Wilmer Valderrama

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Wilmer Valderrama
Wilmer Valderrama 2012.jpg
Wilmer Valderrama at opening of Marquee Nightclub in Sydney, Australia
Born Wilmer Eduardo Valderrama
(1980-01-30) January 30, 1980 (age 44)
Miami, Florida, United States
Other names Eduardo Fresco
Occupation Actor, voice actor, singer, dancer, producer
Years active 1998–present

Wilmer Eduardo Valderrama (/vɑːldəˈrɑːmə/; Spanish: [baldeˈrama]; born January 30, 1980)[1] is an American actor, singer, dancer, producer and television personality, best known for the role of Fez in the sitcom That '70s Show and Carlos Madrigal in American horror television series From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series, hosting the MTV series Yo Momma, and voicing the character of Manny in the children's show Handy Manny.

Early life

Valderrama was born in Miami, Florida, the son of Sobeida and Balbino A. Valderrama, who owned a farm equipment rental company.[1] He is of Colombian and Venezuelan descent.[2]

Career

Television and film career

Valderrama got his start performing in numerous plays, including A Midsummer Night's Dream and Rumors. He made his professional debut in a Spanish-language Pacific Bell commercial. At his drama teacher's suggestion, he got an agent and was immediately cast in the CBS miniseries Four Corners and in Omba Mokomba on the Disney Channel. He made his big screen debut starring opposite Freddie Prinze Jr., Brittany Murphy, Matthew Lillard and Jessica Biel in the Warner Brothers film Summer Catch.

Valderrama played Fez on That '70s Show from 1998–2006; he was a senior in high school when the pilot episode was filmed. He also played DJ Keoki in the 2003 film Party Monster alongside Macaulay Culkin, Chloë Sevigny, Wilson Cruz and Seth Green. He produced and hosted the MTV series Yo Momma from 2006 to 2007, and appeared "involuntarily" as many as three times on another MTV mainstay, Punk'd, hosted by fellow That '70s Show alumnus Ashton Kutcher.

In April and May 2003, Valderrama appeared in the Los Angeles Times critic's choice play Blackout, an adaptation of the feature film Drunks,[3] and on April 4, 2004, starred opposite Anjelica Huston and Ben Kingsley in the Actors' Fund of America one-performance only reading of Sunset Boulevard.[4] He filmed the short film La torcedura in which he played the lead, and appeared in The Darwin Awards, an independent film directed by Finn Taylor, starring Winona Ryder and Joseph Fiennes.

In animation work, Valderrama voiced Rodrigo in Clifford's Really Big Movie, playing alongside John Ritter, Wayne Brady and Jenna Elfman. He also voices the main character, Manny, in Disney Channel's Handy Manny series for preschoolers (He even starred in a minisode featuring his acting counterpart).[5] He had a starring role in El Muerto, an indie film directed by Brian Cox and based on the successful comic book created by Javier Hernandez. In January 2007, Valderrama launched his own men's fashion label called "Calavena".[6]

In 2010, Valderrama guest-starred on Disney Channel's series Wizards of Waverly Place playing the role of Theresa Russo's brother, Ernesto. In 2011, he appeared in three episodes of USA Network's Royal Pains as Eric Kassabian, an art dealer.

In 2012, Valderrama co-hosted Premios Juventud as a superhero on July 19, 2012. In August 2012, he appeared alongside Vanessa Curry and Leighton Meester in house music group Nomads' music video of "Addicted to Love".[7]

On September 27, 2013, Valderrama was honored with an ALMA Award for Outstanding Social Activism.[8][9][10] In late November 2013, it was announced that Valderrama had joined the cast of From Dusk till Dawn: The Series.[11]

Music career

On May 11, 2011, Valderrama released his song "The Way I Fiesta", which he performed as his alter ego Eduardo Fresco. The video was directed by Akiva Schaffer from the group The Lonely Island. Danny Masterson, Valderrama's co-star from That '70s Show, has a cameo appearance in the video. Valderrama appeared in the 2009 music video for Wisin & Yandel's song "Imagínate". He also appeared in and produced the 2011 video for LMFAO's song "Sexy and I Know It". At the Billboard Latin Music Awards he said that he is making music which he will release in Spanish and English. On July 27, 2012, he had an interview with Latina and said that he is recording tracks and is working with great artists/producers from both the English and the Spanish side. He said he was hoping to release more music in 2013,[12][13] yet nothing was released. On March 10, 2014, Valderrama revealed that a Salud Part 2 is in the works and that he has his own music coming out towards the end of the summer of 2014.[14]

Other work

Valderrama made a cameo appearance in Omar Cruz's To The Top featuring Frankie J. He also worked with Puerto Rican reggaeton duo Wisin & Yandel on their video for "Imagínate" featuring the rapper T-Pain, as well as on Colombian singer Fanny Lú's video "Tu No Eres Para Mi", where he portrayed her boyfriend. Valderrama has appeared on Shane Dawson's YouTube channel on September 1, 2012.

Personal life

Valderrama has been dating Demi Lovato since 2010.[15]

Filmography

Film

Name Year Role Notes
Summer Catch 2001 Mickey Dominguez
Party Monster 2003 DJ Keoki
Clifford's Really Big Movie 2004 Rodrigo Voice
Beauty Shop 2005 Corky Uncredited
The Darwin Awards 2006 Documentary Filmmaker
Zoom Marksmen
Fast Food Nation Raul Nominated – Imagen Foundation Award for Best Actor in a Film
Unaccompanied Minors Zach Van Bourke
El Muerto 2007 Diego de la Muerte / El Muerto
The Condor Tony Valdez Voice
Save the Date
Columbus Day 2008 Max
The Dry Land 2010 Raymond Gonzales
Larry Crowne 2011 Dell Gordo
From Prada to Nada Bruno Nominated – Imagen Foundation Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Film
The Brooklyn Brothers Beat the Best Jason
School Dance 2014 Flaco
The Girl Is in Trouble 2015 Angel
Days of Wrath Daniel Completed
To Whom It May Concern Sam Post-production
Charming 2016 Prince Charming Voice; Filming

Television

Name Year Role Notes
Four Corners 1998 Antonio 4 episodes
That '70s Show 1998–2006 Fez Main Cast; 200 episodes
Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Sidekick (2006)
Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Sidekick (2005)
Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Sidekick (2003)
Nominated – Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Sidekick (2002, 2004)
Nominated – ALMA Award for Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2006)
Nominated – Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a TV Series by a Young Ensemble (1999)
MADtv 2002 Punch Episode: "7.17"
Grounded for Life Eugenio Episode: "Mustang Lilly"
Punk'd 2003 Himself 2 episodes
Yo Momma 2006–2007 Creator, executive producer & host
Handy Manny 2006–2011 Manny Lead Voice; 113 episodes
Robot Chicken 2005 Fez Voice; Episode: "Gold Dust Gasoline"
The Sopranos 2006 Himself Episode: "Luxury Lounge"
That's Our Joe 2007 Almerià Episode: "Padre De Joe F."
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition 2010 Himself Episode: "The Williams Family"
Wizards of Waverly Place Uncle Ernesto Episode: "Uncle Ernesto"
Cleveland Show 2011 Diego Voice; Episode: "How Do You Solve a Problem Like Roberta?"
Royal Pains 2011–2012 Eric Kassabian 3 episodes
Awake 2012 Detective Efrem Vega Main Cast; 13 episodes
Minuto Para Ganar Himself Contestant
Are You There, Chelsea? Tommy Episode: "Those Damn Yankees"
Men at Work Eri Ricaldo Episode: "Crazy for Milo"
Suburgatory 2012–2013 Yoni 2 episodes
Raising Hope Ricardo Montes 4 episodes
RuPaul's Drag Race 2013 Himself Episode: "Drama Queens"
From Dusk till Dawn: The Series 2014–2015 Don Carlos Madrigal Main Cast; 19 episodes
Minority Report 2015 Will Blake Main Cast; 10 episodes
American Music Awards 2015 Presenter

Video games

Year Name Role Notes
2005 Scarface: The World Is Yours Pablo Voice

Director

Year Title Notes
2010 Imagination Movers Episode: "Mouse Day"
2013 Salud - SkyBlu feat. Sensato, Reek Rude & Wilmer Valderrama Music Video

Discography

Singles

Year Title Album
2011 "The Way I Fiesta" (feat. Clayton Vice) Non-album Song

Guest appearances

List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name
Title Year Other artist(s) Album
"Salud" 2013 SkyBlu, Sensato, Reek Rude Rebel Music

Music videos

As lead artist

Year Title Director Album
2011 "The Way I Fiesta" (feat. Clayton Vice) Akiva Schaffer N/A

As featured artist

Year Title Director Album
2013 "Salud" (SkyBlu feat. Sensato, Reek Rude & Wilmer Valderrama) Himself Rebel Music

Cameo appearances

See also

References

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  3. 'Blackout' explores culture of sobriety Los Angeles Times, April 25, 2003
  4. "Sunset Boulevard" on Hollywood Boulevard BroadwayWorld.com, April 5, 2004
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  6. Wilmer Valderrama to launch his own fashion label EnjoyFashion, January 4, 2007
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External links