Michael Cimino Bio
Michael Cimino (born November 10, 1999) is an American actor and musician who first drew widespread attention for his leading role as Victor Salazar in the Hulu series Love, Victor. He is also recognized for playing Bob Palmeri in the horror film Annabelle Comes Home and Ethan Morales in the Netflix series Never Have I Ever. Since 2022, Cimino has voiced Kevin Grant-Gomez on the Disney Channel animated series Hamster & Gretel, and he released his debut EP, I’m Somewhere Out There, on November 10, 2022. Born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, he has balanced his acting career with a parallel interest in music, writing songs and performing on his own label, Cimino Sings.
Early Life and Background
Michael Cimino was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, and is of Italian-German and Puerto Rican descent. Growing up in a diverse household, he faced racism throughout elementary school, recalling that children would throw him to the floor, kick him, and claim that he ate bugs. Those difficult experiences, he has said, made him more compassionate toward others and shaped the way he approached people both on and off set.
He discovered acting at the age of eight, when he joined an acting class taught by a fellow church member. The experience introduced him to performance and storytelling, and he continued to develop his craft through local classes and auditions in the Las Vegas area. Cimino eventually graduated from high school early in order to pursue acting more seriously, choosing not to attend college so that he could focus on building a professional career in entertainment.
Path to Acting
Michael Cimino’s earliest on-camera work included a commercial for GEICO and a 2016 pilot for the Nickelodeon project Hopefuls, both of which gave him a taste of the entertainment industry. He also nurtured a parallel love of music, teaching himself to sing and play guitar, and he often performed in small local settings before transitioning to professional work. When he turned eighteen, he relocated to Los Angeles to chase larger film and television opportunities, a move that quickly led to his first major studio credit.
That first significant break came with the 2019 supernatural horror film Annabelle Comes Home, in which Cimino played the role of Bob Palmeri. Beyond acting in the film, he also contributed to its soundtrack with the song “Everything I Own,” further signaling his growing interest in combining music with screen work. The success of Annabelle Comes Home helped establish his presence in Hollywood and opened the door to a series of high-profile projects in the years that followed.
Michael Cimino Career
Early Career (2015–2019)
Michael Cimino began his professional acting career in 2015, with his earliest credits consisting of small television appearances and a GEICO commercial. In 2016, he appeared in a pilot for the Nickelodeon series Hopefuls, an experience that allowed him to work on a longer-form children’s project for the first time. These early jobs helped him learn the basics of on-set work and auditioning, even as he continued to live in Las Vegas.
By 2019, Cimino had graduated from high school and was preparing to make a full-time move into the industry. His casting in the 2019 horror film Annabelle Comes Home represented a major step forward, pairing him with an established franchise and a wide theatrical audience. The film’s success, along with his contribution to its soundtrack, helped position him for the leading television role he would soon land.
Breakthrough (2020–2024)
In August 2019, it was announced that Michael Cimino would star as Victor Salazar in the Disney+ series Love, Victor, a show centered on a high school student navigating his identity, family, and first love. The series was later moved to Hulu, where it premiered in June 2020 and quickly became one of the platform’s most-watched original programs. To prepare for the role, Cimino consulted with his gay cousin, ensuring that Victor’s experiences would be portrayed as relatable and authentic.
Around the same period, Cimino joined the cast of the Netflix coming-of-age series Never Have I Ever, where he played Ethan Morales and remained with the show through its final season, which was released on June 8, 2023. In 2020, he also lent his voice to the scripted science fiction podcast series Black Box, expanding his work into the audio medium. On June 15, 2021, he released his first single, “Love Addict,” previewing the track on Good Morning America earlier that month.
From 2022 onward, Cimino began voicing Kevin Grant-Gomez on the Disney Channel animated series Hamster & Gretel, adding a family-friendly voice role to his résumé. In May 2022, he joined the cast of the thriller podcast series Jane Anonymous, which was based on the novel by Laurie Faria Stolarz. In 2024, he starred in the fantasy romance film Girl Haunts Boy, which was released on Netflix in October 2024, and it was announced in June 2024 that he would star in the film adaptation of the video game Until Dawn.
Notable Works and Milestones
Michael Cimino’s signature projects include the Hulu series Love, Victor, the horror film Annabelle Comes Home, the Netflix series Never Have I Ever, and the Disney Channel animated series Hamster & Gretel. His portrayal of Victor Salazar earned him Imagen Awards nominations for all three seasons of Love, Victor, including consecutive wins for Best Actor – Comedy (Television) in 2021 and 2022. The release of his debut EP, I’m Somewhere Out There, on November 10, 2022, further cemented his identity as a multifaceted performer working across screen and sound.
Michael Cimino Award Nominations
Michael Cimino has received recognition from the Imagen Awards for his work on the Hulu series Love, Victor. He was nominated for Imagen Awards across all three seasons of the show, reflecting the impact of his leading portrayal of Victor Salazar. These nominations underscored his ability to anchor a long-running, character-driven series and connect with a wide, diverse audience.
Michael Cimino Awards Won
Michael Cimino has been honored by the Imagen Awards for his performance in Love, Victor. He won consecutive Imagen Awards for Best Actor – Comedy (Television) in 2021 and 2022, making him one of the standout young actors recognized by the organization during that period. These wins helped establish his reputation as a leading television performer of his generation.
| Award | Wins | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Imagen Award for Best Actor – Comedy (Television) | 1 | 2021 |
| Imagen Award for Best Actor – Comedy (Television) | 1 | 2022 |
Personal Life
Michael Cimino has spoken publicly about his identity, saying that he is straight while also expressing a desire not to place rigid labels on his sexuality. He has explained that he does not want to commit to a fixed identity if it might prevent him from being honest about himself in the future, a stance that has drawn attention from fans and media. Beyond these comments, he keeps most of his personal life private, and there are no widely confirmed details about long-term partners or children.