Wilson Cruz

Wilson Cruz Headshot

Actor

Birth Date: December 27, 1973

Age: 50 years old

Birth Place: Brooklyn, New York

After vaulting to fame as the sympathetic high schooler Ricky Vasquez on "My So-Called Life" (ABC, 1994-95), actor and activist Wilson Cruz went on to portray gay characters in a positive and nuanced light in such projects as the Broadway musical "Rent" and television series like "Star Trek: Discovery" (CBS All Access, 2017- ). Born Wilson Echevarria to Puerto Rican parents in the New York City borough of Brooklyn on December 27, 1973, Cruz began performing in stage productions at an early age, and toured the country as a member of the Young Americans goodwill charity. He relocated with his family to Rialto, California, where he performed in the school choir and band at Dwight D. Eisenhower High School in 1991. Shortly after graduation, he came out to his parents as gay, which prompted his father to throw him out of their house. Cruz lived in his car and with friends for a period of time until he relocated to Hollywood, where he made his television debut on the short-lived sitcom "Great Scott!" (Fox, 1992). Two years later, Cruz was cast as Ricky, an openly gay high schooler and confidante to Claire Danes' conflicted lead on "My So-Called Life." The drama drew praise for its realistic portrayal of teenage life, with a subplot involving Cruz's removal from his home for coming out earning him a Viewers for Quality Television Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. When "Life" came to an abrupt end after a single season, Cruz worked steadily on television, including a recurring stint as a nanny on the final season of "Party of Five" (Fox, 1994-2000) and appearances in features like Oliver Stone's "Nixon" (1995), as a servant of J. Edgar Hoover (Bob Hoskins) and the ill-fated drug dealer Andre "Angel" Melendez, whose brutal murder by promoter Michael Alig was depicted in "Party Monster" (2003). Cruz also played the cross-dressing street musician Angel in multiple productions of the musical "Rent," including the West Coast and Broadway runs - , and became a noted activist and advocate for LGBT youth, which included service with GLAAD as a member of the board of directors and national spokesperson. As he moved out of young adult roles, Cruz settled into turns as a character actor in features like "He's Just Not That Into You" (2009), but found more consistent work on episodic television. He played a love interest for Jonathan Scarfe's sexually conflicted lawyer on the Steve Bochco legal drama "Raising the Bar" (TNT, 2008-09) and nurse working with young hospital patients in the Fox comedy-drama "Red Band Society" (2015). His most significant role during this period came as a medical officer on "Star Trek: Discovery" (CBS All Access, 2017- ) who was romantically involved with Anthony Rapp's science officer. Their on-screen kiss was the first such occurrence in the long history of the "Star Trek" franchise.

Credits

Mother of the Bride

Actor
Scott
Movie
2024

Habla Loud

Guest
Show
2022

Star Trek Day

Self
Show
2022

Habla Loud

Self
Movie
2022

The Thanksgiving Day Parade on CBS

Self
Show
2021

Visible: Out on TelevisionStream

Executive Producer
Docuseries
2020
100%

The Kelly Clarkson ShowStream

Guest
Talk
2019

The Investigation- A Search for the Truth in Ten Acts

Actor
Show
2019

The Bravest Knight

Voice
Prince Andrew
Show
2019

25 Words or LessStream

Contestant
Game Show
2018

25 Words or LessStream

Self
Game Show
2018

Star Trek: DiscoveryStream

Actor
Dr. Hugh Culber
Series
2017
85%

FREE PARAMOUNT+ WITH SHOWTIME: Star Trek: Discovery(FREE FULL EPISODE) (TV-14)

Actor
Dr. Hugh Culber
Show
2017

Live with Kelly and Ryan

Guest
Talk
2017

Talk Show the Game ShowStream

Guest
Game Show
2017

DoubtStream

Guest Star
Floriel Martinez
Series
2017
55%

After Louie

Actor
Mateo
Movie
2017

Celebrity PageStream

Guest
News
2016

HeartbeatStream

Guest Star
Series
2016

Red Band SocietyStream

Guest Star
Series
2014
59%

Take Part Live

Guest
Show
2013

MistressesStream

Guest Star
Series
2013

Vanderpump RulesStream

Guest Star
Spokesperson for GLAAD
Reality
2013

Meth Head

Actor
Julian
Movie
2013

She's Living for This

Guest Star
Show
2012

The FinderStream

Guest Star
Series
2012

The People I've Slept With

Actor
Gabriel
Movie
2012

Convincing Clooney

Actor
Joaquin
Movie
2011

Slip Away

Actor
David
Movie
2011

The Talk

Guest
Talk
2010

Raising the BarStream

Guest Star
Series
2008
22%

Pushing DaisiesStream

Guest Star
Series
2007
96%

Rick & Steve: The Happiest Gay Couple in All the World

Voice
Evan Martinez
Show
2007

Coffee Date

Actor
Kelly
Movie
2006

Fabulous! The Story of Queer Cinema

Actor
Movie
2006

The CloserStream

Guest Star
Man in Bar
Series
2005
83%

Grey's AnatomyStream

Guest Star
Series
2005
84%

American DadStream

Guest Voice
Male Fan/Male Log Cabin Chorus/Hot Andrew
Series
2005

Bam Bam and Celeste

Actor
Tony
Movie
2005

LatiNation

Guest
Show
2004

NCISStream

Guest Star
Todd Ryder
Series
2003

Party Monster

Actor
Angel
Movie
2003

Supernova

Actor
Benj Sotomejor
Movie
2000

Ally McBeal

Guest Star
Series
1997
61%

Joyride

Actor
James
Movie
1997

Johns

Actor
Mikey
Movie
1996

On Seventh Avenue

Actor
Reuben Diaz
Movie
1996

All Over Me

Actor
Jesse
Movie
1996

Party of FiveStream

Guest Star
Series
1994

My So-Called LifeStream

Actor
Rickie Vasquez
Series
1994
94%

Sister, SisterStream

Guest Star
Series
1994

News aboutWilson Cruz

Sonequa Martin-Green as Burnham — 'Star Trek: Discovery' Season 5

‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Final Season Trailer Feels Like a Goodbye, Plus See New Photos

David Ajala, Mary Wiseman, Doug Jones, Sonequa Martin-Green, Wilson Cruz, Anthony Rapp, Blu Del Barrio, Callum Keith Rennie in 'Star Trek: Discovery' - Season 5

‘Star Trek: Discovery’: Michael & Book in Danger in Sneak Peek — When Will Season 5 Premiere? (VIDEO)

'Star Trek Discovery' stars Wilson Cruz and Michelle Paradise at New York Comic Con
Comic-Con

‘Star Trek: Discovery’: Wilson Cruz & EP Tease Season 5’s ‘Fun Quest’ & ‘Different Kind of Stakes’ (VIDEO)

NYCC 2022 Day 3 Portraits from the TV Insider studio
Comic-Con

NYCC Portraits of ‘Manifest,’ ‘Wednesday,’ ‘Star Trek’ & More Casts (PHOTOS)

Sonequa Martin-Green as Burnham in Star Trek: Discovery

‘Star Trek: Discovery’: See Captain Burnham in Season 5 (PHOTO)

David Ajala as Book, Sonequa Martin Green as Burnham in Star Trek Discovery - Season 4
Q&A

‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Season 4: Saru Is Back, Gray Gets a Body & Burnham & Booker Are Together

Anthony Rapp as Stamets, Sonequa Martin-Green as Burnham in Star Trek Discovery
Preview

‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Cast on Captain Michael Burnham, Family & Season 4

Sonequa Martin-Green as Captain Michael Burnham in Star Trek Discovery
Comic-Con

‘Star Trek: Discovery’ at NYCC: The Crew Facing Uncertainty & More Scoop From the Panel

Sonequa Martin-Green in the Star Trek Discovery Season 4 Poster
Comic-Con

‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Season 4 Trailer: Captain Burnham Leads Her Crew Into the Unknown (VIDEO)

comic-con-2020-lgbt-a
Comic-Con

LGBTQ Characters on TV: Stars Talk the Past, Present & Future for Comic-Con@Home

comic-con-2020-lgbt-a
Exclusive

SDCC@Home’s LGBTQ Characters on TV Panel: Submit Your Questions!

Wilson Cruz Visible
Preview

‘Visible: Out on Television’: Wilson Cruz on Why He’s ‘Amazed This Is My Life’ (VIDEO)

Star Trek Discovery - Wilson Cruz as Culber
Exclusive

‘Star Trek: Discovery’: Wilson Cruz on Hugh Culber’s Return to Stamets and What’s Next

Star Trek: Discovery - Anthony Rapp as Lieutenant Paul Stamets
Spoiler Alert

‘Star Trek: Discovery’: Anthony Rapp on Breaking New Ground and What’s Next for Stamets