Kings of South Beach - About the Actors

With an impressive background that spans across the worlds of music, film and television, Donnie Wahlberg has captured the attention of audiences worldwide. He has proven his versatility by transforming himself from a teen pop sensation to a noteworthy dramatic film actor and critically acclaimed television star.
Wahlberg most recently co-starred with Harvey Keitel in ABC ’s special event mini-series ” Path to 9/11 ” and starred in the CW series “Runaway. ” Other television credits include the critically acclaimed NBC drama series “Boomtown, ” and the award-winning HBO mini-series “Band of Brothers, ” in which he portrayed real-life WWII hero Lt. C. Carwood Lipton. ’ 
Prior to “Band of Brothers, ” Wahlberg received a great deal of attention for his pivotal role in “The Sixth Sense ” as the psychotic former patient of Bruce Willis. The role was originally intended for a 13 year-old boy until Wahlberg met with M. Night Shyamalan to inquire about rights for a theatre production and ended up convincing the director that no one else could play the role. He also co-starred with Mel Gibson as the kidnapper with a heart in “Ransom, ” directed by Ron Howard, and starred in the independent film “Southie, ” directed by John Shea. More recent film credits include the blockbuster hit “Saw II, ” Disney ’s “Annapolis ” and the independent “Marilyn Hotchkiss ’ Ballroom Dancing and Charm School. ”
Born in Boston, the eighth of nine children, Wahlberg began performing in plays and banging on pots and pans as early as the first grade. In high school, he attended a fledgling arts program and became involved in theatre, acting, writing and directing plays. At age 14, he started a band that in just a few years went from playing at high school parties to becoming the pop music sensation New Kids on the Block. At the height of the group ’s popularity, Wahlberg decided to go in another direction by focusing on writing and producing for his brother Mark. He then decided to explore his interest in acting and landed a role in “Bullet ” with Mickey Rourke and Tupac Shakur, a project that lit a spark and motivated him to devote all of his energy to the craft of acting.

JASON GEDRICK got his first acting break in his native Chicago when the film BAD BOYS starring Sean Penn, was filmed on location there. Then a high school student, he landed a role as an extra and Penn's encouragement inspired him to study acting in earnest.

Gedrick soon landed leading roles in several films, including IRON EAGLE, STACKING and THE HEAVENLY KID. He went on to co-star with Meg Ryan and Kiefer Sutherland in PROMISED LAND. His other feature film credits include Ron Howard's BACKDRAFT, Oliver Stone's BORN ON THE FOURTH OF JULY, and Mike Binder's CROSSING THE BRIDGE. He simultaneously pursued stage work, starring on Broadway in OUR TOWN with Don Ameche and Helen Hunt, as well as in the Off-Broadway production of MRS. DALLY HAS A LOVER with Judith Ivey.

In television, Gedrick starred as the murder defendent 'Neal Avedon' in Stephen Bochco's MURDER ONE series and then went on to star in the critically acclaimed CBS series EZ STREETS, with Ken Olin and Joe Pantoliano. Then Gedrick starred with Danny Aiello and Joe Mantegna in Mario Puzo's THE LAST DON, a six hour mini-series which was a huge rating success for CBS. This led to his starring role in Mario Puzo's THE LAST DON II. Gedrick played the series lead on the CBS drama FALCONE, based on the feature film "Donnie Brasco." He starred on the critically acclaimed NBC series BOOMTOWN and most recently, in the NBC series WINDFALL.

In 2005, Gedrick was on stage again opposite Hector Elizondo in WRONG TURN AT LUNGFISH directed by Gary Marshall for The Falcon Theater. He appeared in Hallmark™ HIDDEN PLACES and in the independent features JESUS, MARY

Nadine Velazquez is undoubtedly on the rise in Hollywood. Nadine stars on NBC's hit comedy "My Name is Earl" opposite Jason Lee and Jamie Pressly as Catalina the sexy, hotel maid with a heart of gold. In its inaugural season, the show received the People's Choice Award, SAG Award for Best New Comedy Series and TCA Award for Best New Show. This year 'Earl' will anchor the Thursday night line up on NBC.
Nadine will soon be seen in the feature film "Rogue" opposite Jason Statham and Jet Li for Lions Gate. The film is an action thriller about an FBI agent seeking revenge on the killer of his partner. Nadine can also be seen in the lead role on A

Ricardo Antonio Chavira went from relative anonymity to international fame as Wysteria Lane’s resident bad boy “Carlos Solis,” all within weeks of the debut of ABC’s hit show, Desperate Housewives. Caught up in a dramatic marriage, Chavira’s character is complicated yet likeable. “Housewives” fans are entertained by the continuing on again/off again marriage between him and co-star Eva Longoria who plays his wife.

A native of South Texas, Chavira was born in Austin and raised in San Antonio. Introduced to acting in his senior year at Robert E. Lee High School, now the Performing Arts School, it was initially a way to meet girls. But it helped him cope with the death of his mother from breast & ovarian cancer when she was only 43, and he was 15, and proceeded to open up a whole new world to him.

Descended from a family of migrant workers, the value of education was stressed by both of Chavira’s parents. His father, now a Judge in Bexar County, Texas, overseeing child support cases, was the first in his family to attend college, while his mother earned three masters degrees - in Public Heath, Anthropology and Theology.

Chavira received his undergraduate degree from San Antonio’s Incarnate World College, and then took time off to accumulate some “life experience.” He received an MFA from the highly regarded UC-San Diego’s Professional Actor Training Program in 2000 and moved to Los Angeles shortly thereafter.

In a few short years Chavira earned credits in all areas of the entertainment industry - Film, Television & Theatre. In addition to Desparate Housewives, his TV credits include a series regular role on The Grubbs (FOX), recurring roles on Six Feet Under (HBO) and The Divisionv(Lifetime), and guest star roles on Joan of Arcadia (CBS), Kingpin (NBC), 24 (FOX), JAG (CBS), as well as NYPD Blue (ABC) and two other Steven Bochco shows, Philly (ABC), and City of Angels (CBS). On the big screen, Chavira was last seen in October release “Chasing 3000” with Ray Liotta and Rory Culkin for director Roberto Clemente. In addition, he wrapped two independent films; Rockaway scheduled for release in July 2007 and Cosmic Radio.

He currently resides in San Antonio where he enjoys spending time with his son.