Ryan Guzman, born September 21, 1987, in Abilene, Texas, is an American actor best known for his starring roles in both film and television. Of Mexican-American and mixed European descent, he grew up in Sacramento, California, where he developed an early interest in sports and martial arts, earning a black belt in Taekwondo by age ten and competing in mixed martial arts before a shoulder injury redirected his ambitions toward modeling and acting.

His first forays into the entertainment world came as a model for high-profile brands such as Abercrombie & Fitch and Reebok, and he appeared in commercials for major companies before successfully transitioning to acting.

Ryan Guzman made his film debut in 2012 as the lead character Sean Asa in “Step Up Revolution,” the fourth installment of the popular dance film series, despite not having formal dance training prior to the audition. His impressive performance led to a reprisal of the role in “Step Up: All In” in 2014. 

He gained further recognition for his portrayal of Noah Sandborn opposite Jennifer Lopez in the psychological thriller “The Boy Next Door” and for his role as Rio Racheco in the live-action adaptation of “Jem and the Holograms”. His other notable film projects include “Beyond Paradise,” “There’s Always Woodstock,” “April Rain,” “Everybody Wants Some!!,” “Backtrace,” and “The Cleansing Hour,” among others.

On television, he is widely recognized for his character Eddie Diaz in the hit procedural drama series “9-1-1,” initially on FOX and later on ABC, a role he began in 2018 and continues to portray.

He has held recurring and main roles in popular shows such as “Pretty Little Liars,” “Heroes Reborn,” and “Notorious,” further establishing himself as a versatile performer across genres.

Throughout his career, he has been lauded for his discipline and dedication, qualities rooted in his athletic and martial arts background, as well as his advocacy for Latino representation in Hollywood. He was honored with the Horizon Award from the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts in 2017, and in 2019, the city of Sacramento proclaimed May 15th as “Ryan Guzman Day” in recognition of his achievements and influence.