Nico Santos
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Early Life and Education
Nico Santos is a Filipino-American actor and singer, born on April 7, 1979, in Manila, Philippines. At the age of sixteen, he moved with his family to Gresham, Oregon, in the United States. He later studied acting at Southern Oregon University in Ashland, Oregon, where he began to explore his passion for theater with the support of his mother, whom he described as not a "stereotypical Asian Tiger Mom."
Quick Facts
- Birth Date
- 7 Apr, 1979
- Age
- 41 yrs
- Occupations
- Television actor
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- Birth Place
- Manila
- Education
- Southern Oregon University
- Gender
- Male
- Description
- Filipino-American actor
Career Beginnings and Theater Work
Before pursuing an on-screen career, Santos worked for several years in the costume department at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. This early experience behind the scenes helped him gain a foundation in performance arts. He eventually relocated to California, where he began performing stand-up comedy, further developing his voice and presence in the entertainment industry.
Television and Film Roles
After honing his comedic talents, Nico Santos found television success as a panelist and writer, including a stint on the E! Network's Fashion Police. He also appeared on the late-night talk show Chelsea Lately. Santos gained broader recognition with roles on popular television shows such as 2 Broke Girls and the web series Go-Go Boy Interrupted. He also had a supporting role in the 2015 comedy film Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2.
Breakthrough with "Crazy Rich Asians"
Santos’s breakout role came in 2018 when he played Oliver T'sien in the critically acclaimed romantic comedy Crazy Rich Asians. The film was praised for its all-Asian cast and representation in Hollywood, and Santos’s performance was widely appreciated, helping to raise his profile in the industry.
Personal Life and LGBTQ+ Advocacy
In 2018, Nico Santos publicly came out as gay and announced his relationship with Zeke Smith on social media. Zeke Smith is known for his participation in the 33rd and 34th seasons of the CBS reality competition series Survivor, titled "Millennials vs. Gen X" and "Game Changers," respectively. Together, Santos and Smith have become visible advocates within the LGBTQ+ and Asian-American entertainment communities.
