Xolo Maridueña has opened up about his Latin ethnicity and expressed pride in representing his community in Hollywood. Since making a name for himself in the acting industry, the actor has been passionate about telling authentic stories about the Latin experience.
Xolo Maridueña has risen to fame for his acting talent following his roles in "Cobra Kai" and "Parenthood." The actor has also become well known for the many firsts he has accomplished in Hollywood and for being one of the famous faces of the Latin community.
Xolo Maridueña, who has mixed Latin ethnicity, rarely saw people who looked like him growing up on TV. Now, he has made history as the first Latino actor to star in the "Karate Kid" franchise and was brought to tears after being cast to lead as the first Latin superhero.
Xolo Maridueña at the Pike Place Market on July 11, 2023, in Seattle, Washington. | Source: Getty Images
Xolo Maridueña on His Ethnicity
Maridueña was born in Los Angeles, California, with nearly half its population representing Hispanic or Latin communities. However, the actor is of Mexican, Cuban, and Ecuadorian ethnicity. One of his breakout roles is playing Miguel Diaz in "Cobra Kai," and the actor shared about his positive portrayal of the Latin community:
"Latinos have been in movies for a good amount of time, but they're always the gangbanger, the maid, the person traveling across the border, or the "Narcos" story. [...] It's special to see yourself portrayed in a positive manner."
Xolo Maridueña at the premiere of "Barbie" on July 9, 2023, in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images
Xolo Maridueña on Growing up in a Latin Household
Over the years, Maridueña has opened up about his upbringing in a Latin household and revealed that he has always shared a close relationship with his family. "I've never known any different," he shared.
While little is known about the actor's father, his mother is a legend in the radio industry and a popular radio show producer. And not only does the actor have his mom to thank for his rap music knowledge, but his mom was also the catalyst behind his budding acting career.
"She's the best mom ever," the "Cobra Kai" star said. During an interview, Maridueña — whose name has Nahuatl origin, an indigenous language spoken mainly by the Uto-Aztecan people — added that his parents made a lot of sacrifices so he could chase his dreams of being in the entertainment industry.
Xolo Maridueña Is Set to Star as the First Latino Superhero
Maridueña made history as the first Latino to star in "Cobra Kai" — co-starring Ralph Macchio, William Zabka, and Courtney Henggeler — a spinoff of the iconic film, "Karate Kid." He set the bar even higher after he was cast to play the first lead Latino superhero Jaime Reyes in "Blue Beetle." While talking about his reaction when he heard the news, the actor said:
"Tears. Just lots of tears. [...] "Blue Beetle" was always a dream, and then it started to become closer and closer my reality. It ended up happening, and now we're just waiting for the whole world to see it (sic)."
Growing up, Xolo Maridueña rarely saw people who looked like him on TV, fueling his pride in representing his community. "I don't think it's a bad thing to admit that, as it is the first Latino-led superhero movie ever, it's supposed to be something bigger than myself," the actor remarked.
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