The role is a plum one for Hernandez who is one of the few Latinos featured in a starring role on network TV. Hernandez knows he is fortunate, and “is also excited to represent the Latino community in a positive light on TV.” Sadly, that is still kind of a rarity, though things are slowly improving, because the networks and the entertainment industry are being pressured to change by advocacy groups and even more so by changing demographics. While there might be a few more roles for Latinos and other minorities these days, most are not positive or representative of the community. A recent study found that half of Latino men on television are shown engaging in criminal activity. Hernandez is well aware of the responsibility he has in this type of role. In a recent interview he said, "I think it's wonderful and smart, and kind of necessary to do something like this and have someone out there putting positive imagery on TV...Even if it's a subconscious absorption of something different, of some other idea of what it is to be Hispanic or some[one] a little different. I'm very excited and happy that people can have that now and I can add to the picture of what people carry around in terms of what they think of or perceive Hispanics to be." Hernandez has long been one of the few Latino leading men in the entertainment industry, and he has had the honor of working with some of the most in-demand writers, directors, producers and actors of his time. He looks much younger than his 40 years, but has become a familiar face to many over the past two decades starring in a number of major movie and television roles. His successful career actually got its start by chance in the late 1990's when he was looking for work as a model. As luck would have it, while riding an elevator in a high-rise in Los Angeles, Hernandez was approached by a talent manager who thought he had what it took to have a successful career in Hollywood. He enrolled Hernandez into acting school and sent his pictures to casting agents. The odds were against him; very few actors manage to find regular employment in the field and even fewer Latino actors succeed. But with hard work, talent and luck Hernandez has managed to build a career he can be proud of, working steadily over the past twenty years. He made his television debut in NBC's Hang Time, back in 1998 and made his film debut in 2001 opposite Kirsten Dunst in the romantic drama Crazy/Beautiful which earned him an ALMA Award nomination for Outstanding Actor. Hernandez’s recent film roles include portraying El Diablo in the DC Entertainment film “Suicide Squad” and appearances in both entries in the “Bad Moms” comedy franchise; all very successful at the box office. He has also appeared in other successful films like “Friday Night Lights,” “Hostel,” and in the Netflix fantasy-action film “Bright.” which premiered to a record-breaking 11 million plus viewers within the first three days. On television, he has also recently appeared in “Scandal,” “Nashville,” and “The Expanse.” S A L U D O S H I S P A N O S
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NzU3OTQ=