Ismael Cruz Cordova

Puerto Rican actor Ismael Cruz Cordova enjoyed recurring roles in "The Good Wife" (CBS, 2009-2016), "Ray Donovan" (Showtime, 2013-) and "The Catch" (ABC, 2016-17), and was also the first ever "Sesame Street" (PBS, 1969-) star to land a role via an open casting call. Born in Aguas Buenas, Cordova started acting at his high school's drama club and made his screen debut aged 16 in "Stray Bullet" (2003). Following a supporting turn in another Spanish-language true crime drama, "El cuerpo del delito" (2005), Cordova relocated to New York where he studied at the city's Tisch School of the Arts. He landed his first English-language role in 2011 when he was cast as cult leader Jimmy Patrick in the third season of legal drama "The Good Wife" (CBS, 2009-2016). Cordova then appeared in entertainment industry satire "White Alligator" (2012) and LGBT shorts "La Edwin" (2012) and "Chaser" (2013) before beating hundreds of open casting call auditionees to the role of Latino writer Mando in children's TV institution "Sesame Street" (PBS, 1969-). After playing island local Manny in Gina Carano vehicle "In the Blood" (2014), Cordova starred as a soon-to-be immigrant in short "La Loteria" (2014), appeared alongside Keanu Reeves in police corruption tale "Exposed" (2016) and landed the recurring part of Hector Campos, a troubled boxing champion involved in an incestuous relationship with his drug-addled half-sister, in fixer drama "Ray Donovan" (Showtime, 2013-). Following a leading role in Hispanic Christian drama "The Pastor" (2016), Cordova played Sergeant Holliday in Ang Lee's high-tech war drama "Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk" (2016), guested as a Gym Source manager in dark comedy "Divorce" (HBO, 2016-) and enjoyed a three-episode stint as assassin The Hammer in Shonda Rhimes' P.I. dramedy "The Catch" (ABC, 2016-17). Cordova was then cast as one of nine friends whose class conflicts come to the fore during their annual hog roast in indie "Simple Little Lives" (2017) and Italian courtier David Rizzio in historical biopic "Mary Queen of Scots" (2018).