Wilmer Valderrama

Wilmer Valderrama Bio

Wilmer Eduardo Valderrama (born January 30, 1980) is an American actor and activist best known for playing Fez on the long-running Fox sitcom That ’70s Show from 1998 to 2006. He currently stars as Special Agent Nick Torres on NCIS, a role he has held since 2016, and he voiced Agustín Madrigal in the Disney animated feature Encanto (2021). Beyond his work in front of the camera, Valderrama is a vocal advocate for Latino representation, serving as a USO Global Ambassador and co-founding the nonprofit organization Harness.

Across television, film, voice acting, and advocacy, Valderrama has built a varied career that bridges mainstream American entertainment and culturally specific storytelling. His projects include animated series such as Handy Manny, action thrillers like From Dusk till Dawn: The Series, and family films including Charming. Whether performing comedy, drama, or voice work, he is recognized for bringing warmth and energy to every role he takes on.

Early Life and Background

Wilmer Eduardo Valderrama was born on January 30, 1980, in Miami, Florida, to Balbino A. Valderrama and Sobeida Valderrama. His father is Venezuelan and his mother is Colombian, giving him a strong foundation in Latin American heritage from an early age. When he was three years old, his family relocated to Venezuela, where he spent the next decade immersed in Latino culture and the Spanish language.

At the age of 13, Valderrama and his family moved back to the United States, settling in a country very different from the one he had known as a child. The transition shaped his sense of identity and later influenced his decision to advocate for immigrant and Latino communities. His upbringing between two cultures remains a defining part of his personal story and his public work as an activist.

Valderrama found his love for performance during his school years, where he began acting in stage productions and local events. His drama teacher recognized his talent early and encouraged him to pursue professional training. This support helped him find an agent and set him on a path toward the entertainment industry while he was still a teenager.

Path to Celebrity

Valderrama’s professional career began in the late 1990s, when he landed a role in a Spanish-language Pacific Bell commercial. On the advice of his drama teacher, he secured representation and quickly booked his first television appearances, including a part in the CBS miniseries Four Corners and a role in the Disney Channel show Omba Mokomba. These early jobs gave him valuable on-set experience and a foothold in Hollywood.

He made his big-screen debut in the 2001 romantic comedy Summer Catch, appearing alongside a well-known cast. Around the same time, he continued to perform in stage productions such as A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Rumors, sharpening his acting skills. In 1998, he was cast as Fez on the Fox sitcom That ’70s Show, a role that would change his life and career forever. The show ran for eight seasons and turned him into a household name among viewers across the country.

Wilmer Valderrama Career

Early Career (1998–2006)

During the run of That ’70s Show, Valderrama balanced his sitcom work with a growing list of film and stage projects. In 2003, he appeared in the cult drama Party Monster, where he played DJ Keoki, and he took on the lead role in the short film La torcedura. He also performed in the Los Angeles Times critic’s choice play Blackout and participated in a special one-night reading of Sunset Boulevard for the Actors’ Fund of America, building a reputation as a serious stage performer.

He expanded into animation in 2004, voicing Rodrigo in Clifford’s Really Big Movie, and later took a starring role in the independent comic book adaptation El Muerto. In January 2007, he launched a men’s fashion label called Calavena, signaling his growing interest in business ventures. In 2006, he also began voicing the title character in the Disney Junior animated series Handy Manny, a role he would play until 2013.

Breakthrough (2006–2016)

Valderrama stepped out from behind Fez by producing and hosting the MTV series Yo Momma from 2006 to 2007. He made three appearances on the hidden-camera show Punk’d, hosted by his former That ’70s Show co-star Ashton Kutcher. He continued to appear in feature films, including Beauty Shop (2005), Fast Food Nation (2006), Unaccompanied Minors (2006), and Larry Crowne (2011). In 2010, he guest-starred on Wizards of Waverly Place as Theresa Russo’s brother Ernesto, further strengthening his connection to Disney audiences.

In 2014, Valderrama joined the El Rey Network series From Dusk till Dawn: The Series, playing the vampire hunter Carlos Madrigal. The show ran for three seasons and gave him a chance to showcase a more intense, dramatic side. He also dabbled in music during this period, releasing the single “The Way I Fiesta” in 2011 under the alter ego Eduardo Fresco, with a music video directed by Akiva Schaffer of The Lonely Island. He also appeared in the music video for LMFAO’s hit song “Sexy and I Know It.”

NCIS and Continued Success (2016–present)

On June 16, 2016, Valderrama joined the long-running CBS drama NCIS in its fourteenth season as Special Agent Nicholas Torres. His arrival was part of a major cast refresh, and he quickly became a series regular. The role introduced him to a wider audience and led to crossover appearances on NCIS: New Orleans and NCIS: Hawaiʻi. In 2020, he voiced the character Gaxton in the Disney/Pixar animated film Onward, followed by his voice role as Agustín Madrigal in the Disney animated hit Encanto in 2021.

That same year, he was announced as the executive producer and star of an untitled Zorro series in development at Disney Branded Television. In April 2022, he made a guest appearance on the follow-up sitcom That ’90s Show, returning to the world that first made him famous. In July 2021, he launched the iHeartRadio podcast Essential Voices with Wilmer Valderrama, which highlights the experiences of key workers across the country.

Notable Works and Milestones

Valderrama’s most iconic television role remains Fez on That ’70s Show, which earned him a devoted fan base and helped pave the way for greater Latino representation on American television. His current turn as Nick Torres on NCIS has cemented his place as a leading man in prime-time drama. In animation, his voice work as Manny in Handy Manny and as Agustín Madrigal in Encanto has introduced him to younger audiences around the world.

Wilmer Valderrama Award Nominations

Throughout his career, Wilmer Valderrama has earned recognition for both his acting and his humanitarian work, with several nominations highlighting his impact on and off the screen. His most notable nomination came in the form of the ALMA Award, a ceremony that honors Latino contributions to entertainment and advocacy.

Wilmer Valderrama Awards Won

On September 27, 2013, Wilmer Valderrama won the ALMA Award for Outstanding Social Activism, recognizing his years of advocacy work with organizations such as Voto Latino, the USO, and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute. The award celebrated his dedication to empowering Latino communities and encouraging civic participation across the country.

Wilmer Valderrama Family

Valderrama was raised in a close-knit family with strong Latin American roots. His father, Balbino A. Valderrama, is of Venezuelan descent, while his mother, Sobeida Valderrama, is of Colombian descent. The family moved to Venezuela when Wilmer was three years old, where he spent the next decade before returning to the United States at the age of 13.

Personal Life

Valderrama has had several well-known relationships over the years, including a brief courtship with singer and actress Mandy Moore when he was a teenager. In 2004, he was linked to actress Lindsay Lohan, and from 2010 to 2016, he was in an on-and-off relationship with singer Demi Lovato. In January 2020, he became engaged to model Amanda Pacheco, with whom he shares a daughter born on February 15, 2021, and a son born on July 11, 2025. Outside of acting, Valderrama is an avid car collector and famously retained the original 1969 Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser used in That ’70s Show, which he purchased for $500.