This page uses content from the Wilson Cruz biography page on the English version of Wikipedia and is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. This list of authors can be seen in the page history. Rotten Tomatoes disclaims any and all warranties as to the accuracy or reliability of the content.

Wilson Cruz (born December 27, 1973 in Brooklyn, New York, USA) is an openly gay Puerto Rican-American actor. Cruz has in both his acting roles and community work served as a model and mentor to gay youth, especially gay youth of color.

Coming Out and the Move to Hollywood

Best known for his role as Enrique "Rickie" Vasquez, the troubled gay teen on the short-lived but popular television series My So-Called Life, Wilson knows first-hand the many struggles and hardships that face young gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered (GLBT) people as they struggle to come to terms with their sexuality and the reactions of their families, friends, and society at large.

At 19, Cruz came out to his parents, first to his mother and then his father. While his mother was initially hurt and shocked, she eventually accepted the news. His father, however, threw him out of the house, and he spent the next few months living in his car and at the homes of friends. Cruz eventually reconciled with his father.

After coming out to his parents, Cruz went to Hollywood to seek work as an openly gay young actor. While many gay and lesbian performers had come out later in their careers, he wanted to see if he could be out from the beginning and still make it as an actor. His strategy paid off in 1994, when he was cast in My So-Called Life. In one episode drawn from his own life, "Rickie" came out to his parents and was violently thrown out of the house.

Following My So-Called Life's cancellation, Cruz went on to play J. Edgar Hoover's servant Joaquin in Oliver Stone's film, Nixon, and had a small role in the television movie On Seventh Avenue. In 1996, he appeared with David Arquette as Mikey in johns, about the daily (or nightly) struggles of male prostitutes. In 1998, he portrayed Angel in the Broadway production of RENT, and in 2000 played Victor during the final season of Party of Five.

Cruz's other acting credits include the films Joyride (1996); All Over Me (1997); Supernova (2000); and Party Monster (2003); the television film The Perfect Pitch (2002); and guest appearances on the series Great Scott!; Sister, Sister; ER; Ally McBeal and Noah's Arc.

Involvement in GLBT Community

While playing numerous roles on television, film, and the stage, Cruz devotes more and more of his time to GLBT youth. He is especially concerned with GLBT youth of color. Most recently he has volunteered his time as host for the Youth Zone, an online community on gay.com for GLBT youth. In an interview about the site, he said:

I am inspired by the people I believe to be the true champions and soldiers of the gay and lesbian movement: youth. Their struggle, their fearlessness, their honesty, their longing and pure, sincere effort to make people understand that they deserve to be loved and that their love deserves to be understood drives me daily to be a better person and to live my life as openly and honestly as I can. It is their efforts that I believe have been the most successful in our movement toward true freedom.

Filmography and Stage Performances

Television

• Noah's Arc (2005-2006)... as Junito
• The West Wing (2004)... as Jack Sosa
• On Seventh Avenue ... as Reuben Diaz
• Party of Five (TV series) (1999-2000) ... as Victor
• My So-Called Life (TV series) (1994) ... as Enrique (Rickie) Vasquez

Film

• Party Monster (2003) ... as Angel
• Supernova (2000) ... as Benj Sotomejor
• All Over Me (1997) ... as Jesse
• Joyride (1996) ... as James
• johns (1996) ... as Mikey
• Nixon (1995) ... as Joaquin (Hoover's servant)
• Coffee Date (2006) ... as Kelly

Stage

• RENT (1998) ... as Angel
• Tick, Tick... BOOM!(2005). . .as Michael

External links

• Interview with Wilson Cruz, talkinbroadway.com, retrieved October 29, 2006
• Coming Out (biography), Human Rights Campaign Foundation, retrieved October 29, 2006

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