Star of the upcoming Prime Video LGBTQ+ romance Red, White & Royal Blue, Taylor Zakhar Perez, has been on the rise in Hollywood since his breakthrough role in The Kissing Booth. Although he was born in Chicago on December 24, 1991, Perez, the third youngest of eight children, spent much of his childhood in Chesterton, Indiana, and has Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, and Mexican ancestry.
On the weekends, the actor would help out at the family car body shop by changing tires. The actor received a swimming scholarship to attend Fordham University. Still, he declined to study Spanish, culture, and community at UCLA, with a minor in film and television. At a young age, Perez began performing, debuting in opera houses with musicals. Then he traveled to Los Angeles and began a career as a model. He used a sheet as a background for his bedroom picture shoots, mailed the results in manila envelopes with self-tapes, and soon appeared in movies and on television.
Today, his charismatic on-screen persona and wide acting range have earned him widespread acclaim and a loyal fanbase. Perez has shown that he is one of Hollywood’s most promising talents by being able to perform in a wide variety of genres and portraying a range of characters, from comedies to dramas. Let’s look at his acting career and rate some of his most compelling performances.
8. Minx (2022)
Ellen Rapoport is the brains behind the American comedy TV series Minx, which stars Ophelia Lovibond and Jake Johnson. The plot of Minx centers on an aspiring writer named Joyce Prigger (Ophelia Lovibond) in the 1970s, who is a feminist and wants to shed light on the issues that women wish to discuss and deal with in their daily lives. With publisher Doug Renetti (Jake Johnson), she launches the first women-only erotic magazine in history, which turns out to be more complex than they’d like to think.
Shane Brody, played by Taylor Zakhar Perez, is a firefighter and aspiring model who auditions for Joyce’s magazine spread. His attractive appearance and laid-back demeanor make him popular with all he meets. The premiere of Minx aired on HBO Max on March 17, 2022, and the show’s second season was ordered in May 2022. However, HBO Max canceled Minx in December 2022, although production on Season 2 was already underway. Nonetheless, Starz opted to pick up the series, so the debut of Season 2 is scheduled on 21 July 2023.
7. Young & Hungry (2015)
The second season’s Young & Hungry episode, “Young & Oh, Brother!” is an entertaining mix of comedy, drama, and kitchen mayhem. The episode is elevated by the presence of Taylor Zakhar Perez, who plays Benji Rodriguez. Benji, Sofia’s brother, visits San Francisco, and he’s all grown up, unlike the young boy Gabi remembers. Despite Sofia’s caution to avoid her younger brother, Gabi is overjoyed when the adult Benji asks her out on a date. Will Gabi’s advances put a strain on their friendship? Meanwhile, Josh and Yolanda will have to get resourceful if they want to pull off a bachelor party for Elliott on such short notice.
However, when they implement their plan using a gay dating app, they all end up with more than they bargained for. Perez gives an excellent performance as Benji. He infuses the role with charisma, comedy, and honesty, making him an instantly endearing on-screen presence. Perez’s comedic timing is impeccable, and he consistently delivers hilarious lines without compromising his character’s integrity. His interactions with the other characters, especially Gabi, the show’s protagonist, are the source of most of the episode’s humor and warmth. Their on-screen connection is undeniable, and their interactions are among the episode’s most memorable moments.
6. iCarly (2012)
Taylor Zakhar Perez starred in an episode of the renowned Nickelodeon sitcom iCarly, titled “iGet Banned.” This episode, the fifth of the sixth season, debuted in 2012 and followed Carly (Miranda Cosgrove) and Freddie (Nathan Kress), who are irritated when they find that their apartment building’s doorman, the unpleasant Lewbert (Jeremy Rowley), has returned. Meanwhile, at the Groovy Smoothie, T-Bo (BooG!e) bans Sam (Jennette McCurdy) and Gibby (Noah Munck) for refusing to pay for their smoothies since they did not order the special bell peppers he included.
Keith, portrayed by Taylor Zakhar Perez, is a guy who has feelings for Carly, which Carly finds appealing. At the Groovy Smoothie, he appears when Carly orders a caffeinated drink in an attempt to appear more mature and attractive to him. As a result, some humorous situations arise, adding to the comedy nature of the show. Despite its brevity, Perez’s appearance in iCarly was a significant professional milestone. His performance as Keith was a launching point for his acting career and demonstrated his comedic chops.
5. Embeds (2017)
Embeds follows a group of young reporters who are embedded in a political campaign. Among them are five twenty-somethings, one of whom, Noah (Taylor Zakhar Perez), is a cocky trust-fund kid turned political reporter. Starring Don Tieri as the fictional Rhode Island governor, John Dobson, are television journalists Marissa (Kelsey Asbille), T. J. (Andre Jamal Kinney), Quinn (Max Ehrich), and Syd (Chloe Brooks).
They all work for rival networks and spend their whole time on the road covering Dobson’s primary campaign. While Embeds is a sitcom that intentionally mocks journalists, it does an excellent job of depicting the fast-paced world of political journalism, the isolation of the campaign road, and the hilarity of digital-era publishing. The witty script and snappy dialogue in Embeds are two of the show’s many lauded qualities.
4.1Up (2022)
Kyle Newman wrote and directed the 2022 American comedy film 1Up, starring Paris Berelc, Taylor Zakhar Perez, Hari Nef, and Ruby Rose, and released on July 15, 2022, by Amazon Studios. The plot revolves around Vivian “V” Lee, a gifted gamer whose abilities have earned her a college scholarship and a spot on Barrett University’s male-dominated squad, the Betas. The game begins when the Betas’ captain, Dustin, played by Taylor Zakhar Perez, reminds V that she will never be a starter.
V recruits her best friend Sloane, and together with their coach Parker, they build a formidable all-female team intending to reach the nationals and defeat the Betas. 1Up is significant because of the attention it has brought to the issue of prejudice and sexism in the eSports industry. The story deviates from the norm by emphasizing the accomplishments of female gamers.
3. The Kissing Booth 2 (2020)
Taylor Zakhar Perez plays new student Marco Peña in the Netflix film The Kissing Booth 2, starring Joey King as Elle Evans. Marco is introduced as the new “hot” guy at school, which piques the students’ interest, especially the girls. Marco immediately becomes a school star due to his pleasant character, remarkable good looks, and impressive musical talent, proving he is more than just a pretty face. Marco is also tremendously gifted and regarded as one of the most incredible dancers in the school, having won the “OMG he’s so hot” competition.
Marco may be well-liked, but he doesn’t fit the mold of the usual high school heartthrob. He’s a nice guy who doesn’t care where he stands on the high school popularity ladder, preferring to devote himself to his true love of music and dancing. In addition, he has a tender side that shines through most when he is with his loved ones. Marco becomes a trusted confidant of Elle when her relationship with Noah (Jacob Elordi) deteriorates over the distance. When the two decide to compete together in a Dance Dance Mania tournament, their friendship takes a romantic turn.
2. The Kissing Booth 3 (2021)
The Kissing Booth 3 is the trilogy’s conclusion that began with the novel of the same name by Beth Reekles. The story follows protagonist Elle as she struggles with the decision between attending Harvard or Berkeley. At the same time, she and her loved ones spend the summer with her boyfriend Noah, best friend Lee, and their respective families as they prepare to sell their beloved beach property.
When Elle decides to put off making her final college choice, the plot takes an unexpected turn. A parallel plot concerns Elle’s efforts to adapt to Linda, her father’s new lover. Taylor Zakhar Perez returns as Marco Valentin Peña. Marco’s presence provides a welcome contrast and a different romantic perspective amid Elle’s problem of choosing between Harvard and Berkeley and her troubled relationship with her boyfriend, Noah.
1. Red, White & Royal Blue (2023)
American director Matthew Lopez and writer Ted Malawer are at the helm of the upcoming romance comedy Red, White & Royal Blue. Casey McQuiston’s 2019 novel of the same name inspires this film, which sets its beautiful LGBTQ+ love tale in an alternate universe and tells the narrative of a hidden affair between a First Son and a British prince. In Red, White & Royal Blue, Alex Claremont-Diaz (Taylor Zakhar Perez) becomes the American version of a young royal after his mother is elected President. He is handsome, personable, and bright, making him very popular among young people.
The only hitch is that Alex has a long-standing grudge against his British equivalent, Prince Henry (Nicholas Galitzine). And drama ensues when the tabloids get their hands on a photo of an incident between them. After family and officials stage a temporary ceasefire between the two, what starts as a superficial Instagram friendship soon becomes something far deeper for Alex and Henry. Nicholas Galitzine, Uma Thurman, Stephen Fry, Sarah Shahi, Rachel Hilson, and Ellie Bamber are just a few of the stars in the film’s ensemble cast. Amazon Prime Video will debut Red, White & Royal Blue on August 11, 2023.