What Is Raymond Cruz's Net Worth?
Raymond Cruz is an acclaimed American actor with a net worth of $2 million. He has gained widespread recognition for his roles as Detective Julio Sanchez on TNT's "The Closer" and its spin-off "Major Crimes," and Tuco Salamanca on AMC's "Breaking Bad" and "Better Call Saul." With over 90 acting credits, Cruz has appeared in notable films such as "Under Siege," "Clear and Present Danger," "Alien Resurrection," and "The Curse of La Llorona." His television work includes "The Eddie Files," "The Division," and "My Name Is Earl." Over his 25-year career, he has become known for his portrayals of soldiers and law enforcement officials.
Early Life
Raymond Cruz was born on September 10, 1964, in Los Angeles, California, to a family of Mexican descent. Growing up in an East Los Angeles neighborhood rife with gang activity, Cruz had relatives involved with gangs such as Barrio South Gate and Maravilla. In an interview with "Daily Beast," he shared, "I come from a long line of criminals...For us, violence was a daily occurrence." Witnessing a shooting at the age of 12 deeply impacted him. Despite his challenging environment, Cruz found solace in American literature, which he credits with steering him away from a life of crime. He pursued higher education at East Los Angeles College.
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Career
Raymond Cruz began his acting career with a debut in "Maid to Order" (1987), followed by roles in "Twice Dead" (1988) and "I Know My First Name Is Steven" (1989). In television, he guest-starred on shows like "Beauty and the Beast," "Cagney & Lacey," and "Knots Landing." The '90s saw Cruz in films including "Gremlins 2: The New Batch," "Clear and Present Danger," and "Alien Resurrection." He also had numerous TV movie roles, such as "Fallen Angels" and "Last Stand at Saber River," and guest appearances on "Freddy's Nightmares," "Murder, She Wrote," and "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine."
Cruz co-starred with Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke in "Training Day" (2001), receiving critical acclaim. He continued to work steadily, appearing in "Collateral Damage," "Havoc," and "Brothers in Arms." From 2005 to 2012, he played Detective Julio Sanchez on "The Closer," continuing the role in "Major Crimes" until 2018. His portrayal of Tuco Salamanca in "Breaking Bad" and "Better Call Saul" earned him widespread acclaim. He also appeared in "Los Americans," "The Eric Andre Show," and "Grey's Anatomy." In the 2015 TV movie "Cleveland Abduction," he played Ariel Castro, a role that garnered attention.
(Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for SXSW)
Personal Life
Raymond Cruz married actress Simi Mehta on July 17, 2000. The couple shares a unique bond and co-starred in "The X-Files" episode "El Mundo Gira" in 1997. Cruz discussed his challenging role as Ariel Castro in "Cleveland Abduction" in a 2015 interview with "Living New Orleans," sharing insights about his wife's initial reservations and eventual support after reading the script.
Awards and Nominations
Raymond Cruz has received several accolades for his work, including three Imagen Foundation Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor – Television for "The Closer," winning in 2006 and 2009. He earned a NAMIC Vision Award nomination for Best Performance – Drama and multiple Screen Actors Guild Award nominations as part of "The Closer" cast. He was also nominated for a Saturn Award for "Breaking Bad" and received an Indie Series Award nomination for "Los Americans."
