Alex Meraz
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{short description|American actor}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Alex Meraz
| image = Paparazzo_Presents_Alex_Meraz.jpg
| caption = Meraz at a Twilight Saga: New Moon promotional appearance in Houston, Texas, November 10, 2009
| birthname = Alejandro Meraz
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1985|01|10}}{{IMDb name|id=2158803}}
| birth_place = Mesa, Arizona, U.S.
| yearsactive = 2005–present
| occupation = Actor, dancer, martial artist
| URL =
| spouse = Kim (m. 2007)
| children = 2
}}
Alejandro "Alex" Meraz (born January 10, 1985) is an American actor and martial artist. He is best known for playing the werewolf named Paul Lahote in the film New Moon.{{cite video|date=April 16, 2009 |title=Alex Meraz: Life On The Set Of 'New Moon' |url=http://www.accesshollywood.com/video_1087333&dst=ah |publisher=Access Hollywood |accessdate=April 16, 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090502084028/http://www.accesshollywood.com/video_1087333%26dst%3Dah |archivedate=May 2, 2009 }}
Life and career
Meraz was born in Mesa, Arizona and is of Purépecha descent. He attended the New School for the Arts, and is an avid painter and illustrator. Besides break-dancing, which he was active in during the early 2000s under the name "Nomak," Alex excels{{citation needed|date=May 2016}} in indigenous and contemporary dancing. He has studied mixed martial arts, winning numerous tournaments in karate and the martial art of Capoeira{{Citation needed|date=July 2012}}. Alex's first big film was The New World as one of the Powhatan core warriors, inspiring him to continue acting. Thereafter he was in the running for the film Apocalypto but in the end was turned down. His big break came when he was cast as werewolf Paul Lahote in the film New Moon.{{cite web|url=http://www.celebuzz.com/7-things-you-need-know-s97481/|title=Celebuzz|website=Celebuzz|accessdate=July 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121032143/http://www.celebuzz.com/7-things-you-need-know-s97481/|archive-date=January 21, 2015|url-status=dead}}
He also starred in the latest season of CSI: New York. Meraz played a Seal Team member in the 2016 action film Suicide Squad.
On December 31, 2007, he married Kim. A Twilight fan, she suggested that he audition for New Moon, believing he was perfect for the part. They have a son, for whom his mentor, actor Raoul Trujillo, is the godfather.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8O5mZvxtqeE |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211220/8O5mZvxtqeE |archive-date=December 20, 2021 |url-status=live|title=Alex Meraz on Rachel Ray|last=alexmerazus|date=November 11, 2009|accessdate=July 17, 2018|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}} In June 2012, the couple had another son.
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class=unsortable | Notes |
|---|
| 2005
| Core Warrior | |
| 2007
| Two Spirits, One Journey | Luke | Short film |
| 2009
| |
| 2010
| Paul Lahote | |
| 2011
| Frat Boy | |
| 2011
| Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown | Zack | |
| 2011
| The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 | Paul Lahote | |
| 2012
| TJ | |
| 2012
| Nicaragua | |
| 2012
| The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 | Paul Lahote | |
| 2012
| The Reward | Renegade Cop | Short film |
| 2014
| Cry Now | Eric | |
| 2015
| Eagle Skulls | |
| 2016
| The Bronx Bull | Paco | |
| 2016
| Gomez | |
| 2017
| Bright | Serafin | |
| 2020
| Bad Dad | Alex | |
| 2021
| Patty | |
| 2021
| Primordial Man | The Primordial Man | Short film |
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class=unsortable | Notes |
|---|
| 2007
| Dancing with Spirit | Dancer | Episode: "Here on Earth" |
| 2009
| Warrior | Episode: "We Shall Remain: Part II - Tecumseh's Vision" |
| 2009
| Freedom Riders | Warrior | Unknown episodes |
| 2011
| CSI: NY | Odelin Gonzales Jr. | Episode: "Food for Thought" |
| 2013
| Moses Clearwater | Episode: "Happy Trails" |
| 2013
| Big Thunder | Hosa | Television film |
| 2014
| Sergio | Recurring role; 2 episodes |
| 2014
| Masca | Television mini-series |
| 2017
| Javi Cano | Recurring role; 6 episodes |
| 2017
| Scalped | Dashiell Dash Bad Horse | Television film |
| 2021–2022
| Brandon Carver | Recurring role; 4 episodes |
| 2024
| Carlos 'Charlie Boy' Ortiz' | 8 episodes |
| 2024
| Landman | Jimenez | 4 episodes |
| 2025
|Ivan Muños |4 episodes |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Portal|Biography}}
- {{IMDb name|2158803}}
- [https://www.twitter.com/TheAlexMeraz Alex Meraz's official Twitter account]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Meraz, Alex}}
Category:American male dancers
Category:American male film actors
Category:American male karateka
Category:American capoeira practitioners
Category:American male actors of Mexican descent
Category:American people of Purépecha descent
Category:People from Mesa, Arizona
Category:Male actors from Arizona