His mother is from Costa Rica and his father was of Cuban and European descent.
Began his acting career in Chicago performing in local theaters including LCTC and the Goodman Theater. Appeared on Broadway in The Night of the Iguana". His first acting job in Los Angeles was in the 1997 Sundance Film Festival hit "Star Maps".
He was born and raised a few blocks from Wrigley Field until he was five years old.