggaetón (Spanish-language dancehall reggae) artists, he started to rhyme and sing at the age of 13. One of his first major appearances on record was on DJ Tony Touch's album "The Piece-Maker." Daddy not only sings and rhymes, he has his own record label, El Cartel Records, and, since his album "Cartel de Yankee" was certified for platinum sales in Puerto Rico, the second part of his life has been full of success. Daddy Yankee is also known as "El Rey de la Improvisación," and has won awards for this for 5 years in a row at the Street Jam Regaae Awards. He has also won other awards, such as Best Voice, Best Song/Lyric, and Best Artist. One of his best friends is reggaetón artist Nicky Jam. He has produced CDs and other songs for other reggaetón artists as well. In 2004, he released his first internationally distributed album, "Barrio Fino," and it is considered to be one of the best full-length albums ever released of this emerging musical genre.- Jackie Guerrido was born on 24 September 1970 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She is an actress, known for AWOL-72 (2015), Lopez vs. Lopez (2022) and Primer impacto (1994). She was previously married to Don Omar.
- Music Artist
- Actor
- Composer
Rauw Alejandro was born on 10 January 1993 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He is a music artist and actor, known for Father of the Bride (2022), Shakira & Rauw Alejandro: Te felicito (2022) and Rauw Alejandro: Todo de ti (2021).- Casting Director
- Casting Department
- Actor
Germán Legarreta was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He is a casting director and actor, known for Fruitvale Station (2013), Assassins (1995) and Stronger (2017).- Priscilla Delgado was born on 31 March 2002 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She is an actress, known for Julieta (2016), La chica de ayer (2009) and Abracadabra (2017).
- Actress
- Visual Effects
Ana Coto was born on 17 October 1990 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She is an actress, known for Ouija (2014), Actress (2015) and Comedy Bang! Bang! (2012).- Actress
- Director
Hurst was born in the Villa Palmera section of San Juan, Puerto Rico, where the middle class families live. Her father was the owner of the "Farmacia Imperial" (Imperial Pharmacy) located in the neighborhood of Barrio Obrero. Hurst is also a cousin of Puerto Rican television producer Tommy Muñiz. She received her primary and secondary education in the capital.
At a young age, Hurst told her parents that she wanted to be an actress. They enrolled her in the modeling academy of Ana Santisteban. In 1960, when she was 17 years old, she was clowning around with her friends while waiting for her turn at the academy. Producer Gaspar Pumarejo happened to encounter Hurst when he entered the academy looking for "fresh" talent for a new show that he was producing.
That year Hurst was contracted and she starred in the television comedy Pompilia y su Familia (Pompilia and her Family), which was broadcast on WAPA-TV. Later, she hosted La Hora del Niño(The Children's Hour) on Channel 6. Some of the other comedies in which she participated in the 1960s were Casos y Cosas de la Casa (Cases and Things of the House) with actor Braulio Castillo and Matrimonio y Algo Mas (Marriage and Something More). In 1969, Hurst was contracted by Panamericana de Television of Lima, Peru to work in the program El Hit del Momento (The Hit of the Moment), for one year.
When Hurst returned to Puerto Rico, she went to work in some of the programs produced by her cousin, Tommy Muñiz. She also participated in various theater productions for the first time. Among them were La Casa de las Hojas Azules (The House with the Blue Leaves) and La Verdadera Historia de Pedro Navaja (The True Story of Pedro Navaja). In 1980, Hurst wrote and produced a stage show which she presented at the Condado Beach Hotel in San Juan.
Hurst went to New York were she worked for a short time on some Off-Broadway productions. Then in 1989, she moved to Los Angeles, California where she enrolled in Santa Monica College and majored in psychology. Hurst was able to work in both Spanish and English language productions. She landed a role as "Mrs. Maris" in Windows (1991), which was presented at the Taper Forum Theater and as "Lola" in La Balada de Tina Jaurez (The Ballad of Tina Juarez) (1992). She was also the founder of an acting school for Hispanic children.
Hurst has participated in twenty movies, including the 2005 film English as a Second Language. She has also made over thirty television guest appearances in programs such as JAG, NYPD Blue, The X-Files, ER, Lost, and a recurring role in Dharma and Greg, where she played the role of "Celia" in sixteen episodes. She also appeared in the Ugly Betty episode "A Tree Grows in Guadalajara" as Yolanda Salazar, the grandmother of Betty Suarez. As of 2007, Lillian Hurst was residing in Los Angeles, California, continuing her work as an actress.- Stunts
- Actress
Mónica López was born on 12 April 1985 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She is an actress, known for Dune (2021), Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022) and The Mother (2023).- Sharinna Goyco was born in 1991 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She is an actress, known for Good Egg (2023), Billions (2016) and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999).
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- Writer
- Director
Javier Grillo-Marxuach was born on 28 October 1969 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He is a producer and writer, known for Lost (2004), The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance (2019) and Charlie's Angels (2011).- Eddie Matos was born on 18 July 1978 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He is an actor, known for General Hospital (1963), All My Children (1970) and Awake (2012).