Walter Perez (Actor)
Encyclopedia
Walter Perez is an American
film, television actor and musician
. He is best known for his role in Fame
.
, California
and is of Mexican
descent. He started performing when he was seven years old as a flamenco dancer in elementary school recitals. At a young age Walter had a passion for acting, he directed and played the lead role in many of his homemade movies. In these movies he would often impersonate his idol Charlie Chaplin
. His working-class parents were unable to afford resources that would help him get into the entertainment industry. He decided to join Colors United, a performing arts group for inner-city high school students. This group helps under-privileged students expose their hidden talents in singing, acting, and dancing to people in the entertainment industry. Walter danced, sang, and acted in the group for three years. Walter attended Cal State Fullerton for four years, where he studied and earned a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice.
, CSI: Miami
, A Beautiful Life
, and had a five-episode role on Friday Night Lights
. In 2010 he guest starred in Cold Case, NCIS: Los Angeles and In Plain Sight
. He has been in many independent films, including August Evening
. In August Evening
he plays Luis, kind-hearted butcher who falls in love with the widow, Lupe. Walter starred in Emilio, another popular independent film. He also played Al Crisotomo in the television movie, Walkout on HBO; and co-starred alongside Dermot Mulroney
and Diane Kruger
in Run for Your Life. Walter is best known for his role in Fame. Fame
is an updated version of the 1980 film. The film is set at a New York City performing arts school where a group of talented young students are striving for fame.The movie follows the young students from their freshman to senior year, and everything the students had to endure to become famous. Some students failed to receive fame, while others fulfilled their dreams. In the movie Walter plays Victor Taveras a young musician, from Spanish Harlem aspiring to become a music producer. He was very passionate about the role saying, “This character is an aspiring music producer, and I’ve always been an aspiring actor. I definitely could relate to him. I always wanted to perform for people. I always wanted to entertain.”
at the Los Angeles Film Festival in 2007. in the independent film, August Evening
won the John Cassavetes Award.
. He spends his downtime free riding
in the Santa Monica
Mountains. Walter Perez enjoying free riding with his closest friends.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
film, television actor and musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
. He is best known for his role in Fame
Fame (2009 film)
Fame is a 2009 musical film and a loose remake of the 1980 film of the same title. It was directed by Kevin Tancharoen and written by Allison Burnett. It was released on September 25, 2009 in the USA, Canada, Ireland, and the UK.-Freshman year:...
.
Biography
Walter Perez was born in South GateSouth Gate, California
South Gate is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The sixteenth largest city in Los Angeles County, it encompasses . South Gate is located just southeast of downtown Los Angeles It is part of the Gateway Cities region of southeastern Los Angeles County...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and is of Mexican
Mexican American
Mexican Americans are Americans of Mexican descent. As of July 2009, Mexican Americans make up 10.3% of the United States' population with over 31,689,000 Americans listed as of Mexican ancestry. Mexican Americans comprise 66% of all Hispanics and Latinos in the United States...
descent. He started performing when he was seven years old as a flamenco dancer in elementary school recitals. At a young age Walter had a passion for acting, he directed and played the lead role in many of his homemade movies. In these movies he would often impersonate his idol Charlie Chaplin
Charlie Chaplin
Sir Charles Spencer "Charlie" Chaplin, KBE was an English comic actor, film director and composer best known for his work during the silent film era. He became the most famous film star in the world before the end of World War I...
. His working-class parents were unable to afford resources that would help him get into the entertainment industry. He decided to join Colors United, a performing arts group for inner-city high school students. This group helps under-privileged students expose their hidden talents in singing, acting, and dancing to people in the entertainment industry. Walter danced, sang, and acted in the group for three years. Walter attended Cal State Fullerton for four years, where he studied and earned a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice.
Acting career
Walter has been a professional actor since 2002; he has had many guest roles on notable television series. He guest starred in The CloserThe Closer
The Closer is an American crime drama, starring Kyra Sedgwick as Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson, a Georgia police detective who often closes her cases using sometimes-questionable methods...
, CSI: Miami
CSI: Miami
CSI: Miami is an American police procedural television series, which premiered on September 23, 2002 on CBS. The series is a spin-off of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation....
, A Beautiful Life
A Beautiful Life (2008 film)
-Cast:* Debi Mazar as Susan* Ling Bai as Esther* Dana Delany as Anne* Jonathan LaPaglia as Vince* Angela Sarafyan as Maggie* Gloria Alexandra as Stripper* Walter Perez as Enrico-External links:*...
, and had a five-episode role on Friday Night Lights
Friday Night Lights (TV series)
Friday Night Lights is an American sports drama television series adapted by Peter Berg, Brian Grazer and David Nevins from a book and film of the same name. The series details events surrounding a high school football team based in fictional Dillon, Texas, with particular focus given to team...
. In 2010 he guest starred in Cold Case, NCIS: Los Angeles and In Plain Sight
In Plain Sight
In Plain Sight is an American dramatic television series on USA Network. The series revolves around Mary Shannon , a Deputy United States Marshal attached to the Albuquerque, New Mexico office of the Federal Witness Security Program , more commonly known as the Federal Witness Protection Program...
. He has been in many independent films, including August Evening
August Evening
August Evening is a 2008 film following the relationship between an aging illegal alien farm worker named Jaime and his young, widowed daughter-in-law, Lupe. It was written and directed by Chris Eska, and released on September 5, 2008...
. In August Evening
August Evening
August Evening is a 2008 film following the relationship between an aging illegal alien farm worker named Jaime and his young, widowed daughter-in-law, Lupe. It was written and directed by Chris Eska, and released on September 5, 2008...
he plays Luis, kind-hearted butcher who falls in love with the widow, Lupe. Walter starred in Emilio, another popular independent film. He also played Al Crisotomo in the television movie, Walkout on HBO; and co-starred alongside Dermot Mulroney
Dermot Mulroney
-Early life:Mulroney was born in Alexandria, Virginia, the son of Ellen, a housewife and amateur actress originally from Manchester, Iowa, and Michael Mulroney, a law professor at Villanova University School of Law, originally from Elkader, Iowa. He has a sister, Moira, and three brothers, Conor,...
and Diane Kruger
Diane Kruger
Diane Kruger is a German actress and former fashion model. She is known for roles such as Helen in Troy, Dr. Abigail Chase in National Treasure and its sequel, Bridget von Hammersmark in Inglourious Basterds, Anna in Mr...
in Run for Your Life. Walter is best known for his role in Fame. Fame
Fame (2009 film)
Fame is a 2009 musical film and a loose remake of the 1980 film of the same title. It was directed by Kevin Tancharoen and written by Allison Burnett. It was released on September 25, 2009 in the USA, Canada, Ireland, and the UK.-Freshman year:...
is an updated version of the 1980 film. The film is set at a New York City performing arts school where a group of talented young students are striving for fame.The movie follows the young students from their freshman to senior year, and everything the students had to endure to become famous. Some students failed to receive fame, while others fulfilled their dreams. In the movie Walter plays Victor Taveras a young musician, from Spanish Harlem aspiring to become a music producer. He was very passionate about the role saying, “This character is an aspiring music producer, and I’ve always been an aspiring actor. I definitely could relate to him. I always wanted to perform for people. I always wanted to entertain.”
Awards
Walter won Outstanding Performance for his role in August EveningAugust Evening
August Evening is a 2008 film following the relationship between an aging illegal alien farm worker named Jaime and his young, widowed daughter-in-law, Lupe. It was written and directed by Chris Eska, and released on September 5, 2008...
at the Los Angeles Film Festival in 2007. in the independent film, August Evening
August Evening
August Evening is a 2008 film following the relationship between an aging illegal alien farm worker named Jaime and his young, widowed daughter-in-law, Lupe. It was written and directed by Chris Eska, and released on September 5, 2008...
won the John Cassavetes Award.
Personal life
Walter enjoys playing piano, and different instruments after learning how to in FameFame (2009 film)
Fame is a 2009 musical film and a loose remake of the 1980 film of the same title. It was directed by Kevin Tancharoen and written by Allison Burnett. It was released on September 25, 2009 in the USA, Canada, Ireland, and the UK.-Freshman year:...
. He spends his downtime free riding
Freeride
Freeride is a discipline of mountain biking closely related to downhill cycling and dirt jumping focused on tricks, style, and technical trail features. It is now recognized as one of the most popular disciplines within mountain biking....
in the Santa Monica
Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica is a beachfront city in western Los Angeles County, California, US. Situated on Santa Monica Bay, it is surrounded on three sides by the city of Los Angeles — Pacific Palisades on the northwest, Brentwood on the north, West Los Angeles on the northeast, Mar Vista on the east, and...
Mountains. Walter Perez enjoying free riding with his closest friends.