Wilson Cruz

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Wilson Cruz
Cruz in 2018
Born
Wilson Echevarría

(1973-12-27) December 27, 1973 (age 50)
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Occupation(s)Actor, producer, activist, singer
Years active1994–present

Wilson Cruz (born Wilson Echevarría; December 27, 1973) is an American actor known for playing Rickie Vasquez on

Afro-Puerto Rican ancestry, he has served as an advocate for gay youth, especially gay minorities.[3][4][5]

Early life

Cruz was born in

Brooklyn, New York, to parents born in Puerto Rico. His family eventually moved to Rialto, California, where he attended Eisenhower High School, graduating in 1991. At age 19, Cruz came out to his parents as gay, first to his mother and then to his father. While his mother was initially hurt and shocked, she eventually accepted the news. His father, however, threw him out of the house, and Cruz spent the next few months living in his car and at the homes of friends. He later reconciled with his father.[6]

Career

Cruz went to

cult classic TV series My So-Called Life. This made Cruz the first openly gay actor to play an openly gay character in a leading role in an American television series.[7]

Following My So-Called Life's cancellation, Cruz went on to play

prostitutes. In 2000, he played Victor in the final season of Party of Five. He also had a recurring role as Rafael de la Cruz on the series, Raising the Bar
.

Cruz's other acting credits include the films

Party Monster (2003), Margaret Cho's Bam Bam and Celeste (2005), Coffee Date (2007), and He's Just Not That into You (2009); the television film The Perfect Pitch (2002); and guest appearances on the series Great Scott!, Sister, Sister, ER, Ally McBeal, The West Wing, Noah's Arc, and Grey's Anatomy. Cruz starred as Adrian in the film The Ode (2007), based on the novel Ode to Lata by Ghalib Shiraz Dhalla
.

He also appeared/starred in the 2009 movie

promiscuous woman
who tries to find out who got her pregnant so that she can get married.

Since 2017, Cruz has portrayed Dr. Hugh Culber on the science fiction series Star Trek: Discovery.

Since 2020, Cruz has been a recurring guest on 25 Words or Less.[8]

In 2023, Cruz became the new chair of the board of directors for GLSEN.[9]

Personal life

Cruz at Outfest 2010

Cruz works with and advocates on behalf of

University of Illinois at Chicago's Lavender Graduation and Rainbow Banquet honoring graduating LGBT students.[citation needed
]

Cruz joined the board of directors of GLAAD in 1997 to assist the organization through a leadership transition, and joined the staff of GLAAD in 2012 as a National Spokesperson and Strategic Giving Officer.[11]

Cruz's maternal stepaunt Brenda Lee Marquez McCool was among the 49 victims killed in the 2016

Orlando nightclub shooting; Cruz stated that she was killed while protecting her son Isaiah, who survived the gunfire.[12]

In 2020, Wilson was honored on one of the covers of

Out100 issue, saying Wilson "beautifully weaves his activism inside every aspect of his work".[13]

Filmography and stage

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1994–1995 My So-Called Life Enrique "Rickie" Vasquez 19 episodes
1996 On Seventh Avenue Reuben Diaz
1996 Sister, Sister Bobby Episode: "Double Double Date"
1997 Ally McBeal Steven/Stephanie 1 episode
1999–2000 Party of Five Victor 11 episodes
2002 ER Jeffrey Cruz 1 episode
2004 The West Wing Jack Sosa 2 episodes
2005 The Closer Man in Bar 1 episode
2005–2006 Noah's Arc Junito 7 episodes
2006 Monk Smoking Technician 1 episode
2007 NCIS Todd Ryder
1 episode
2007 Rick & Steve: The Happiest Gay Couple in All the World Evan 2 seasons
2008–2009 Raising the Bar Rafael de la Cruz 3 episodes
2009
Pushing Daisies
 		Sid Tango 1 episode, June 13, (US)
2010
Grey's Anatomy
 		Kyle 1 episode, December 2, (US)
2011 Single Ladies Vincent 2 episodes, July 18, (US)
2012
The Finder
 		Jonni 2 episodes
2014–2015 Red Band Society Kenji Gomez-Rejon Recurring role
2016
Shameless
 		Bartender 1 episode
2016
Mistresses
 		Dante 2 episodes
2016 Heartbeat Various 2 episodes
2017 EastSiders Jerry 1 episode
2017–2019 13 Reasons Why Dennis Vasquez 19 episodes
2017–present Star Trek: Discovery Hugh Culber Main cast
2019 The Bravest Knight Prince Andrew[14]
2019 Trapped: The Alex Cooper Story Paul C. Burke Television film
2019–2023 The Casagrandes Romeo (voice) Recurring role
2020–present 25 Words or Less Various Recurring role
2023 Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur Mr. Calderon (voice) Recurring role

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1995 Nixon Joaquin (Hoover's servant)
1996 Beat the Bash Kevin
1996 johns Mikey
1996
Joyride
 		James
1997 All Over Me Jesse
2000 Supernova Benj Sotomejor
2003
Party Monster
 		Angel
2005
Bam Bam and Celeste
 		Tony
2006 Coffee Date Kelly
2008 The Ode Adrian
2009 He's Just Not That into You Nathan
2009 Green Flash Kyle
2009 The People I've Slept With Gabriel
2011 Convincing Clooney Joaquin
2012 The Skinny The Doctor
2017 After Louie Mateo
2024 Mother of the Bride Scott Post-production

Stage

Year Title Role Notes
1998 Rent Angel
2003 A Perfect Wedding Julian
2005
Tick, Tick... BOOM!
 		Michael

See also

References

  1. ^ "ABC Leads Nominees for GLAAD Awards". Fox News. Associated Press. May 21, 2008. Retrieved February 8, 2011.
  2. All Movie Guide. 2008. Archived from the original
    on January 19, 2008. Retrieved January 13, 2012.
  3. ^ "Talkin' Broadway". Talkinbroadway.com. Retrieved January 13, 2012.
  4. ^ "Atlanta Boy". Atlantaboy.com. Retrieved January 13, 2012.
  5. ^ "Oasis Magazine". Oasis Magazine. Archived from the original on April 15, 2012. Retrieved January 13, 2012.
  6. ^ "My So-Called Life's Wilson Cruz on Rickie Fans, LBGT Awareness, and '90s Fashion". Vulture. September 5, 2014. Retrieved December 16, 2014.
  7. ^ "Playing Gay: How America Came Out On Television by Playing Gay — Kickstarter". Kickstarter.com. August 1, 2015. Retrieved August 17, 2015.
  8. ^ "Wilson Cruz". rottentomatoes.com. Fandango. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  9. Los Angeles Blade
    . Retrieved August 13, 2023.
  10. ^ "Montreal's 36th Pride parade commemorates history of LGBTQ activism". Montreal Gazette. August 18, 2019.
  11. ^ Davis, Brendan (September 4, 2012). Actor and Activist Wilson Cruz Joins GLAAD Staff. GLAAD, September 4, 2012. Retrieved from http://www.glaad.org/blog/actor-and-activist-wilson-cruz-joins-glaad-staff.
  12. ^ "EXCLUSIVE: Wilson Cruz Speaks Out About His Relative Who Died in the Orlando Shooting: 'We Are Devastated' | Entertainment Tonight". www.etonline.com. June 13, 2016. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
  13. ^ "Wilson Cruz is Going Where No Gay Man Has Gone Before". www.out.com. November 18, 2020. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  14. ^ Ramos, Dino-Ray (June 24, 2019). "Wilson Cruz On 'The Bravest Knight', 'Star Trek: Discovery' And LGBTQ Legacy Of 'My So-Called Life's Ricky Vasquez". Yahoo! News. Deadline. Archived from the original on December 18, 2020. Retrieved December 18, 2020.

External links

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