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De Jesús in 2022. Born. Norwalk, Connecticut, U.S. Occupation. Actor. Years active. 2003–present. Robin de Jesús is an American film and theater actor of Puerto Rican descent. He has received Tony Award nominations for his roles in In the Heights, La Cage aux Folles, and The Boys in the Band.
Jan 10, 2022 · That brief furniture frottage neatly encapsulates de Jesús’s role in the film, which is based on an early one-man show by late Rent composer Jonathan Larson.
- Hillary Busis
Dec 26, 2022 · In "Welcome to Chippendales," the Latino actor pivots from loyal assistant to greedy, distasteful man — anchoring the series’ volatile moments and the main character's downfall.
- Alicia Ramírez
- Overview
- Broadening identity, inclusiveness
Fans know him from award-winning Broadway musicals such as “In the Heights” and “La Cage aux Folles” and recent movies such as the award-winning “Tick, Tick… Boom!” and “The Boys in the Band.” On Friday, Puerto Rican actor Robin de Jesús will use his musical talent to connect with younger viewers as a faun who steals sounds from neighbors and nature to make music.
“I’m making my guest star appearance as Pepito on the show ‘Santiago of the Seas,’” he told NBC News. “It’s a beautiful show about this kid named Santiago who lives in the Caribbean, on an island with a very similar name to Puerto Rico.”
Nickelodeon’s “Santiago of the Seas” is an animated preschool TV show that follows an 8-year-old pirate and his friends on treasure-seeking adventures. It teaches young English-speaking viewers Spanish words and phrases and features music, food, dances and other traditions from Latino and Caribbean cultures.
The series is set on Isla Encanto, which translates to Charm Island or Enchantment Island. This name is akin to Puerto Rico’s nickname, which is La Isla del Encanto (the Island of Enchantment).
De Jesús said having grown up in Connecticut, he did not have access to shows that spoke directly to his Puerto Rican heritage. He recalled watching “Sonic the Hedgehog,” “Darkwing Duck,” “Power Rangers” and “Care Bears,” just like other kids from his generation.
But because he was raised in a bilingual household, he said he considers himself fortunate to have connected with Spanish-language television, specifically the Mexican children's telenovela “Carrusel.”
Now, after 20 years onstage, the actor said he identifies as many things — Boricua (another name for Puerto Rican), Latino, Latine, Latinx — and feels empowered by the idea that society is figuring out how to become more inclusive.
He pointed out, however, that diversity needs to be present throughout film and TV production.
“As someone who was changed by seeing Rosie Pérez in ‘White Men Can’t Jump’ and didn’t know there was space for him until I saw her — and now I get to be in this place where maybe someone gets that from me — I feel so grateful,” he said. “But I want to see that behind the camera. I want to see diversity for my producers, for my writers, for the crew, because that is what will let me know that it is, in fact, systemic.”
De Jesús said his mission as an actor is to push beyond the borders that limit identities, so different viewers can connect with characters and stories on the stage or through their screens.
“I’m a gay Latino who presents in a way that is sometimes effeminate and sometimes not. And so I wish to diversify specifically queer Latino characters and kind of challenge what we define as masculine,” he said. “I would love for my career to be predominately queer characters in different time periods, so that we insert Latinos specifically into period pieces that we’ve been erased from, even though we all know we existed.”
When asked about off-screen music that inspired his character Pepito in “Santiago of the Seas,” the Puerto Rican actor remembered fondly the parrandas, or Christmas carols, that he used to sing with family and friends during the holidays.
- Arturo Conde
Dec 28, 2021 · Robin de Jesús finds trauma and joy of AIDS-era theater scene in ‘Tick, Tick ... Boom!’. Actor Robin de Jesus, photographed at Gallow Green on the roof of the McKittrick Hotel in New...
Nov 19, 2021 · In the film, this queer Puerto Rican actor gets to showcase his range, stepping into a more mature role as Michael.
Nov 20, 2021 · Boom,' Robin De Jesús Finds The Role He's Been Waiting For. The Tony-nominated actor gives a chilling performance as Michael, a queer Latino confidant to Andrew Garfield's Jonathan Larson, in the Netflix musical. By. Curtis M. Wong. Nov 20, 2021, 08:00 AM EST.
