Ricardo Chavira facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ricardo Chavira
Chavira in 2012
Born	Ricardo Antonio Chavira (1971-09-01) September 1, 1971 (age 53) San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
Education	University of the Incarnate Word (BA) University of California, San Diego (MFA)
Occupation	Actor
Years active	2000–present
Spouse(s)	Marcea Dietzel ​ (m. 2007)​
Children	2

Ricardo Antonio Chavira (born September 1, 1971) is an American actor. He is famous for playing Carlos Solis in the TV show Desperate Housewives and Abraham Quintanilla in Selena: The Series.

Early Life and Education

Ricardo Chavira was born in San Antonio, Texas. His father, Juan Antonio Chavira, was a judge. Ricardo is of Mexican heritage.

He grew up in San Antonio and went to Robert E. Lee High School. After high school, he attended the University of the Incarnate Word. Later, he went to the University of California, San Diego to study acting. He earned a Master of Fine Arts degree, which is an advanced degree for artists. In 2000, he moved to Los Angeles to start his acting career.

Acting Career

Chavira began his career with small roles in popular TV shows like NYPD Blue, 24, and JAG. He also had a recurring role on the show Six Feet Under. In 2004, he appeared in his first major movie, The Alamo, where he played a soldier named Gregorio Esparza.

Breakthrough with Desperate Housewives

In 2004, Chavira got his big break when he was cast as Carlos Solis in the hit ABC show Desperate Housewives. He played the husband of Gabrielle Solis, a character played by actress Eva Longoria. The show was very popular and ran for eight seasons, ending in 2012.

For his work on the show, Chavira and the other cast members won two Screen Actors Guild Awards. These awards are given to the entire cast for their great work together. Because of his popularity, People en Español magazine named him one of the "50 Most Beautiful" people in 2005.

Chavira in 2005

Roles After Desperate Housewives

After Desperate Housewives ended, Chavira continued to act in many TV shows. He had a main role in the comedy series Welcome to the Family. He also appeared in episodes of Burn Notice and Castle.

From 2016 to 2017, he played an important character named Governor Francisco "Frankie" Vargas in the political drama Scandal. During the same time, he had a recurring role on the comedy show Jane the Virgin. He also appeared in the Netflix series Santa Clarita Diet.

In 2020, Chavira played another major role as Abraham Quintanilla, the father of the famous singer Selena, in the Netflix show Selena: The Series.

Voice Acting and Film

Besides acting on screen, Chavira has also worked as a voice actor. He voiced the character Alejandro Borges in the animated movie Dead Space: Aftermath and John Carver in the video game Dead Space 3. He also appeared in movies like Days of Wrath and Saving God.

Personal Life

Chavira is a strong supporter of breast cancer research. His mother, Elizabeth Ries Chavira, passed away from the disease. He works with charities like Susan G. Komen for the Cure to help raise awareness and money for research.

He married Marcea Dietzel in 2007. They have two children, a son named Tomás Antonio and a daughter named Belén Elysabeth.

Selected Filmography

Films

Television

See also

In Spanish: Ricardo Chavira para niños