Valerie Cruz
Encyclopedia
Valerie Cruz is an American actress.
Cruz was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey
of Cuban
ancestry. She attended Florida State University
and received a BFA theatre degree.
She has appeared in films such as Cellular
and played Grace Santiago
in Nip/Tuck
. She played a main character in Nip/Tuck, but she left the show just after the first season.
She has made guest appearances in series such as Grey's Anatomy
and Las Vegas
. In 2007, she appeared as Connie Murphy
, a tough Chicago police detective
, in SciFi Channel
's (now cancelled) adaptation of The Dresden Files
. The show lasted for one season.
She has also played Maria Nolan on the CW's Hidden Palms. In 2008, she appeared in season three of Dexter
, playing Sylvia Prado, the wife of Assistant District Attorney Miguel Prado (Jimmy Smits
).
In 2009, she appeared in the horror film The Devil's Tomb
and the HBO series True Blood
, in which she played the part of Isabel. In 2009, she also played Olivia in the film La Linea
. In 2010 she became part of the cast of the ABC
drama Off the Map
, which was canceled by ABC On May 13, 2011 . In 2011 she started playing the homeland security agent overseeing the Alpha Unit in the Syfy
series Alphas
.
Cruz was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey
Elizabeth, New Jersey
Elizabeth is a city in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 124,969, retaining its ranking as New Jersey's fourth largest city with an increase of 4,401 residents from its 2000 Census population of 120,568...
of Cuban
Cubans
Cubans or Cuban people are the inhabitants or citizens of Cuba. Cuba is a multi-ethnic nation, home to people of different ethnic and national backgrounds...
ancestry. She attended Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
and received a BFA theatre degree.
She has appeared in films such as Cellular
Cellular (film)
Cellular is a 2004 thriller film directed by David R. Ellis and starring Kim Basinger, Chris Evans, Jason Statham and William H. Macy. The screenplay was written by Chris Morgan, Larry Cohen and J...
and played Grace Santiago
Grace Santiago
Grace Santiago was a character on the American television series Nip/Tuck. She was the staff psychologist for McNamara/Troy. She was portrayed by Valerie Cruz.-Character history:...
in Nip/Tuck
Nip/Tuck
Nip/Tuck is an American drama series created by Ryan Murphy, which aired on FX in the United States. The series focuses on McNamara/Troy, a plastic surgery practice, and follows its founders, Sean McNamara and Christian Troy...
. She played a main character in Nip/Tuck, but she left the show just after the first season.
She has made guest appearances in series such as Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy is an American medical drama television series created by Shonda Rhimes. The series premiered on March 27, 2005 on ABC; since then, seven seasons have aired. The series follows the lives of interns, residents and their mentors in the fictional Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital in...
and Las Vegas
Las Vegas (TV series)
Las Vegas was an American television series broadcast by NBC from September 22, 2003 to February 15, 2008. The show focuses on a team of people working at the ficticional Montecito Resort & Casino dealing with issues that arise within the working environment, ranging from valet parking and...
. In 2007, she appeared as Connie Murphy
Karrin Murphy
Karrin Murphy is a major character in Jim Butcher's contemporary fantasy series, The Dresden Files. The character also appears as Connie Murphy in the television series based on the novels.- Background :...
, a tough Chicago police detective
Detective
A detective is an investigator, either a member of a police agency or a private person. The latter may be known as private investigators or "private eyes"...
, in SciFi Channel
Sci Fi Channel (United States)
Syfy , formerly known as the Sci-Fi Channel and SCI FI, is an American cable television channel featuring science fiction, supernatural, fantasy, reality, paranormal, wrestling, and horror programming. Launched on September 24, 1992, it is part of the entertainment conglomerate NBCUniversal, a...
's (now cancelled) adaptation of The Dresden Files
The Dresden Files (TV series)
The Dresden Files is an American television series based on the books by Jim Butcher. It premiered January 21, 2007 on the Sci Fi Channel in the United States and on Space in Canada. It was picked up by Sky One in the UK and began airing on February 14, 2007.The series ran for a single season of...
. The show lasted for one season.
She has also played Maria Nolan on the CW's Hidden Palms. In 2008, she appeared in season three of Dexter
Dexter (TV series)
Dexter is an American television drama series, which debuted on Showtime on October 1, 2006. The sixth season premiered on October 2, 2011. The series centers on Dexter Morgan , a bloodstain pattern analyst for the Miami Metro Police Department who moonlights as a serial killer...
, playing Sylvia Prado, the wife of Assistant District Attorney Miguel Prado (Jimmy Smits
Jimmy Smits
Jimmy Smits is an American actor. Smits is perhaps best known for his roles as attorney Victor Sifuentes on the 1980s legal drama L.A. Law, as NYPD Detective Bobby Simone on the 1990s police drama NYPD Blue, and as Congressman Matt Santos on The West Wing...
).
In 2009, she appeared in the horror film The Devil's Tomb
The Devil's Tomb
The Devil's Tomb is a 2009 horror film, directed by Jason Connery. It stars Cuba Gooding Jr., Ray Winstone and Ron Perlman. The film was released direct–to–video on May 26, 2009.-Plot:...
and the HBO series True Blood
True Blood
True Blood is an American television series created and produced by Alan Ball. It is based on The Southern Vampire Mysteries series of novels by Charlaine Harris, detailing the co-existence of vampires and humans in Bon Temps, a fictional, small town in the state of Louisiana...
, in which she played the part of Isabel. In 2009, she also played Olivia in the film La Linea
La Linea
La Linea may refer to:* La Línea de la Concepción, a town in Spain bordering Gibraltar* La Linea , a series of animated shorts from Italy* La Linea , 2008 action crime thriller...
. In 2010 she became part of the cast of the 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...
drama Off the Map
Off the Map (TV series)
Off the Map is a medical drama created by Jenna Bans, who also served as an executive producer, with colleagues from Grey's Anatomy, Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers...
, which was canceled by ABC On May 13, 2011 . In 2011 she started playing the homeland security agent overseeing the Alpha Unit in the Syfy
Syfy
Syfy , formerly known as the Sci-Fi Channel and SCI FI, is an American cable television channel featuring science fiction, supernatural, fantasy, reality, paranormal, wrestling, and horror programming. Launched on September 24, 1992, it is part of the entertainment conglomerate NBCUniversal, a...
series Alphas
Alphas
Alphas is an American science fiction dramatic television series created by Zak Penn and Michael Karnow. The series follows a group of people with superhuman abilities, known as "Alphas", as they work to prevent crimes committed by other Alphas....
.
Credits & Awards
- 2008 Alma Awards Nomination; Best lead actress in a drama series for The Dresden Files on SciFi Channel
- 2009 Screen Actors Guild Award Nomination; Best ensemble cast in a drama series for Dexter on Showtime Networks
- La Linea, starred opposite Ray Liota and Andy Garcia. Film is set for release sum niña de isaac