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Raymond Cruz is not only the most underrated actor in the BB/BCS Universe but probably also in television history. He deserves an Oscar for his performance as Tuco alone
Feb 10, 2015 · Better Call Saul is finally here and one of the biggest surprises this week has been the reemergence of Tuco. Rotten Tomatoes talked with Raymond Cruz about how he kept the role a secret, where...
- Cleveland Abduction (2015)—“Ariel Castro”
- Maid to Order (1987)—“Sam”
- Breaking Bad (2008-2009) & Better Call Saul (2015)—“Tuco Salamanca”
- The Closer (2005-2012)And Major Crimes (2012-)—“Detective Julio Sanchez”
- Training Day (2001)—“Sniper”
- Out For Justice (1991) and Under Siege (1992)—“Hector” & “Ramirez”
- Clear and Present Danger (1994)—“Domingo Chavez”
- Alien: Resurrection (1997)—“Vincent Distephano”
- The X-Files (1997)—“Eladio Buente”
- Nip/Tuck (2003, 2006)—“Alejandro Pérez”
Raymond Cruz: When I first got there, the writer came up to me and said, “I’m so glad this is in your hands.” Which is a huge compliment. The A.V. Club: Ariel Castro is a person that most people are aware of since the events are very recent. Did that cause any hesitation on your part, playing someone who’s so deeply disliked? RC: When they first of...
AVC: Let’s go back to your very first on-camera role for a second, Maid To Order, with Ally Sheedy. RC: It was weird. I had one line. I said “Hi, Pam.” I was the boyfriend of the maid who worked with [Ally Sheedy]. I took her to her house for dinner. AVC: So you didn’t get any deep insight into the Brat Pack lifestyle? RC:No. [Laughs.] You’re there...
AVC: You were already steadily employed on The Closer when you first got the call about playing Tuco on Breaking Bad. What appealed to you about the part? RC:The challenge. It was a difficult part to cast. Sharon Bialy, the partner of my friend Rick Pagano, who is a huge casting director in Hollywood, was casting the show. They couldn’t find anyone...
AVC: Between Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul and The Closer and Major Crimes, you must be getting used to this whole spin-off thing. RC:Oh, I know. It was a total coincidence. To do two different characters on two hit shows that spun off onto other hit shows. AVC: And at the exact same time. RC: I think it’s me, actually. [Laughs.] AVC: When you ...
RC: I’ve been fortunate because I have had a lot of great roles. Directors trust me. When I came into the business, I knew what I was doing. I really learned the craft. I’ve had a lot of good parts in films like Clear And Present Danger, Blood In Blood Out, and even Training Day, which was one scene. It was a 15-page scene, which is crazy. I looked...
AVC: You had the chance to work with Steven Seagala couple times in the early 1990s. RC: He is actually a nice guy. He’s not a great actor. He knows he’s not. He does his action thing, but he’s a nice guy… You can’t fool people. You know when you get in front of the camera you have to act. You can either do it or you can’t. There are varying degree...
RC: What a great movie. It was such a good experience. I could not even get an audition on the phone. The casting director wouldn’t see me. She said I was not right for the part; she had seen me in Blood In Blood Out. My agent kept pushing but she wouldn’t give me an audition. So he went over her head and called the producers. The producer said, “S...
RC: There wasn’t even a part for me. Rick Pagano was the casting director and he said, “The director wants to meet you.” So I met Jean-Pierre Jeunet, who said, “I love your work. Will you be in my movie?” I said, “Well, I don’t really see a part.” He goes, “I’ll create one for you.” So they just threw that character in there and I end up leading ev...
AVC: You kept the alien theme going in 1997 with The X-Files, where you played a chupacabra in a very memorable episode. RC: I love that episode. That’s where Vince Gilligan and I first came into contact. They called and asked if I would do it. We were training for Aliens, because in the first six weeks of Alienswe were under water, so we were doin...
AVC: You have the distinction of appearing in the pilot of Nip/Tuck. RC: I went in to audition for it. It was a new show. I liked the character. One of my friends, Geoffrey Rivas, got cast in it as the child molester. They were looking for the part of his brother and I went in and read and they hired me right away. It was fun to work with Geoff. We...
He's got an almost surfer level of pure Californian accent there, whereas in Breaking Bad his accent is pure border Mexicano. The ability to switch up precise accents like that is one of the most impressive skills of a character actor. It's what turned Hugh Laurie into House, for example.
Raymond Cruz (born September 10, 1964) is an American actor, best known for his starring role as Detective Julio Sanchez in the series The Closer and its spinoff Major Crimes, as well as his recurring role as drug lord Tuco Salamanca in the crime drama Breaking Bad and its prequel series Better Call Saul.
YearTitleRole2024Grey's Anatomy (TV series)Daniel Jiménez (inmate)2023Smokey2019President Mateo Sandino Sr.2018SwayzeFeb 8, 2023 · Breaking Bad star Raymond Cruz went deeper with Tuco Salamanca in Better Call Saul and was able to show a more human side of a character who busted skulls when crossed. As a drug kingpin in...
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Feb 10, 2015 · The actor Raymond Cruz discusses his return to the world of Breaking Bad with his appearance as Tuco in the second episode of Better Call Saul.
