Wilmer Valderrama Biography
Summary
"Wilmer Valderrama" (born January 30, 1980) is an American actor best known for the role of Fez in the sitcom "That '70s Show".
Bibliography
Early life
Valderrama was born in Miami, Florida, U.S., on January 30, 1980. His parents Sobeida and Balbino Valderrama moved to Venezuela when he was three years old, then to Los Angeles when he was thirteen. He has two sisters, Marylin and Stephanie, and a brother. Valderrama is of half Colombian and half Venezuelan heritage. His mother was born in Colombia, while his father was born in Venezuela
He did not speak English upon his arrival, but he quickly learned the language in school and began drama classes during high school. Valderrama has said that he was aided in learning English from watching shows such as "I Love Lucy". In one teen magazine, it was said that Rob Thomas of matchbox twenty has helped him learn English.
Professional work
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 Makamba" 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 junior in high school when the pilot episode was filmed. He also played DJ Keoki in the 2003 film "Party Monster" alongside Macaulay Culkin, Chloe Sevigny, Wilson Cruz and Seth Green. As of 2006, he hosted "Yo Momma", a show he also created and produces.
Recent projects
Valderrama recently appeared in the Los Angeles Times critic's choice play "Blackout", an adaption of the feature film "Drunks", and starred opposite Anjelica Huston and Ben Kingsley in the Actors' Fund of America one-performance only reading of "Sunset Boulevard". He has completed filming the short film "La Torcedura" in which he plays the lead, and recently wrapped production on "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 will soon begin work on 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 announced that he would launch his own men's fashion label called 'Calavena'.. Valderama made an appearance in Paula DeAnda's music video for 'Easy'.
Personal life
Valderrama dated Mandy Moore for 18 months in 2000-2001, and dated Lindsay Lohan in 2003-2004.
He is best friends with "That '70s Show" co-stars Topher Grace , Ashton Kutcher and Danny Masterson.
He was a victim of 'Punk'd' three times--more than anyone else.
Filmography
Features:
"Summer Catch" (2001)
"Party Monster" (2003)
"Clifford's Really Big Movie" (2004) (voice)
"Beauty Shop" (2005)
"The Darwin Awards" (2006)
"Fast Food Nation" (2006)
"Unaccompanied Minors" (2006)
"El Muerto" (2007)
"The Condor" (2007) (voice)
"Save the Date" (2007)
Upcoming:
"CHiPs" (2009)
Short Subjects:
"La Torcedura" (2004)
"Longtime Listener" (2006)
Television Work
"Four Corners" (1998) (canceled after 4 episodes)
"That '70s Show" (1998-2006)
"Yo Momma" (2006-present)
"Handy Manny" (2006-present) (voice)
"ITV Formula One Coverage (2002-Present) (As Felipe Massa)
External links
(Wilmer Valderrama Official Website)
(Wilmer Valderrama) on TV.com
(Website of Wilmer Valderrama's show Yo Momma)
Credit
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article about Wilmer Valderrama.
