Marcel Ruiz, a Puerto Rican-American actor, has made a name for himself in the entertainment industry with his portrayal of Alex Alvarez in the Netflix reboot of ‘One Day at a Time’. Born into a family of filmmakers in Old San Juan, Ruiz was introduced to the world of acting at a young age. Starting with commercials as a child, he eventually moved to Los Angeles with his family and pursued acting as a career. His breakthrough came in 2017 when he made his television debut in ‘One Day at a Time’, playing the role of the bright and intelligent Alex Alvarez. Since then, Ruiz has also appeared in FX’s crime-drama ‘Snowfall’ and is now set to make his cinematic debut in the upcoming biographical drama film, ‘Breakthrough’.
Quick Facts
- Age: 20 Years
- Family:
- Father: Carlitos Ruiz Ruiz
- Mother: Mariem Perez Riera
- Siblings: Lucía Ruiz (sister)
- Actors
- Puerto Rican Men
- Height: 5’9″ (175 cm)
- City: San Juan, Puerto Rico
Career
Marcel Ruiz began his career in the entertainment industry in Puerto Rico as a child model, appearing in commercials for various advertising campaigns. He also had the opportunity to be featured in other types of projects. When his family moved to the USA, he faced the challenge of language barrier in pursuing acting. However, he continued to appear in Spanish commercials. As his English improved, his confidence to audition for English-speaking roles grew as well. Acting has always been an enjoyable activity for Ruiz, but as he got older, it became his career.
Securing the role of Alex Alvarez in ‘One Day at a Time’ was a long and stressful process for Ruiz. He initially sent in a self-tape to the casting directors but did not hear back from them for a couple of weeks. Eventually, they reached out and informed him that he had been selected for in-person auditions. On the day he was finally cast, his parents surprised him by taking him for an ice cream.
Created by Gloria Calderon Kellett and Mike Royce, the show ‘One Day at a Time’ is based on a CBS sitcom of the same name that aired from 1975 to 1984. The 2017 version goes beyond the story of a single mother raising her two children and tackles relevant social issues such as mental illness, immigration, sexism, homophobia, and racism. The show has received critical acclaim, with a 97% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and has won numerous awards in the two seasons it has aired. Ruiz himself was nominated for the Imagen Foundation Award for Best Young Actor-Television in 2017 and 2018.
In 2017, Ruiz guest-starred in FX’s ‘Snowfall’. He is also set to make his big screen debut in the biographical drama ‘Breakthrough’, alongside Chrissy Metz and Topher Grace.
Personal Life
Marcel Ruiz was born on July 9, 2003, in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. His parents are Carlitos Ruiz and Mariem Perez Riera, both well-known personalities in the Puerto Rican film industry. His maternal grandfather is the singer and comedian Silverio Perez, while his maternal grandmother is the singer and painter Roxana Riera. Mariem, who had a bohemian upbringing, was a child actor herself before pursuing a career in film direction. She obtained her bachelor’s degree from the University of Miami and continued her studies in documentary cinema at New York University and the International School of Film and Television in Cuba. She then began her career as a documentary filmmaker and editor in Puerto Rico. Carlitos, on the other hand, has a background in theater and received his BFA in filmmaking from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He has directed commercials for various brands and won awards for his short film thesis.
When Marcel was nine years old, his family moved to the USA and settled in Los Angeles, California. Initially, he struggled with English but became fluent in the language after attending school in Los Angeles. In addition to his acting career, Ruiz is also an athletic young man who enjoys playing soccer and basketball.