# Walter Perez (actor)

Walter Perez (born July 12, 1982) is a Mexican-American film actor, television actor and musician. He is best known for his role in Fame. He had a recurring role as Richard Martinez/Leaper X in the first season of the NBC drama Quantum Leap (2022) and a role as Jorge Perez in the Paramount+ series Fatal Attraction (2023).

## Early life and education

Walter Perez was born in South Gate, California, and is of Mexican descent. He started performing when he was seven years old as a flamenco dancer in elementary school recitals. At a young age, Perez developed a passion for acting and joined Colors United, a performing arts group for inner-city high school students. Perez attended California State University, Fullerton, where he studied and earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice.

## Career

Perez began his career in 2002. He has guest starred in The Closer, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CSI: Miami, A Beautiful Life, and had a five-episode role on Friday Night Lights. In 2010 he guest starred in Cold Case, NCIS: Los Angeles and In Plain Sight. He has been in many independent films, including August Evening. In August Evening he plays Luis, kind-hearted butcher who falls in love with the widow, Lupe. Walter starred in Emilio, another popular independent film. He also played Al Crisotomo in the television movie, Walkout on HBO; and co-starred alongside Dermot Mulroney and Diane Kruger in Run for Your Life. Perez is best known for his role in Fame, an updated version of the 1980 film.
Walter won Outstanding Performance for his role in August Evening at 2007 Los Angeles Film Festival in the independent film, August Evening, which won the John Cassavetes Award.

## Personal life

Perez enjoys playing piano, and different instruments after learning how to in Fame. He spends his downtime free riding in the Santa Monica Mountains. Walter Perez enjoying free riding with his closest friends.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2003 | Rivals | Frito | |
| 2006 | Friends with Money | Construction Worker | Uncredited |
| 2006 | Big Bad Wolf | Fisher | |
| 2007 | The 7 | Anthony Lopez | |
| 2007 | August Evening | Luis | |
| 2008 | Emilio | Emilio | |
| 2008 | A Beautiful Life | Enrico | |
| 2009 | Fame | Victor Tavares | |
| 2010 | Inhale | Arturo | |
| 2011 | Detention | Elliot Fink | |
| 2011 | Born to Race | Tony | Direct-to-DVD |
| 2012 | The Avengers | Young Shield Pilot | |
| 2012 | California Winter | Carlos Gonzalez | |
| 2013 | Mission Park | Jason | |
| 2013 | Sanitarium | Mateo | |
| 2013 | Pop Star | Frank Santos | |
| 2013 | Road to Juarez | Jacob Saenz | |
| 2014 | The Park Bench | Mateo | |
| 2015 | I Spit on Your Grave III: Vengeance Is Mine | Chief | |
| 2015 | Mix | Mateo | |
| 2017 | Bodied | Che Corleone | |
| 2020 | Heartland Cartel | Badger | Pre-production |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2004 | The District | Tico Rodriguez | 3 episodes |
| 2005 | Judging Amy | Fernando 'Freddie' Duran | Episode: "Too Little, Too Late" |
| 2006 | Walkout | Al Crisostomo | HBO television film |
| 2006 | Friday Night Lights | Bobby 'Bull' Reyes | 5 episodes |
| 2007 | CSI: Miami | Jorge Zamareno | Episode: "Throwing Heat" |
| 2008 | Free Radio | George | 2 episodes |
| 2008 | The Closer | Oscar Sanchez | Episode: "Sudden Death" |
| 2010 | Cold Case | Carlos Espinosa | Episode: "Bombers" |
| 2010 | NCIS: Los Angeles | Omar Alvares | Episode: "Full Throttle" |
| 2010 | In Plain Sight | Leo Olarte | Episode: "Father Goes West" |
| 2010 | Grey's Anatomy | Russ Gammie | Episode: "Shock to the System" |
| 2011 | Off the Map | Roberto | Episode: "A Doctor Time Out" |
| 2011 | CHAOS | Felipe | Episode: "Móle" |
| 2011 | The Protector | Danny Casas | Episode: "Blood" |
| 2011 | Prime Suspect | Ward Foster | Episode: "Shame" |
| 2012 | The Pregnancy Project | Jorge | Television film |
| 2012 | The River | Soup | Episode: "Peaches" |
| 2012 | Castle | Bobby Lopez | Episode: "47 Seconds" |
| 2012 | Blackout | Biggs | Episode: "Part I" |
| 2013 | Hello Ladies | Lopez | Episode: "Long Beach" |
| 2014 | NCIS | Lt. Michael Waters | Episode: "Shooter" |
| 2014 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Rudy Adela | Episode: "Bad Blood" |
| 2016 | Grimm | Benjamin McCullough | Episode: "The Believer" |
| 2016 | Broken | Rick Bream | Unaired pilot |
| 2017 | A Moving Romance | Pete | Television film |
| 2018–2019 | Queen Sugar | Romero | 19 episodes |
| 2020 | 9-1-1: Lone Star | Ben | Episode: "Monster Inside" |
| 2022-2023 | Quantum Leap | Richard Martinez/Leaper X | 4 episodes |