Wade Domínguez
Encyclopedia
Wade Domínguez was an US
actor
, model
, singer, and dancer best known for his role as Emilio Ramírez in Dangerous Minds
.
in Morgan Hill. He worked as a go go dancer for several years and became a fixture on the nightclub scene. He also sold clothes at the Beverly Center Mall where he was spotted by a photographer and soon began a modelling career.
to pursue an acting career and enrolled in classes taught by former Oscar-Nominee Jeannie Berlin
. Berlin's mother, the famous writer-director performer Elaine May
was so impressed with Domínguez's work in class, that she began recommending him for roles.
While he was on modelling duties in Italy, Domínguez landed a small acting role in an American soap opera. His first real role in a movie came in 1994 when he appeared in an erotic film called Erotique directed by Lizzie Borden
, that focused on female phone sex workers. In 1995, Domínguez landed a role in the box office hit Dangerous Minds
-co-written by Elaine May-in which he played opposite Michelle Pfeiffer
, as a troubled teenager in school who is caught up with drugs, violence, and gang troubles in the ghetto and who was ultimately killed.
Following the success of Dangerous Minds, Domínguez next played the role of a thief in City of Industry
. He also had a lead role as a rookie policeman in The Taxman and a supporting role in Shadow of Doubt
, where he played opposite Melanie Griffith
and Tom Berenger
, as a hip-hop artist who is accused of murder.
at Midway Hospital at the age of 32.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, model
Model (person)
A model , sometimes called a mannequin, is a person who is employed to display, advertise and promote commercial products or to serve as a subject of works of art....
, singer, and dancer best known for his role as Emilio Ramírez in 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...
.
Early life
Domínguez was born in Santa Clara County, California. In 1985, he graduated from Live Oak High SchoolLive Oak High School (Morgan Hill, California)
Live Oak High School is a public high school located in Morgan Hill, California, which consists of freshman, sophomore, junior. and senior classes. Live Oak is part of the Morgan Hill Unified School District. The school mascot of Live Oak is an Acorn, and its colors are green and gold...
in Morgan Hill. He worked as a go go dancer for several years and became a fixture on the nightclub scene. He also sold clothes at the Beverly Center Mall where he was spotted by a photographer and soon began a modelling career.
Career
He moved to Los AngelesLos 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...
to pursue an acting career and enrolled in classes taught by former Oscar-Nominee Jeannie Berlin
Jeannie Berlin
Jeannie Berlin is an American film, television and stage actress.Berlin was born Jeannie Brette May in Los Angeles, California to Marvin May and actress/comedian/screenwriter/playwright Elaine May. May directed Berlin in the 1972 film The Heartbreak Kid, which garnered Berlin Golden Globe and...
. Berlin's mother, the famous writer-director performer Elaine May
Elaine May
Elaine May is an American film director, screenwriter and actress. She achieved her greatest fame in the 1950s from her improvisational comedy routines in partnership with Mike Nichols...
was so impressed with Domínguez's work in class, that she began recommending him for roles.
While he was on modelling duties in Italy, Domínguez landed a small acting role in an American soap opera. His first real role in a movie came in 1994 when he appeared in an erotic film called Erotique directed by Lizzie Borden
Lizzie Borden (filmmaker)
Lizzie Borden is an American filmmaker. Originally named Linda Elizabeth Borden, she took on the name of the American folklore figure Lizzie Borden in the early 1970s....
, that focused on female phone sex workers. In 1995, Domínguez landed a role in the box office hit 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...
-co-written by Elaine May-in which he played opposite Michelle Pfeiffer
Michelle Pfeiffer
Michelle Marie Pfeiffer is an American actress. She made her film debut in 1980 in The Hollywood Knights, but first garnered mainstream attention with her performance in Brian De Palma's Scarface . Pfeiffer has won numerous awards for her work...
, as a troubled teenager in school who is caught up with drugs, violence, and gang troubles in the ghetto and who was ultimately killed.
Following the success of Dangerous Minds, Domínguez next played the role of a thief in City of Industry
City of Industry (film)
City of Industry is a 1997 crime film starring Harvey Keitel, Stephen Dorff and Timothy Hutton. It is directed by John Irvin, produced by Evzen Kolar and Ken Solarz and written by Ken Solarz...
. He also had a lead role as a rookie policeman in The Taxman and a supporting role in Shadow of Doubt
Shadow of Doubt
Shadow of Doubt is a 1998 American independent mystery-thriller film directed by Randal Kleiser and starring Melanie Griffith, Tom Berenger, Craig Sheffer, and Huey Lewis.-Plot:...
, where he played opposite Melanie Griffith
Melanie Griffith
Melanie Richards Griffith is an American actress. She is an Academy Award nominee and Golden Globe winner for her performance in the 1988 film Working Girl...
and Tom Berenger
Tom Berenger
Tom Berenger is an American actor known mainly for his roles in action films.-Early life:Berenger was born as Thomas Michael Moore in Chicago to an Irish Catholic family. Berenger's father was a printer for the Chicago Sun-Times. Berenger has a sister, Susan...
, as a hip-hop artist who is accused of murder.
Death
On August 26, 1998, Domínguez died of respiratory failureRespiratory system
The respiratory system is the anatomical system of an organism that introduces respiratory gases to the interior and performs gas exchange. In humans and other mammals, the anatomical features of the respiratory system include airways, lungs, and the respiratory muscles...
at Midway Hospital at the age of 32.
Selected filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Other notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 1994 in film 1994 was a significant year in film.The top grosser worldwide was The Lion King, which to date stands as the highest-grossing traditionally-animated film of all time... |
Erotique | Dream Sequence Lover | Appeared on (segment "Let's Talk About Love") |
| 1995 1995 in film -Top grossing films:-Events:* March 22 - The Dogme 95 movement is officially announced in Paris by Danish directors Lars von Trier and Thomas Vinterberg.* March 28 - Actress Julia Roberts and singer Lyle Lovett announce their plans for separation.... |
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... |
Emilio Ramírez | |
| 1997 1997 in film -Events:* The original Star Wars trilogy's Special Editions are released.* Production begins on Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace.* Titanic becomes the first film to gross US$1,000,000,000 at the box office making it the highest grossing film in history until Avatar broke the record in 2010.*... |
City of Industry City of Industry (film) City of Industry is a 1997 crime film starring Harvey Keitel, Stephen Dorff and Timothy Hutton. It is directed by John Irvin, produced by Evzen Kolar and Ken Solarz and written by Ken Solarz... |
Jorge Montana | |
| 1998 1998 in film -Events:* February 14 - Sharon Stone marries Phil Bronstein.* Former child star Gary Coleman is charged with assaulting a young female bus driver at a California shopping mall.-Top grossing films:... |
The Taxman | Joseph Romero | |
| Shadow of Doubt Shadow of Doubt Shadow of Doubt is a 1998 American independent mystery-thriller film directed by Randal Kleiser and starring Melanie Griffith, Tom Berenger, Craig Sheffer, and Huey Lewis.-Plot:... |
Bobby Medina | ||