Jacob Vargas

Actor Jacob Vargas grew up in Pacoima, a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles. Being so close to Hollywood, it's little wonder Vargas was discovered while breakdancing in a schoolyard. Fittingly, at the age of 12, he made his television debut as a breakdancer on the popular family sitcom "Diff'rent Strokes." This sparked in Vargas a desire to perform, and he began compiling a series of appearances in TV and film. In 1993, he earned a supporting role in acclaimed director Allison Anders' girl gang drama, "Mi vida loca." This role drew notice that led to a small part in the big budget Hollywood comedy "Get Shorty," which paralleled Hollywood deals and mob hits. Vargas went on to snag noteworthy roles in popular comedies like the daffy "Romy and Michele's High School Reunion," in which he played the oversexed Ramon, and the urban-set "Friday" sequel,"Next Friday," where he played Joker, a Mexican thug. Fearless of new terrain, Vargas continues to explore new genres, taking on dramas like "Bobby," an ensemble piece centered on the repercussions of Robert F. Kennedy's assassination, action flicks like the high-octane Jason Statham thriller "Death Race" in 2008, or horror flicks like "Devil" in 2010.