Taylor Zakhar Perez
Taylor Zakhar Perez | |
|---|---|
 Zakhar Perez in 2020. | |
| Born | December 24, 1991 |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 2012—present |
| Notable work | The Kissing Booth 2
The Kissing Booth 3 Red, White & Royal Blue |
Taylor Zakhar Perez (born December 24, 1991)[1] is an American actor. He has appeared in the romantic comedy films The Kissing Booth 2 (2020) and The Kissing Booth 3 (2021) and Red, White & Royal Blue (2023), and the sex comedy series Minx (2022).
Early life
Perez was born in Chicago on December 24, 1991, and grew up in Chesterton, Indiana.[2] He attended Chesterton High School, where he was a swimmer.[3] Perez is of Middle Eastern, Mediterranean and Mexican descent.[4]
His mother is an aesthetician and he is the third youngest of eight children.[5] Perez used to change tires at the family auto body shop on weekends.[6] The actor earned a swimming scholarship to Fordham University, but turned it down to attend UCLA where he majored in Spanish, Culture and Community with a minor in TV and Films.[7]
Perez started by performing musicals in opera houses at an early age.[8] Modelling came next and he moved to Los Angeles. He took photos in his room with a sheet as backdrop and sent them in manila envelopes with self tapes.[9]
Career
Perez began his career by appearing in various popular shows like iCarly, Suburgatory, Young & Hungry, Code Black and Scandal.[10]
In 2020, Perez played Marco Valentin Peña in Netflix's The Kissing Booth 2 opposite Joey King.[11] For his role, he took choreography and guitar lessons.[12] In 2021, he reprised the role in the third film The Kissing Booth 3.[13]
In 2022, Perez starred in HBO Max's comedy series Minx as Shane Brody.[14] He then starred in gaming comedy film 1Up as Dustin.[15][16] In 2023, Perez starred in Amazon Prime Video's Red, White & Royal Blue as Alex Claremont-Diaz opposite Nicholas Galitzine.[17]
Philanthropy
At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Perez partnered with Variant Malibu, a 3D tech company to make masks. They cut 90% of traditional manufacturing waste. He also designed his own masks with The Kissing Booth 2 co-stars Joel Courtney, Joey King, Meganne Young and Maisie Richardson-Sellers. The proceeds from his masks went to a Chicago organisation that helps disabled kids, adults and families with disabled kids in the Hispanic community.[18]
"I really like digging my heels into one social issue and being like, 'This is what I know. This is what I'm learning.' And maybe the people that follow me will have read everything along the way and understood it," said Perez.[19]
Filmography
Films
| Year | Film | Role | Platform | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [20] | ||||
| 2020 | Philanthropy | Taylor | ||
| 2021 | The Kissing Booth 3 | Marco Valentin Peña | Netflix | [21] |
| 2022 | 1Up | Dustin | ||
| 2023 | Red, White & Royal Blue | Alex Claremont-Diaz | Amazon Prime Video | [22] |
Television
| Year | Show | Role | Platform | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | iCarly | Keith | Nickelodeon | [23] |
| 2013 | Suburgatory | Renaldo | ABC | |
| 2014 | Alpha House | Trent | Prime Video | |
| 2014 | Awkward | MTV | ||
| 2015 | Young & Hungry | Benji Rodriguez | ABC Family | |
| 2016 | Code Black | Ari Stricks | CBS | [24] |
| 2016 | 12 Deadly Days | Zac | YouTube Red | |
| 2016 | Cruel Intentions | Mateo De La Vega | NBC | |
| 2017 | Embeds | Noah Torres | Go90 | [25] |
| 2017 | High Expectasians | Jonathan Price | YouTube | |
| 2018 | Scandal | Calvin | ABC | |
| 2022 | Minx | Shane Brody | HBO Max | [26] |
References
- ^ "9 fun facts about "The Kissing Booth 2" heartthrob Taylor Zakhar Perez who brought Marco to life". Seventeen.
- ^ "Taylor Zakhar Perez: Everything you need to know about 'Kissing Booth 2' star". Entertainment Tonight.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "15 minutes with Chicago-area native Taylor Zakhar Perez of Netflix's 'The Kissing Booth 2'". Chicago Tribune.
- ^ "Taylor Zakhar Perez is a star for the streaming age". Sharp Magazine.
- ^ "The Kissing Booth 2's Taylor Zakhar Perez shares the skin-care lesson he learned the hard way". Popsugar.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Meet the Hot Boys of the Steamy 'Red, White & Royal Blue' Movie". GQ.
- ^ "Here's everything we know about The Kissing Booth 3 actor Taylor Zakhar Perez". Buzzfeed.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "The 'Kissing Booth' star Taylor Zakhar Perez on Cats, Selena and greased abs". The New York Times.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Taylor Zakhar Perez broke out in The Kissing Booth. Now he plans for life after rom-com stardom". WWD.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Who is Taylor Zakhar Perez? Meet the actor who plays Marco in The Kissing Booth 2". Elle.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Netflix's The Kissing Booth 2 sets Maisie Richardson-Sellers & Taylor Perez in key roles". Deadline.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Prepare to fall in love with Kissing Booth 2 star Taylor Zakhar Perez". Glamour.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Kissing Booth 3 star Taylor Zakhar Perez talks end of Netflix franchise: There will be some heartbreak". Variety.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Kissing Booth actor Taylor Zakhar Perez on baring it all in HBO Max's 'scandalous' 'Minx'". Entertainment Weekly.
- ^ "WME & Anonymous Content sign 'Kissing Booth 2' breakout star Taylor Zakhar Perez". Deadline.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Ruby Rose replaces Elliot Page in '1Up'". Hollywood Reporter.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Amazon's gay rom-com 'Red, White & Royal Blue' finds leads in Taylor Zakhar Perez, Nicholas Galitzine". Variety.
- ^ "The Kissing Booth 2 star Taylor Zakhar Perez on having to lie about a third movie". Variety.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Taylor Zakhar Perez is doing it all". Vman.
- ^ "The Kissing Booth 2 star Taylor Zakhar Perez on Marco, Jacob Elordi, and more". Teen Vogue.
- ^ "We got 'The Kissing Booth 3' star Taylor Zakhar Perez to tell us all about what's in his drawers". Cosmopolitan.
- ^ "Taylor Zakhar Perez, Nicholas Galitzine to topline Amazon rom-com 'Red, White & Royal Blue' from director Matthew López". Deadline.
- ^ "Try to get through these photos of Taylor Zakhar Perez without drooling — just try!". Popsugar.
- ^ "Meet Taylor Zakhar Perez: Marco from The Kissing Booth 2". New York Post.
- ^ "Recognize Taylor Zakhar Perez? He's been in more than just the Kissing Booth trilogy". Popsugar.
- ^ "Taylor Zakhar Perez is 'excited' to strip down for new HBO Max role". E! News.