Raoul Trujillo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Raoul Trujillo
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Trujillo in Los Angeles California on July 3, 2019
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Raoul Max Trujillo
May 8, 1955 |
| Occupation | Actor, dancer, choreographer, theatre director |
| Years active | 1977–present |
Raoul Max Trujillo (born May 8, 1955) is an American actor, dancer, and director. He has also worked as a choreographer. Raoul Trujillo has been active in movies, TV shows, and theater for over 45 years.
He was a main dancer with the Nikolais Dance Theatre. He also helped create and direct the American Indian Dance Theatre. This was the first professional dance group for Native American dancers.
Trujillo is well-known for his roles in movies like Apocalypto (2006), where he played Zero Wolf. He also played the Iroquois chief Kiotsaeton in the film Black Robe. You might have seen him in Cowboys and Aliens or Riddick. He also appeared in many TV shows, including Mayans M.C. as Che "Taza" Romero.
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Early Life and Background
Raoul Trujillo was born on May 8, 1955, in New Mexico. His family background is very diverse. He has ancestors from several Native American groups, including Tlaxcalan (Nahuatl), Ute, Apache, Comanche, and Pueblo people. He also has French, Sephardic Jew, and Andalusian Moor roots.
Raoul Trujillo's Career Journey
Raoul Trujillo started his career in theater in 1977. His first job was as an actor and dancer in a play called Equus. He began serious dance training in Los Angeles in 1978. He learned from famous dance companies like Pilobolus and Martha Graham.
Dancing and Choreography
For two years, he trained with the Toronto Dance Theatre. He also studied at the Nikolais/Louis Dance Lab in New York City. He was then invited to join the Nikolais Dance Theatre. The leader, Alwin Nikolais, became his teacher and guide.
From 1980 to 1987, Trujillo traveled the world with the company. He also learned about designing sets, costumes, and lighting for shows. After leaving the company, he started creating his own dance pieces. He often included Native American stories and traditions in his work.
Later, Trujillo became a choreographer and co-director for the American Indian Dance Theatre. This group brought traditional Native American dances to modern stages. He created a dance piece called "The Shaman's Journey." This was even made into a short film for PBS. He also helped start the Aboriginal Dance Project at the Banff Centre. This program trains Indigenous dancers from all over the world.
Acting in Film and Television
Raoul Trujillo began acting on screen in Canada in 1988. Since then, he has been in over 100 movies and TV shows. He also helped create the dances and ceremonies for the movie The New World. In that film, he also played the character Tomocomo.
Notable Film Roles
Here are some of the movies Raoul Trujillo has appeared in:
- Black Robe (1991) as Kiotsaeton
- Highlander: The Final Dimension (1994) as Senghi Kul Khan
- The New World (2005) as Tomocomo
- Apocalypto (2006) as Zero Wolf
- Cowboys & Aliens (2011) as Black Knife
- Riddick (2013) as Lockspur
- Sicario (2015) as Rafael
- Blood Father (2016) as The Cleaner
- Sicario: Day of the Soldado (2018) as Rafael
- Blue Beetle (2023) as Ignacio Carapax / OMAC
Notable Television Roles
Here are some of the TV shows Raoul Trujillo has been in:
- Destiny Ridge (1993–1995) as Sam Whitehorse
- JAG (1996) as Arturo
- True Blood (2008) as Longshadow
- Lost Girl (2011–2012) as The Garuda
- Da Vinci's Demons (2014) as Topa Inca Yupanqui
- Salem (2015) as The Shaman
- The Blacklist (2016) as Mato
- Jamestown (2017–2019) as Opchanacanough
- Mayans M.C. (2018–2022) as Che "Taza" Romero
As Himself
Raoul Trujillo has also appeared in documentaries, sharing his experiences and knowledge:
- Chiefs (2002) - a TV mini-series documentary
- Making 'The New World' (2006) - a video documentary about the movie
- Becoming Mayan: Creating Apocalypto (2006) - a short video documentary
- Beyond the Yellow Brick Road: The Making of Tin Man (2007) - a TV documentary
- Wild Horses and Renegades (2007) - a documentary where he was a speaker
See also
In Spanish: Raoul Trujillo para niños
