Raymond Cruz Biography

Fast Facts

• Won the 2009 Imagen Award for best supporting actor in television for "The Closer․"
• Was nominated for a NAMIC Vision Award for his work on "The Closer" in 2009
• Became interested in acting after watching "To Kill a Mockingbird" as a child
• Made his screen acting debut in the film "Maid to Order" in 1987
• Quote: "The reason I took the part [on 'Breaking Bad'] was the challenge of it, I wanted to see how far I could push the character․ The show got a lot darker after I was on there․"
• Quote: "[on his "Breaking Bad" role] "I've never looked at Tuco as being a bad guy․ I've always seen him as the hero of his own story, and someone who has to defend what he's fighting for, and who will go to any length to protect what he needs to protect․""
• Frequently takes on the role of soldiers or individuals involved with crime
• Best known for playing Detective Julio Sanchez in "The Closer" and its spin-off "Major Crimes" and Tuco Salamanca in "Breaking Bad" and prequel "Better Call Saul․"
• Almost broke his own nose while filming a fight scene for "Breaking Bad․"