He’s an actor who got his fame from being part of Sesame Street, and we could think of far worse ways to become a famous actor. His name is Ismael Cruz Cordova, and you all remember him for his role on Sesame Street as Mando, but that’s not the only thing he did. He’s been on many shows and programs that have turned him into the guy everyone recognizes. But, what is he doing these days? What’s he been up to and how did he get his start in this business? We know so little about him, and we thought it might be time to rectify that.
1. He’s Young
It’s easy to think that he’s a lot older than he is because he’s done so much work over the course of his career, but he’s still young. He was born on April 7, 1987. He’s been working since 2003, so he was only a child when he began working. He’s come a long way since, but that does tend to happen when you reach your 30s.
2. He’s Puerto Rican
We are not entirely sure where he calls home right now that so many people are fleeing New York City – where he was living before the pandemic hit – but he was born in Puerto Rico. He was born in Aguas Buenas, Puerto Rico. He was born and raised there, and he was there most of his childhood until he made the decision to leave for New York.
3. He’s Was in Drama
Growing up, he didn’t participate in anything that did not interest him – as most kids hope not to do. He was part of his high school drama club, though, and he loved it. He might not have known where that love of drama would eventually take him at that point, but we imagine that he has a plan and a goal – and that he’s happy with where he’s ended up so far.
4. He’s Studied With the Best
Everyone who is anyone in the acting world knows that you go to New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts if you want to get all the knowledge you can in the acting business. Some of the most prolific, most famous actors and actresses attended school here, and they will go down in history. He also went to school here, and he’s darn proud of that accomplishment. It’s not easy to get in.
5. He’s Exceptionally Talented
You don’t earn awards like the Latino Leaders Magazine 25 Leaders of the Future award, and you don’t earn awards like the VOCES de Ford Award by Ford if you’re not the most talented person around. You have to really show some skill, some talent, and some dedication to the work to be named for awards like these, and that’s what Ismael Cruz Cordova has done throughout the course of his career thus far.
6. He Likes Working with Puppets
He said they never have bad days, and we suppose that does make the workplace easier. In all seriousness, though, he did enjoy his time on Sesame Street, but it’s hard to work with puppets. He relies so much on the facial expressions and eye contact with other actors, and you don’t get that with, well, puppets.
7. He’s Dark
He said it himself. He is not a naturally bubbly, bold person with a happy-go-lucky personality. He is darker, and he tends to gravitate toward things that reflect his own personality (think his character on Ray Donovan), and working on Sesame Street forced him to find that inner bubbly guy.
8. His Mom is His Number One Fan
As a mom, I can say with some authority that she will always be his number one fan. No one will change that. Nothing will change that. She will watch everything he does, love everything he does, and feel so proud of him for every living moment of her life. She will always be his number one fan, and that is a beautiful thing for a son to know.
9. He’s Close to His Parents
He doesn’t share too much on his social media pages, but he does share some things that allow us to get to know him a bit more. He shared a photo of himself with his mom and dad, both kissing him on the cheeks, and he clearly states how much he loves them and how important they are to him in his writing. He is clearly very close to them, and he loves and respects them both.
10. He’s Keeping Up with Fans
Throughout quarantine and all that is going on in the world, he’s made it his mission to have open conversations with his fans about things like safe places and how they are feeling. He checks in, he is there, and he holds himself accountable for being someone who listens and tries to help. It’s a great thing he’s doing.
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