Early life

Ramirez was born in Los Angeles

Los Ángeles

Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...

, California

California

California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...

 of Spanish

Spain

Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...

 and Salvadoran

El Salvador

El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...

 descent. He has three brothers, one of whom is his identical twin. Ramirez bought his parents a house with his payment from Napoleon Dynamite (2004).

Career

Ramirez has starred in a number of films, including Napoleon Dynamite

Napoleon Dynamite

Napoleon Dynamite is a 2004 comedy film co-written and directed by Jared Hess and Jerusha Hess and stars Jon Heder as Napoleon Dynamite. The film was Jared Hess' first full-length feature and is partially adapted from his earlier short film, Peluca....

as Pedro Sanchez, Employee of the Month

Employee of the Month (2006 film)

Employee of the Month is a 2006 American comedy film directed by Greg Coolidge, written by Don Calame, Chris Conroy, and Coolidge, and starring Dane Cook, Jessica Simpson and Dax Shepard. The main plot revolves around two shop employees who compete for the affection of their newest co-worker...

with Dane Cook

Dane Cook

Dane Jeffrey Cook is an American stand-up comedian and film actor. He has released five comedy albums: Harmful If Swallowed; Retaliation; Vicious Circle; Rough Around The Edges: Live From Madison Square Garden; and Isolated Incident. In 2006, Retaliation became the highest charting comedy album...

, Jessica Simpson

Jessica Simpson

Jessica Ann Simpson is an American recording artist, actress, television personality, and fashion designer whose rise to fame began in 1999. Since that time, Simpson has achieved many recording milestones, starred in several television shows, movies, and commercials, launched a line of hair and...

, and Dax Shepard

Dax Shepard

Dax Randall Shepard is an American actor.- Early life :Shepard was born in Milford, Michigan and attended Muir Junior High and Walled Lake Central High School, before enrolling in The Groundlings school. He later received a degree in anthropology at UCLA...

, Crank

Crank (film)

Crank is a 2006 American comedy movie, written and directed by Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor, and starring Jason Statham, Amy Smart, Jose Pablo Cantillo, Efren Ramirez, and Dwight Yoakam...

and Crank: High Voltage with Jason Statham

Jason Statham

Jason Statham born 12 September1967) is an English actor and former diver, known for his roles in the Guy Ritchie crime films Revolver, Snatch and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels...

, Searching for Mickey Fish with Daniel Baldwin

Daniel Baldwin

Daniel Leroy Baldwin is an American actor, producer and director. He is the second oldest of the four Baldwin brothers, all of whom are actors. Daniel Baldwin is known for his role as Detective Beau Felton in the popular NBC TV series Homicide: Life on the Street...

, All You've Got

All You've Got

All You've Got is a 2006 sport/drama film, which debuted on MTV and is directed by Neema Barnette. It stars Adrienne Bailon, of the pop group The Cheetah Girls as Gabby and Ciara in her film debut as Becca Watley.-Storyline:...

with Ciara

Ciara

Ciara Princess Harris , known mononymously as Ciara, is an American singer-songwriter, dancer, actress and fashion model. Born in Austin, Texas, she traveled around the world during her childhood, only to land in Atlanta, Georgia where she met music producer, Jazze Pha...

, and HBO's Walkout and made cameos in Nacho Libre

Nacho Libre

Nacho Libre is a 2006 comedy film directed by Jared Hess. It is a production of Nickelodeon Movies.The script was written by Jared Hess, Jerusha Hess and Mike White. It was loosely based on the story of Fray Tormenta , aka Rev. Sergio Gutiérrez Benítez, a real-life Mexican Catholic priest who had a...

and Mr. & Mrs. Smith

Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005 film)

Mr. & Mrs. Smith is a 2005 American romantic comedy action film directed by Doug Liman and written by Simon Kinberg. The original music score was composed by John Powell...

. In 2009, Efren starred in the comedy American Summer

American Summer

The Pool Boys, also known as American Summer is a 2011 comedy film from Seven Arts Pictures directed by James B. Rogers. It stars Matthew Lillard, Brett Davern, Rachelle Lefèvre, Efren Ramirez and Tom Arnold.-Plot:...

with Matthew Lillard

Matthew Lillard

Matthew Lyn Lillard is an American actor and producer. He is best known for his roles as Stu Macher in Scream, Stevo in SLC Punk , and Shaggy Rogers in the Scooby-Doo film series and the Animated reboot series.-Early life:Lillard was born in Lansing, Michigan, and grew up in Tustin, California...

 as well as appearing as a contestant on MTV's Celebrity Rap Superstar

Celebrity Rap Superstar

Celebrity Rap Superstar is an American reality show which premiered on MTV on August 30, 2007. The series was hosted by Kevin Hart and Liz Hernandez.-Overview:...

. On July 14, 2008 Sierra Mist

Sierra Mist

Sierra Mist is a lemon-lime flavored caffeine-free soft drink, introduced by PepsiCo in 2000 and rolled out nationally in the United States in 2003. PepsiCo owns the rights to the similar 7 Up brand outside the U.S...

 released a series of commercials aimed at multicultural consumers in which Efren stars. The first being named "Wedding Girl" followed by "Mannequin Man" and an online spot, "The Whiner," which will be posted at the Sierra Mist dedicated site, RefreshYourMind.com

Soon after the success of Napoleon Dynamite, the music group G. Love and Special Sauce asked Efren to appear in their music video "Booty Call". He also played Ashlee Simpson

Ashlee Simpson

Ashlee Nicole Simpson is an American singer and actress. In 2004, she rose to prominence with the success of her number-one debut album Autobiography and the reality series, The Ashlee Simpson Show. In October 2005, following a North American concert tour and a film appearance, Simpson released...

's boyfriend in the music video for her 2005 song "Boyfriend". Ramirez also made a cameo appearance in a 2005 episode of ABC

American Broadcasting Company

The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...

's The George Lopez Show wearing a t-shirt similar to the shirt Jon Heder

Jon Heder

Jonathan Joseph "Jon" Heder is an American screenwriter, actor, and filmmaker. His feature film debut came in 2004 as the title character of the comedy film Napoleon Dynamite...

 wears in Napoleon Dynamite that reads, "Vote For Pedro". In 2007 Ramirez appeared as the judge for an acting challenge on Cycle 8 of America's Next Top Model

America's Next Top Model, Cycle 8

America's Next Top Model Cycle 8 is the eighth cycle of America's Next Top Model and the second season of the series to be aired on The CW network, which aired from February 28, 2007, to May 16, 2007....

.

Ramirez makes a cameo in King Cobra

King Cobra (film)

King Cobra is a 1999 Trimark Pictures direct to video horror/sci-fi film about an escaped genetically engineered hybrid of an Asian King Cobra and an Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake. The film was written and directed by David Hillenbrand and Scott Hillenbrand, and featured special effects by The...

, portraying a teenager playing a game of hide-and-seek with his girlfriend (portrayed by Ramirez's wife Iyari Limon

Iyari Limon

Iyari Pérez Limón is an actress best known for her supporting role as Potential Slayer Kennedy on the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer.-Career:Limón has appeared in numerous TV commercials, both in Spanish and English...

). They later end up as prey for the title antagonist.

He co-founded Powerhouse Pictures Entertainment, LLC with Chris Barrett

Chris Barrett

Chris Barrett is an American film director, producer, and author who was featured in the Sundance Award Winning Documentary The Corporation....

, and they co-authored the book Direct Your Own Life: How To Be A Star In Any Field You Choose being published on June 10, 2008 through Kaplan Publishing.

Personal life

In 1998, Efren married Iyari Limon. The marriage was later annulled.

Ramirez is also a touring DJ. He has performed in over 50 cities across the world and plays a variety of music, from hip hop to hard house. He also has thrown rave events under the production company "Nocturnal Rampage".

Filmography

Film
Year	Film	Role	Other notes
1994	Tammy and the T-Rex	Pizza Boy
1995	Jury Duty Jury Duty (film) Jury Duty is a 1995 comedy film directed by John Fortenberry and starring Pauly Shore, Tia Carrere, Stanley Tucci, Brian Doyle-Murray, Shelley Winters, and Abe Vigoda.The film was Billie Bird's last screen appearance.- Plot:...	Pirate Pete's employee
1996	Kazaam Kazaam Kazaam is a 1996 comedy film directed by Paul M. Glaser and stars Shaquille O'Neal as the title character Kazaam, a genie who appears from a magic boombox to grant a boy three wishes.-Plot:...	Carlos
1998	Melting Pot Melting Pot (film) Race redirects here. For the animated movie see Race Melting Pot, also known as Race, is a 1998 feature film directed by Tom Musca .-Cast:...	Miguel Álvarez
1999	King Cobra King Cobra (film) King Cobra is a 1999 Trimark Pictures direct to video horror/sci-fi film about an escaped genetically engineered hybrid of an Asian King Cobra and an Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake. The film was written and directed by David Hillenbrand and Scott Hillenbrand, and featured special effects by The...	Teen Boy	Direct-to-Video Release
2000	Rave	Bookie
2001	Delivering Milo Delivering Milo Delivering Milo is a 2001 film written by David Hubbard and directed by Nick Castle. Anton Yelchin stars as Milo, with Bridget Fonda and Campbell Scott in the roles of his parents. Albert Finney stars as Elmore Dahl, a guardian angel sent to convince a soul that life on Earth is worth living. Sean...	Street Hustler	Uncredited Role
2004	Napoleon Dynamite Napoleon Dynamite Napoleon Dynamite is a 2004 comedy film co-written and directed by Jared Hess and Jerusha Hess and stars Jon Heder as Napoleon Dynamite. The film was Jared Hess' first full-length feature and is partially adapted from his earlier short film, Peluca....	Pedro Sánchez
	Just Hustle	Street Connection
2006	Tomorrow's Yesterday Tomorrow's Yesterday Tomorrow's Yesterday was a short 2006 film written and directed by Elan Gale.It was produced by Page One Pictures in association with Sascha Rasmussen, Paul McCarthy-Boyington, Patrick O'Sullivan, and Angelo Perez, who were also the stars of the film....	Ron
	Gettin' Some Jail Time	Pico
	Crank Crank (film) Crank is a 2006 American comedy movie, written and directed by Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor, and starring Jason Statham, Amy Smart, Jose Pablo Cantillo, Efren Ramirez, and Dwight Yoakam...	Kaylo
	Employee of the Month Employee of the Month (2006 film) Employee of the Month is a 2006 American comedy film directed by Greg Coolidge, written by Don Calame, Chris Conroy, and Coolidge, and starring Dane Cook, Jessica Simpson and Dax Shepard. The main plot revolves around two shop employees who compete for the affection of their newest co-worker...	Jorge
2007	Moola	Hector
	Crossing the Heart	Jesus
2009	Ratko: The Dictator's Son Ratko: The Dictator's Son Ratko: The Dictator's Son also known as National Lampoon's Ratko: The Dictator's Son is a 2009 teen comedy directed by Savage Steve Holland. The film was produced by Intermedia Films and Cinetel Films and was distributed by National Lampoon Inc...	Ratko Volvic
	American Summer American Summer The Pool Boys, also known as American Summer is a 2011 comedy film from Seven Arts Pictures directed by James B. Rogers. It stars Matthew Lillard, Brett Davern, Rachelle Lefèvre, Efren Ramirez and Tom Arnold.-Plot:...	Hector
	Gamer	DJ Twist
	Crank: High Voltage	Venus/Kaylo
2010	When in Rome	Juan	Uncredited Role
Television
Year	Title	Role	Notes
1996	Relativity Relativity (TV series) Relativity is an American drama television series which followed a twenty-something couple, Isabel Lukens and Leo Roth , and the lives and loves of their friends and siblings...	Xavier	Episode: "No Job Too Small"
1997	Dangerous Minds Dangerous Minds (TV series) Dangerous Minds is an American drama television series that aired on ABC network between September 1996 and March 1997. The series is based on the motion picture film, Dangerous Minds...	Nutty	Episode: "The Feminine Mystique"
	Nothing Sacred Nothing Sacred (TV series) Nothing Sacred is an American drama series that aired from 1997 to 1998 on ABC. The series was created by a Jesuit priest named Bill Cain and producer David Manson.-Synopsis:...	Guillermo	Episode: "A Bloody Miracle"
1999	Ryan Caulfield: Year One	Juan	Episode: "Nocturnal Radius"
	Chicken Soup for the Soul	Paco	Episode: "Paco Come Home"
2000	Missing Pieces Missing Pieces Missing Pieces is an Australian factual television series that screened on the Nine Network in 2009. It was hosted by Peter Overton.Missing Pieces follows the stories of people who embark on a life-changing journey to find someone special who is missing from their lives. It has a similar premise to...	Renaldo	TV-Movie Television movie A television film is a feature film that is a television program produced for and originally distributed by a television network, in contrast to...
2000, 2001	Boston Public Boston Public Boston Public is an American drama television series created by David E. Kelley and broadcast on Fox. It centered on Winslow High School, a fictional public high school located in Boston, Massachusetts. The show was named for the real public school district in which it takes place...	Amaad Wilkens	Episode: "Chapter Six" Episode: "Chapter Twenty-Two"
	Even Stevens Even Stevens Even Stevens is an American comedy television series that aired on Disney Channel with a total of three seasons and 65 episodes from June 17, 2000, to June 2, 2003...	Scrub Patrol	Episode: "Scrub Day" Episode: "Easy Crier"
2003	Judging Amy Judging Amy Judging Amy is an American television drama that was telecast from September 19, 1999, through May 3, 2005, on CBS-TV. This TV series starred Amy Brenneman and Tyne Daly...	Ricky Diaz	Episode: "Picture of Perfect"
	ER ER (TV series) ER is an American medical drama television series created by novelist Michael Crichton that aired on NBC from September 19, 1994 to April 2, 2009. It was produced by Constant c Productions and Amblin Entertainment, in association with Warner Bros. Television...	Jimmy	Episode: "Death and Taxes"
2004	The District The District The District is a television police drama which aired on CBS from October 7, 2000 to May 1, 2004. The show followed the work and personal life of the chief of Washington, D.C.'s Police Department .-Premise:...	Fernando Guttierez	Episode: "Ten Thirty-Three"
2005	George Lopez George Lopez (TV series) "The George Lopez Show" redirects here. For the late-night program hosted by the same comedian, see Lopez Tonight.George Lopez is an American sitcom starring comedian George Lopez...	The new class treasurer (parody of Pedro Sanchez)	Episode: "George's Extreme Makeover-Holmes Edition"
	Robot Chicken Robot Chicken Robot Chicken is an American stop motion animated television series created and executive produced by Seth Green and Matthew Senreich along with co-head writers Douglas Goldstein and Tom Root. Green provides many voices for the show...	Pedro Sanchez/Domino's Pizzaman	Voice Role Episode: "The Black Cherry"
2006	Walkout Walkout (film) Walkout is a 2006 HBO film based on a true story of the 1968 East L.A. walkouts. It premiered March 18, 2006 on HBO. Starring Alexa Vega, Efren Ramirez and Michael Peña, the film was directed by Edward James Olmos...	Bobby Verdugo	HBO TV-Movie Television movie A television film is a feature film that is a television program produced for and originally distributed by a television network, in contrast to...
	All You've Got All You've Got All You've Got is a 2006 sport/drama film, which debuted on MTV and is directed by Neema Barnette. It stars Adrienne Bailon, of the pop group The Cheetah Girls as Gabby and Ciara in her film debut as Becca Watley.-Storyline:...	Carlos	MTV MTV MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....  TV-Movie Television movie A television film is a feature film that is a television program produced for and originally distributed by a television network, in contrast to...
	MADtv MADtv MADtv is an American sketch comedy television series. It licensed the name and logo of Mad, but otherwise had no connection with the humor magazine outside the animated Spy vs. Spy and Don Martin cartoon shorts and images of Alfred E. Neuman that the show featured during the late 1990s. Its first...	Various Roles	Episode: 12.3
2007	El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera is Nickelodeon's first ever flash animation series produced for Nickelodeon and Nicktoons Network. The first screening of the show was on January 19, 2007 in the first ever Nickelodeon Creative Summit held in San Juan, Puerto Rico as a special treat for the...	El Cucharón	Voice Role Episode: "The Bride of Puma Loco"
	American Dad! American Dad! American Dad! is an American animated television series created by Seth MacFarlane and owned by Underdog Productions and Fuzzy Door Productions. It is produced in association with 20th Century Fox Television...	Paco	Episode: "American Dream Factory"
	Celebrity Rap Superstar Celebrity Rap Superstar Celebrity Rap Superstar is an American reality show which premiered on MTV on August 30, 2007. The series was hosted by Kevin Hart and Liz Hernandez.-Overview:...	Himself
	Scrubs Scrubs (TV series) Scrubs is an American medical comedy-drama television series created in 2001 by Bill Lawrence and produced by ABC Studios. The show follows the lives of several employees of the fictional Sacred Heart, a teaching hospital. It features fast-paced screenplay, slapstick, and surreal vignettes...	"Caramel Bear" Ricky	Episode: "My Growing Pains My Growing Pains "My Growing Pains" is the fifth episode of season seven and the 144th episode of the American sitcom Scrubs. It aired on November 29, 2007 on NBC.-Plot:... "
2010	Eastbound & Down Eastbound & Down Eastbound & Down is an American comedy television series broadcast on HBO, starring Danny McBride as Kenny Powers, a former professional baseball pitcher, who after an up and down career in the major leagues is forced to return to his hometown middle-school in Shelby, North Carolina, as a...	Catuey	Episode: Chapter 7
2012	Napoleon Dynamite Napoleon Dynamite (TV series) Napoleon Dynamite is an upcoming American animated television sitcom based on the 2004 cult film of the same name, to be broadcast on Fox. The show will be overseen by the film's director Jared Hess, his wife Jerusha, and veteran television writer/producer Mike Scully...	Pedro	Voice role

External links

• Official Efren Ramirez Site
• Official Direct Your Own Life: How To Be A Star In Any Field You Choose's Book website
• Efren Ramirez Interview