Every so often, an actor arrives on the scene and seems to be everywhere.
Such is the case with Kevin Alejandro. He stars as Santos on ABC’s “Ugly Betty,” which ends its hit freshman season Thursday, May 17. He also plays Winston on Fox’ “Drive,” which ended its initial run last week.
Solid roles on two diverse shows simultaneously isn’t bad for a guy who knew no one when he came, broke, to Los Angeles five years ago.
Like so many in his native Texas, football was all for him. His cousin took drama in high school and persuaded him to do the same.
His teacher, the late Jerry P. Worsham, made such an impression that Alejandro helped create a scholarship in his name to send kids to theater camp. Even today, 17 years after his first class, Alejandro speaks of Worsham with pure admiration.
“I had so much fun and I felt so free,” he says, recalling his first drama classes.
The teacher sent worthy students to a state competition for one-act plays, and Alejandro went all four years. He also learned to build sets.
“College was never really something I thought about, but he opened my eyes to it,” Alejandro says. “He filled out all my applications to college with me and helped me to get a full four-year scholarship to Texas.”
From there, Alejandro sold his bike and stereo and drove to Los Angeles with his pal, fellow actor Stephen Taylor. Just as he was feeling completely down, he landed a gig working in a Spanish play that toured the country.
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Hometown: Snyder, Texas.
Birth date: April 7, 1976.
Where you’ve seen him: “Sleeper Cell,” “NCIS,” “CSI: Miami,” “Big Love,” “Without a Trace” and “E-Ring.”
First language: Spanish. His mom is from Guadalajara.
Family: Married four years to musician Leslie Alejandro.
Favorite medium for acting: Theater. “I am a Shakespeare boy. I would love to play Macbeth. I’d love to play Hamlet, but I think every other actor would, too.”
