Nestor Carbonell

Although his upbringing was one of privilege, Nestor Carbonell persevered and pursued his heart's desire to become an actor. Although born in NYC, he and family traveled frequently during his formative years and Spanish was actually his first language. After attending prep school, Carbonell enrolled as an English major at Harvard, where he first was exposed to performing as a freshman. After graduating, he embarked on a career, landing bit roles on daytime TV and making his primetime debut on an episode of "Law & Order."

Frequently cast as Europeans or Hispanics, he went on to make guest appearances on "Melrose Place" and "A Different World" before he landed the regular role of Gianni, a handsome gigolo, on the short-lived sitcom "Muscle" (The WB, 1995). Later that year, he made his screen debut in the little-seen "Love & Happiness," which played at one theater in Los Angeles. Having proven his comedic abilities, he soon landed the role of Luis Rivera, the too suave staff photographer, supporting Brooke Shields in the NBC sitcom "Suddenly Susan" (1996-2000). Carbonell added screenwriter to his credits with the dark comedy "Blue Light Special" (lensed 1998), in which he plays a successful TV actor whose life unravels after he agrees to a public appearance at a Texas department store.