Renoly Santiago
Encyclopedia
Renoly Santiago is a Puerto Rican
actor
, singer and writer
who has appeared in a number of high-profile Hollywood productions.
Santiago first became known in the United States
when he participated in the 1993 television series CityKids
, as "Tito". He co-wrote the Emmy nominated pilot episode of the show. From his participation in CityKids, Santiago graduated to film
, acting as "Raúl Sanchero" in 1995's Dangerous Minds
. By 1996, he was co-starring alongside some other well known Hollywood actors in his role as "Ramόn Sánchez", a.k.a. the "Phantom Phreak" in Hackers
. He also plays "Mikey" in Daylight
.
Santiago starred as "Ramón Martínez" (a gay cross-dressing
criminal nicknamed "Sally-Can't Dance") in the 1997 film Con Air
. Santiago then took three years off acting on screen and starred on Broadway in Paul Simon's The Capeman as "Tony Hernandez - Umbrella Man", leader of the gang "The Vampires", a role for which he was a 1998 Drama Desk Nominee for Outstanding Featured Performer in a Musical.
As a singer, Santiago has recorded with award-winning, legendary performers Marc Anthony
, Paul Simon
, Danny Rivera
and La India
.
In 2000, he returned to the screen in the low-budget film Punks
, shown at the Sundance Film Festival, where he plays "Dante". By 2001, Santiago was back on television, playing "Miguel Acosta" in the January 7 episode of Touched by an Angel
, making a small appearance at the March 29 episode of Big Apple
and as "Chiggy Rios" on the October 17 episode of Law & Order: Criminal Intent
.
In 2002, Santiago made another film called The Street King, where he played "Cesar Rojas". It was not a major hit, and Santiago took another three year sabbatical from screen acting. Santiago returned to film in 2005, as "Scorpio" in Just Another Romantic Wrestling Comedy
. Released in early 2011, he stars in the salsa biopic about Hector Lavoe Lavoe as "Johnny Pacheco" and filmed in Spring 2011, Renoly will appear in Grand Street
in which he stars with Kelly McGillis
.
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
actor
Acting
Acting is the work of an actor or actress, which is a person in theatre, television, film, or any other storytelling medium who tells the story by portraying a character and, usually, speaking or singing the written text or play....
, singer and writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
who has appeared in a number of high-profile Hollywood productions.
Santiago first became known in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
when he participated in the 1993 television series CityKids
CityKids
CityKids is a television series that aired late Saturday Mornings on ABC from 1993 to 1994. The show consisted primarily of live action performances, with Muppet portions of the show, courtesy of Jim Henson Productions, interspersed in between...
, as "Tito". He co-wrote the Emmy nominated pilot episode of the show. From his participation in CityKids, Santiago graduated to film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
, acting as "Raúl Sanchero" in 1995's Dangerous Minds
Dangerous Minds
Dangerous Minds is an American drama film based on the autobiography My Posse Don't Do Homework by former U.S. Marine LouAnne Johnson, who took up a teaching position at Carlmont High School in Belmont, California, where most of her students were African-American and Hispanic teenagers from East...
. By 1996, he was co-starring alongside some other well known Hollywood actors in his role as "Ramόn Sánchez", a.k.a. the "Phantom Phreak" in Hackers
Hackers (film)
Hackers is a 1995 American thriller film directed by Iain Softley and starring Angelina Jolie, Jonny Lee Miller, Renoly Santiago, Matthew Lillard, Lorraine Bracco and Fisher Stevens...
. He also plays "Mikey" in Daylight
Daylight (film)
Daylight is a 1996 disaster film, starring Sylvester Stallone, Amy Brenneman, Viggo Mortensen, Dan Hedaya, and Danielle Harris. It was directed by Rob Cohen and released in theaters on December 6, 1996.-Plot:...
.
Santiago starred as "Ramón Martínez" (a gay cross-dressing
Cross-dressing
Cross-dressing is the wearing of clothing and other accoutrement commonly associated with a gender within a particular society that is seen as different than the one usually presented by the dresser...
criminal nicknamed "Sally-Can't Dance") in the 1997 film Con Air
Con Air
Con Air is an Academy Award–nominated 1997 American action-thriller film directed by Simon West and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer. It stars Nicolas Cage, John Cusack and John Malkovich...
. Santiago then took three years off acting on screen and starred on Broadway in Paul Simon's The Capeman as "Tony Hernandez - Umbrella Man", leader of the gang "The Vampires", a role for which he was a 1998 Drama Desk Nominee for Outstanding Featured Performer in a Musical.
As a singer, Santiago has recorded with award-winning, legendary performers Marc Anthony
Marc Anthony
Marc Anthony is an American singer-songwriter, actor and producer. Anthony is the top selling tropical salsa artist of all time. The two-time Grammy and three-time Latin Grammy–winner has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide. He is best known for his Latin salsa numbers and ballads...
, Paul Simon
Paul Simon
Paul Frederic Simon is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist.Simon is best known for his success, beginning in 1965, as part of the duo Simon & Garfunkel, with musical partner Art Garfunkel. Simon wrote most of the pair's songs, including three that reached number one on the US singles...
, Danny Rivera
Danny Rivera
Danny Rivera is a Puerto Rican singer and songwriter who was born in San Juan whose career spans nearly 50 years. He is well-known in Puerto Rico for his political activism.-Musical career:...
and La India
La India
La India , known also as "La Princesa de la Salsa" , is a singer of salsa. She has been nominated for both Grammy and Latin Grammy awards.-Early years:...
.
In 2000, he returned to the screen in the low-budget film Punks
Punks (film)
Punks is a 2001 film produced by Babyface, directed by Patrik-Ian Polk and starring Rockmond Dunbar, Seth Gilliam, Renoly Santiago, Jazzmun, and Dwight Ewell....
, shown at the Sundance Film Festival, where he plays "Dante". By 2001, Santiago was back on television, playing "Miguel Acosta" in the January 7 episode of Touched by an Angel
Touched by an Angel
Touched by an Angel is an American drama series that premiered on CBS on September 21, 1994 and ran for 211 episodes and nine seasons until its conclusion on April 27, 2003. Created by John Masius and produced by Martha Williamson, the series stars Roma Downey, as an angel named Monica, and Della...
, making a small appearance at the March 29 episode of Big Apple
Big Apple (TV series)
Big Apple is an American television drama series that was originally broadcast in the United States on CBS in 2001. The story centers on two New York City Police Department detectives Mooney and Trout working with the FBI to solve a murder with ties to organized crime...
and as "Chiggy Rios" on the October 17 episode of Law & Order: Criminal Intent
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
Law & Order: Criminal Intent is an American police procedural television drama series set in New York City, where it was also primarily produced. Created and produced by Dick Wolf and René Balcer, the series premiered on September 30, 2001, as the second spin-off of Wolf's successful crime drama...
.
In 2002, Santiago made another film called The Street King, where he played "Cesar Rojas". It was not a major hit, and Santiago took another three year sabbatical from screen acting. Santiago returned to film in 2005, as "Scorpio" in Just Another Romantic Wrestling Comedy
Just Another Romantic Wrestling Comedy
Just Another Romantic Wrestling Comedy is a 2007 movie starring April Hunter and Joanie Laurer. This Romantic comedy film was premiered at New Jersey & New York on December 1, 2006 and was released on DVD in the United States and the United Kingdom on April 17, 2007 after the films DVD release Just...
. Released in early 2011, he stars in the salsa biopic about Hector Lavoe Lavoe as "Johnny Pacheco" and filmed in Spring 2011, Renoly will appear in Grand Street
Grand Street
Grand Street was an American magazine which appeared from 1981 to 2004. It was described by the New York Times as "one of the most revered literary magazines of the postwar era."-Founding:...
in which he stars with Kelly McGillis
Kelly McGillis
Kelly Ann McGillis is an American actress. Her films include Top Gun, The Accused, and Witness, for which she received a Golden Globe nomination.-Career:...
.