Xolo Maridueña Bio
Ramario Xolo Ramirez, known professionally as Xolo Maridueña, is an American actor born on June 9, 2001, in Los Angeles, California. He is best known for playing Victor Graham in the NBC drama series Parenthood from 2012 to 2015, and for his leading role as Miguel Diaz in the Netflix action series Cobra Kai from 2018 to 2025. In 2023, he expanded his profile to feature films with the DC Comics superhero film Blue Beetle, in which he played the title hero, Jaime Reyes.
Early Life and Background
Xolo Maridueña was raised in the El Sereno neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, the son of Omar G. Ramirez and Carmelita Ramirez-Sánchez. He has four sisters and is of Mexican, Cuban, and Ecuadorian descent. His given first name, Ramario, is a combination of the names Ramón and Mario, given in honor of his maternal uncles.
He attended El Sereno Middle School during his early years in the city. When he was around ten years old, he joined CASA 0101, a community theater company in Los Angeles, where he trained as an actor and appeared in his first stage productions. This early theater work helped set the foundation for his later on-screen career.
Maridueña later enrolled at Cathedral High School and went on to study at Pasadena City College. His family background, neighborhood roots, and early exposure to the stage shaped his path into professional acting before he finished high school.
Path to Acting
Maridueña’s first professional job was modeling for a Sears catalog, which gave him an early introduction to the entertainment industry. He soon transitioned to on-camera work and landed his first major television role while still a child, appearing on the NBC drama Parenthood from 2012 to 2015 as Victor Graham.
That role marked his introduction to long-form television storytelling and allowed him to work alongside an established ensemble cast. After Parenthood, he continued training and auditioning, building toward a larger leading role. In 2018, at the age of sixteen, he was cast as Miguel Diaz, one of the central characters in the Netflix action series Cobra Kai, a continuation of the original Karate Kid film franchise.
His selection for Cobra Kai came after years of youth theater at CASA 0101 and his first major screen role on Parenthood. The combination of stage discipline and early television experience prepared him to carry a major series.
Xolo Maridueña Career
Early Career (2011–2015)
Maridueña began his screen career as a child model before landing his breakthrough television role. His first major credit came in 2012 when he was cast in the NBC family drama Parenthood, where he played Victor Graham. The series ran for four seasons, and he appeared regularly throughout the run, giving him steady on-set experience during his formative years.
During this period, he balanced his schoolwork at Cathedral High School with his acting schedule. His work on Parenthood introduced him to industry professionals and helped him develop the screen presence that would later define his career.
Breakthrough (2018–2025)
Maridueña achieved wider recognition when he was cast as Miguel Diaz in the Netflix action series Cobra Kai, which premiered in 2018. The show is a direct continuation of the original Karate Kid film franchise, and Maridueña appeared in every episode across the series’ run through 2025. His performance as Miguel, a high school student navigating rivalries, mentorship, and martial arts, became one of his most recognized roles.
In 2023, Maridueña moved to feature films with Blue Beetle, a DC Comics superhero movie in which he played Jaime Reyes, a teenager who bonds with an alien scarab and becomes the hero known as Blue Beetle. The character marked the first Latino superhero to lead a live-action DC film, a milestone Maridueña has spoken about in interviews, emphasizing the importance of representation on screen.
Beyond acting, Maridueña co-hosts the Lone Lobos podcast with Cobra Kai co-star Jacob Bertrand; the show debuted in September 2021. In August 2023, he released his debut single, a song titled On My Way featuring singer Adriana Padilla. He also appeared in a Taco Bell commercial in September 2024 and in an episode of J Balvin’s docuseries A Great Day With J Balvin in October 2024. In 2025, he voiced Brainy Smurf in the animated film Smurfs.
Notable Works and Milestones
Maridueña’s signature works include his run as Miguel Diaz on Cobra Kai and his leading role in the 2023 DC film Blue Beetle. His career is also marked by his earlier turn on Parenthood, his podcasting work with Lone Lobos, and his debut music release, On My Way, in 2023.
Xolo Maridueña Award Nominations
Verified records of formal award nominations for Xolo Maridueña are not available in the provided sources. Details of any nominations, including categories and awarding bodies, are therefore not listed in this section.
Xolo Maridueña Awards Won
Verified records of formal award wins for Xolo Maridueña are not available in the provided sources. Details of any awards received, including categories and years, are therefore not listed in this section.
Xolo Maridueña Family
Maridueña is the son of Omar G. Ramirez and Carmelita Ramirez-Sánchez, and he has four sisters. He is of Mexican, Cuban, and Ecuadorian descent, and grew up in the El Sereno neighborhood of Los Angeles. His first name, Ramario, is a family tribute that combines the names of his maternal uncles, Ramón and Mario.
Personal Life
Maridueña practices the religion Ifá. He was in a relationship with his Cobra Kai co-star Hannah Kepple from 2019 to 2022. He continues to live and work in the Los Angeles area, balancing acting, podcasting, and music projects.
