20 Best Latino Actors Of All Time
The world-renowned Latino acting community has been making waves in Hollywood for decades. These 15 actors are not just great actors but also incredible people. They contribute to the industry and their communities by giving back and being a positive influence for Latinos everywhere.
Every character part of the Hispanic community benefits from their distinct energy, making a movie more engaging and exciting. Although Latino actresses are often admired in movies and television shows, Latino actors are also worth mentioning.
These actors are all leading men in the making and have nothing on the most famous and attractive American or European actors. Therefore, we have all the information you need if you’re wondering who the most well-known Latino actor in Hollywood is.
1. Benicio del Toro – Puerto Rican Actor
Actor Benicio Del Toro during the 61st International Cannes Film Festival on May 21, 2008.
Full name: Benicio Monserrate Rafael del Toro Sánchez
Date of birth: February 19, 1967
Place of birth: San German, Puerto Rico
Years active: 1987–present
Benicio Del Toro is a producer and actor from Puerto Rico who has received widespread praise for his performances. He once received an Academy Award nomination and won it. Guillermo del Toro won four Independent Spirit Awards, a BAFTA, and a Goya, in addition to being nominated for a Golden Globe.
The role he portrayed in The Usual Suspects is what drew the attention of film critics. Since then, he has starred in highly praised films such as Traffic, Sicario, 21 Grams, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Sin City, Guardians of the Galaxy, Wolfman, and Star Wars: The Last Jedi, among many more.
2. Eugenio Derbez – Mexican Actor
Eugenio Derbez during a ceremony on March 10, 2016, when he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Full name: Eugenio González Derbez
Date of birth: September 2, 1961
Place of birth: Mexico City
Years active: 1974–present
Hollywood has spent decades attempting to decipher the desires of the country’s affluent Latino audience. Eugenio Derbez, one of Mexico’s most famous actors, writers, directors, and producers, solved the problem in 2013 with his blockbuster film “Instructions Not Included.”
When “Instructions” became a surprise box office triumph, grossing close to $100 million worldwide on a $5 million budget, Derbez was almost unknown in the United States while being a celebrity in his own country.
It took him twelve years to get funding for the film, but he finally has the last laugh. The 52-year-old just secured a contract with Lionsgate/Grupo Televisa’s Pantelion Films, the same company that produced “Instructions,” under his newly founded 3Pas Studios.
3. Javier Bardem – Spanish Actor
Javier Bardem during the 74th Venice Film Festival on September 5, 2017.
Full name: Javier Ángel Encinas Bardem
Date of birth: March 1, 1969
Place of birth: Las Palmas, Canary Islands, Spain
Years active: 1990–present
Javier Bardem comes from a family with several well-known directors, actors, and screenwriters. His mother, Pilar Bardem, is also a famous actress in her own country of Spain.
It was in her film that Bardem made his acting debut. Even though acting was not something that attracted him, he pursued a career in the industry to earn money to support his genuine interest, which was painting.
He is up for several awards and has been nominated for several of them, including the Oscars, the Golden Globes, and the BAFTAs. Each prize was given to him for his work on No Country for Old Men.
4. Michael Peña -American Actor
Michael Pena arrives to the HFPA Annual Installation Dinner 2014 on August 14, 2014.
Full name: Michael Anthony Peña
Date of birth: January 13, 1976
Place of birth: Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Years active: 1995–present
Michael Peña, who was born and raised in Chicago, is one of the few artists who can simultaneously make you laugh uncontrollably and shed tears.
Peña is also one of the rare performers who can work in both English and Spanish, as he demonstrated in Diego Luna’s film “Cesar Chavez,” released in 2014, which is about an immigrant activist.
At 38, Peña’s output is impressive: He has had co-starring roles in several critically acclaimed films over the last 15 years, such as “Million Dollar Baby,” “Crash,” and “American Hustle,” the latter received an Academy Award nomination.
The actor has several upcoming projects that will continue to showcase his versatility, including the film “Fury,” which he will star in with Brad Pitt, and the Marvel film “Ant-Man,” which will be released in 2015.
5. Gael García Bernal – Mexican Actor
Gael Garcia Bernal arrived for the 2016 Time Magazine 100 Most Influential People in the World gala on April 26, 2016.
Full name: Gael García Bernal
Date of birth: November 30, 1978
Place of birth: Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Years active: 1989–present
Gael García Bernal is a well-known name in Mexico’s acting and producing worlds. He has roles in several films that went on to get high accolades from film critics and audiences all around the world.
The film “Amores perros,” directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu and starring Gael García Bernal, who was born in Mexico, garnered global actor renown. His subsequent performance in Alfonso Cuarón’s film “Y tu mamá también” positioned him as the most prominent member of the new generation of Mexican filmmakers.
As a result of his performance in “The Motorcycle Diaries,” he received two nominations for a BAFTA award. Among others, he has starred in the films Bad Education, Amores Perros, and Fidel.
6. George Lopez – American Comedian & Actor
George Lopez at the “The Adventures of Sharkboy & Lavagirl in 3D” LA Premiere.
Full name: George Edward Lopez
Date of birth: April 23, 1961
Place of birth: California, U.S.
Years active: 1983–present
George Lopez‘s eponymous comedy exposed the realities of a middle-class Latino family in American living rooms at a period when cultural stereotypes were widespread.
Like his mentor, Bill Cosby, the actor became an ethnographic ambassador between his community and mainstream America. The program became an unexpected success in syndication due to its cross-demographic appeal and considerable Latino viewership.
Despite his professional accomplishments, Lopez’s background exemplifies the American Dream. Raised by working-class grandparents in Southern California, he pushed himself through school and rose to the pinnacle of Hollywood without surrendering his identity or forgetting his origins.
7. Andy García – American Actor & Director
Andy García
Full name: Andrés Arturo García Menéndez
Date of birth: April 12, 1956
Place of birth: Havana, Cuba
Years active: 1978–present
Andy Garcia, whose real name is Cuban actor Andrés Arturo Garcia Menéndez, is a famous actor. He was recognized for his work in several critically acclaimed films and television series in the United States.
Garcia has been nominated for several awards, including the Academy Award, two Primetime Emmys, and two Golden Globes. His tropical Latin record titled ‘Ahora Si! earned him a Grammy Award.
Andy Garcia’s filmography includes such classics as The Untouchables, Godfather III, For Love or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story, Internal Affairs, When a Man Loves a Woman, Desperate Measures, Ocean’s Eleven, Twelve, Thirteen, The Lost City, etc.
8. Edward James Olmos – America Actor, Activist, And Director
Edward James Olmos arrives for AFI Lifetime Achievement Gala on June 09, 2022.
Full name: Edward James Olmos
Date of birth: February 24, 1947
Place of birth: East Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Years active: 1974–present
The character of Lieutenant Castillo, whom Edward James Olmos played in the television show Miami Vice, brought him a lot of fame. As a direct consequence of his work in this role, he has been recognized with many nominations for the Golden Globe Award.
In addition, he had roles in the television shows American Me, Battlestar Galactica, Mayan MC, and Stand and Deliver, among others. For his most recent performance, Olmos received an Academy Award nomination.
Other notable works that Olmos has contributed to include Blade Runner and its sequel, Zoot Suit, Coco, Walkout, The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit, American Family, Dexter, and several other films.
9. John Leguizamo – American Actor, Comedian, & Film Producer
John Leguizamo attends at New York stands with the Puerto Rico rally.
Full name: John Alberto Leguizamo Peláez
Date of birth: July 22, 1960
Place of birth: Bogotá, Colombia
Years active: 1984–present
John Leguizamo‘s career in show business started in the conductor’s car of a New York City subway train when he performed his first unplanned live performance.
He went on to become an innovative actor and comedian during a period when fewer than one hundred Latinos were working in Hollywood.
With his contagious enthusiasm and expressive visage, Leguizamo’s hard-fought journey to prominence has established him as a pioneer in the industry and won him the respect of others who followed in his footsteps.
He played several additional comedic, action, and severe parts. His most notable performances were as Bruno in Encanto and Sid the Sloth in the Ice-Age series.
10. Antonio Banderas – Spanish Actor
Antonio Banderas attends the graphic press during the 12th Malaga Film Festival on March 15, 2009.
Full name: José Antonio Domínguez Bandera
Date of birth: August 10, 1960
Place of birth: Málaga, Andalusia, Spain
Years active: 1982–present
Spanish actor and producer Antonio Banderas has been in several highly regarded movies. His work with the Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodovar, whose movie Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown made Banderas famous, was frequent.
After relocating to Hollywood, Banderas acted in a wide variety of films, including Desperado, Philadelphia, Interview with the Vampire, Assassins, Evita, the Shrek trilogy, the Spy Kids series, Skin, Pain, and Glory, etc.
Antonio Banderas has been nominated for several awards, including the Tony, Golden Globe, two Primetime Emmys, and the Oscar. He has received several awards from the European Film Awards and the Cannes Film Festival.
11. Diego Luna – Mexican Actor
The first film, directed by Diego Luna, was shot in Aguascalientes, Mexico.
Full name: Diego Luna Alexander
Date of birth: December 29, 1979
Place of birth: Toluca, Mexico
Years active: 1987–present
Diego Luna might have moved to Hollywood full-time after his breakout performance in the Sundance blockbuster “Y tu mamá tambien” in 2001.
The actor and producer chose to remain in his home in Mexico rather than moving to another country to contribute to the development of the local film industry with his Canada Films label and Ambulante. This traveling film festival presents movies to the whole nation.
Through her acting, producing, and distribution arrangements, Luna has also played a significant role in introducing Mexican film to the United States. His first English-language film, “Cesar Chavez,” a biopic about the migrant agricultural worker, labor organizer, and leader, was helmed by him in 2014.
12. William Levy – Cuban, American Actor & Former Model
William Levy produces a photographic report while wearing a blue suit jacket and white shirt around the streets of Madrid.
Full name: William Gutiérrez-Levy
Date of birth: August 29, 1980
Place of birth: Cojímar, Havana, Cuba
Years active: 2003–present
William Levy often referred to as the Latino Brad Pitt, is a true telenovela star. However, his narrative is not at all a fairy tale. At 14 years old, Levy left his modest fishing hamlet upbringing in Cuba’s Cojimar and immigrated to Miami.
He took some getting acclimated to being in America, and because of this common experience, many Latinos can identify with him. He said, “even something as easy as a trip to the grocery store was a shock to me.”
Levy’s role in the popular culture sphere was established by his participation in the 14th season of “Dancing With the Stars.” After making a cameo appearance in Tyler Perry’s “The Single Moms Club” earlier this year, the handsome actor is settling into Hollywood without incident.
13. Pedro Pascal – Chilean & American Actor
Pedro Pascal – Chilean & American Actor
Full name: José Pedro Balmaceda Pascal
Date of birth: April 7, 1975
Place of birth: Santiago, Chile
Years active: 1996–present
His parents were vital members of the resistance movement against Augusto Pinochet’s dictatorship when José Pedro Balmaceda Pascal was born in Santiago, Chile.
As a direct consequence, the family was forced to leave Chile; first, they sought refuge in Denmark and then relocated to the United States.
Pedro Pascal is best known for his role as Red Viper in the HBO series Game of Thrones, which brought him widespread notoriety. After that, he performed in various shows and films, such as Narcos, The Mandalorian, and The Book of Boba Fett, among others.
His cinematic roles include Wonder Woman 1984, The Equalizer 2, Triple Frontier, The Great Wall, and Kingsman: The Golden Circle, among others.
14. Oscar Isaac – Guatemalan-Born American Actor
Pedro Pascal at the World premiere of The Lion King held at the Dolby Theatre on July 9, 2019.
Full name: Óscar Isaac Hernández Estrada
Date of birth: March 9, 1979
Place of birth: Guatemala City, Guatemala
Years active: 1996–present
Oscar Isaac is a well-known actor born in Guatemala but now resides in the United States. He attended the Juilliard School of Acting and graduated with a degree in acting. Subsequently, he moved on to seek a career in cinema and television.
To acquire experience and notoriety, he began his career in supporting parts. Isaac has had roles in several films, including Ex-Machina, Balibo, Inside Llewyn Davis, Body of Lies, A Most Violent Year, and X-Men: Apocalypse.
Isaac was chosen to play Poe Dameron in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, and as a result, he received recognition all around the world for his performance in this role. Following that, he appeared in movies like Moonknight, Dune, The Card Counter, Scenes from a Marriage, and Annihilation, among others.
15. Lin-Manuel Miranda – American Actor, Composer, Rapper, Playwright & Filmmaker
Lin-Manuel Miranda at the AFI FEST 2016 Premiere of Moana on November 14, 2016.
Full name: Lin-Manuel Miranda
Date of birth: January 16, 1980
Place of birth: New York City, US
Years active: 2002–present
Famous actor, singer, playwright, and producer Lin-Manuel Miranda also work as a producer. In the Heights and Hamilton, two of the most well-liked Broadway musicals that have received several Tony Award nominations, were introduced to the city by him.
Additionally, the Hamilton musical CD received Grammy honors. Miranda’s work on Hamilton also garnered him a Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
Disney’s animated features Encanto and Moana, where Miranda won an Academy Award for Best Original Song, are among his other nominated and award-winning compositions.
He is well-known for his performances in films such as Mary Poppins Returns, His Dark Materials, and The Electric Company, among others. With the musical Tick, Tick…Boom, Lin-Manuel Miranda made his directorial debut, and the movie received an Academy Award nomination.
16. Wagner Moura – Brazilian Actor, Director, Filmmaker & Musician
Wagner Moura attends the 57th New York Film Festival “Wasp Network” on October 05, 2019.
Full name: Wagner Maniçoba de Moura
Date of birth: June 27, 1976
Place of birth: Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
Years active: 1996–present
Wagner Moura is a well-known Brazilian actor, director, and filmmaker who wears a variety of hats in his professional life. Throughout the course of his life, he has also spent time working in the sectors of music and journalism. Currently, he is a journalist.
He has performed in and produced Brazilian films and television programs that are highly regarded in his own country of Brazil. Wagner Moura’s film Elite Squad brought him widespread acclaim, and he followed it up with the sequel Elite Squad: The Enemy Within, which further cemented his reputation.
It was his performance as Pablo Escobar in the Netflix series Narcos and its spin-off Narcos: Mexico that brought him widespread recognition in the United States. He also had roles in Elysium and Shining Girls, among other films.
17. Mario Lopez – American Actor, Dancer, TV Host
Mario Lopez arrived at the 2013 Grammy Awards on February 10, 2013.
Full name: Mario Lopez
Date of birth: October 10, 1973
Place of birth: San Diego, California, U.S.
Years active: 1984–present
Mario Lopez is an American dancer, actor, and presenter of many shows on television. A talent agency found him when he was ten years old and taking part in a dance performance. The performance was where he was discovered.
He was featured in a number of commercials that aired on television and had guest appearances on series such as Golden Girls, Colors, and others. It was in 1989 that he was given the role of A. C. Slater in the NBC comedy Saved by the Bell, as well as the role in the follow-up series Saved by the Bell: College Years.
Although Mario Lopez has appeared in both supporting and main parts in films and television shows, he is most known for his hosting abilities.
18. Jay Hernandez – American Actor & Fashion Model.
Jay Hernandez at the “Bad Moms” Los Angeles Premiere at the Village Theater on July 26, 2016.
Full name: Javier Manuel Hernandez Jr.
Date of birth: February 20, 1978
Place of birth: Montebello, California, U.S.
Years active: 1998–present
In an episode of the teen drama Hang Time, he played his first acting role. Javier Manuel Hernandez Jr., A talent agency, suggested that he tried his hand at modeling when he was still in high school, and he took them up on the offer.
After enrolling in an acting program, he went on to make appearances in a number of films, including Carlito’s Way: Rise to Power, Friday Night Lights, and others.
In 2005, he appeared in the horror thriller Hostel, directed by Eli Roth, as well as the film’s sequel. In the D.C. blockbuster Suicide Squad, which was released in 2016, he played the role of El Diablo.
19. Moises Arias – American Actor
Moises Arias arrived for the ‘Five Feet Apart’ Los Angeles Premiere on March 07, 2019.
Full name: Moisés Arias
Date of birth: April 18, 1994
Place of birth: New York City, U.S.
Years active: 2005–present
Actor Moises Arias was born in the United States but had Colombian ancestry. At the beginning of his career, he was employed on several series that aired on Disney Channel.
Arias has been heard in a variety of television shows, including Suite Life on Deck, Wizards of Waverly Place, Hannah Montana, Beethoven’s Big Break, and others. It wasn’t until 2013 that he landed a role in The King of Summer. After that, he appeared in Wall of Mexico, Pitch Perfect 3, and other films.
20. Ryan Guzman – American Actor & Former Model
Ryan Guzman at the “Adrift” World Premiere at the Regal LA Live on May 23, 2018.
Full name: Ryan Anthony Guzman
Date of birth: September 21, 1987
Place of birth: Abilene, Texas, U.S.
Years active: 2012–present
Ryan Anthony Guzman has experience in taekwondo and has a license to compete in mixed martial arts up to the year 2010. In addition to that, he walked the runway for Abercrombie & Fitch, Reebok, Old Navy, and other companies like Gillette.
In an episode of the teen drama Hang Time, he played his first acting role. The films Step Up: Revolutions and Step Up All In both had Guzman in starring roles.
After then, he went on to feature in movies such as “The Boy Next Door,” “The Fox Series,” “9-1-1,” “Pretty Little Liars,” “Heroes Reborn,” and many more.
