William Levy (actor)

Levy was born in Cojimar, Cuba. Levy is of Spanish descent, his great-grandfather being from the Canary Islands.{{cite web|url=https://www.antena3.com/objetivotv/series/william-levy-elizabeth-gutierrez-complices-nunca-romanticos-jardines-alhambra_20221121637b79cc4a5f30000189a2f6.html|title= William Levy y Elizabeth Gutiérrez, más cómplices que nunca en los románticos jardines de La Alhambra|website=Antena 3|date=2022|accessdate= 7 July 2024}}

His maternal grandfather was Jewish (the origin of his surname, Levy),{{Cite news|url=https://nypost.com/2012/03/28/nobody-doesnt-like-william-levy/|title=Nobody doesn't like William Levy|last=Starr|first=Michael|date=March 28, 2012|work=New York Post|access-date=June 22, 2018}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.interfaithfamily.com/arts_and_entertainment/popular_culture/interfaith_celebrities_dancing_and_more_witch_ancestry/|title=Interfaith Celebrities: Dancing and More Witch Ancestry|access-date=June 22, 2018|date=March 20, 2012|last=Bloom|first=Nate|work=InterfaithFamily.com|archive-date=June 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180623023316/https://www.interfaithfamily.com/arts_and_entertainment/popular_culture/interfaith_celebrities_dancing_and_more_witch_ancestry/|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=http://www.oem.com.mx/esto/notas/n545359.htm|title=William Levy|publisher=Organizacion Editorial Mexicana|work=www.oem.com.mx|language=es|access-date=October 19, 2010|archive-date=October 10, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010202752/http://www.oem.com.mx/esto/notas/n545359.htm|url-status=dead}}{{cite magazine|last=Shira |first=Dahvi |url=https://people.com/tv/dancing-with-the-stars-cast-william-levy-5-things/ |title=Dancing with the Stars Cast: William Levy - 5 Things |magazine=People.com |date=February 28, 2012|access-date=June 22, 2018}} although he grew up in a non-religious household.{{Cite web|url=http://www.latina.com/entertainment/religion-backgrounds-latino-celebrities#7|title=Religious Backgrounds of Latino & Latina Hollywood Celebrities|website=www.latina.com|access-date=June 13, 2016}} He was raised by his single mother, Barbara{{cite web |url=http://www.starpulse.com/news/Kevin_Blair/2012/04/15/william_levy_talks_fleeing_cuba_findin |title=William Levy Talks Fleeing Cuba, Finding Instant Fame & 'Dancing With The Stars' |publisher=Starpulse.com |date=April 15, 2012 |access-date=September 9, 2012 |archive-date=April 19, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419070221/http://www.starpulse.com/news/Kevin_Blair/2012/04/15/william_levy_talks_fleeing_cuba_findin |url-status=dead }} Levy. His family, including his brother Jonathan Gutierrez Levy and sister Barbara Gutierrez Levy, emigrated to Miami, Florida when he was 14. He attended Barbara Goleman Senior high school, located in the suburb of Miami Lakes. After attending high school, he studied business administration on a baseball scholarship at St. Thomas University for two years. He later went to Los Angeles to study acting, and continued his acting studies in Miami and Mexico City.{{cite news|url=http://www.so.com.mx/oncover.html |title=William Levy interview |publisher=Revista SO |work=www.so.com.mx |language=es |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090831045825/http://www.so.com.mx/oncover.html |archive-date=August 31, 2009 |url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=http://www.reinarojas.com/william.html|title=William Levy|publisher=Reina Rojas |work=www.reinarojas.com |language=es}}

Levy worked as a model for the Next Models agency, and was featured in two reality shows broadcast by Telemundo: Isla de la Tentación and Protagonistas de Novela 2.[http://www.terra.com/protagonistas/novela2003/protagonistas.html Protagonistas de novela 2] March 2009. In 2005, he performed at the Centro de Bellas Artes in San Juan, Puerto Rico, starring in the play La Nena Tiene Tumbao.

His debut on the Spanish-language channel Univision was in the Venevision International production of Olvidarte Jamás. He later appeared in Mi Vida Eres Tu and Acorralada. In 2008, he appeared in his first film, Retazos de Vida, directed by Viviana Cordero. He was invited by television producer Carla Estrada to star in Pasión, his breakthrough in Mexican telenovelas. Televisa cast him as the lead in Cuidado con el Angel with actress and ex-RBD singer Maite Perroni.{{cite web |url=http://www2.esmas.com/cuidado-con-el-angel/ |title=esmas.com |publisher=.esmas.com |access-date=August 27, 2013 |archive-date=July 16, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080716164833/http://www2.esmas.com/cuidado-con-el-angel/ |url-status=dead }} The show was first broadcast in Mexico in June 2008, and began airing in the United States in September 2008 on Univision. It averaged 5 million viewers per evening.{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/article/2009/01/12/telenovelas-bold-sexy-bizarre/ |title=EW on the set of CCEA |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=August 27, 2013 |archive-date=August 8, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100808011620/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20250808_2,00.html |url-status=live }}

Levy starred alongside Jacqueline Bracamontes on Sortilegio in 2009.{{cite web |url=http://www2.esmas.com/entretenimiento/telenovelas/048051/william-levy-y-jackie-bracamontes-juntos-telenovela-carla-estrada |title=esmas.com |publisher=.esmas.com |date=March 12, 2009 |access-date=August 27, 2013 |archive-date=December 21, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101221071542/http://www2.esmas.com/entretenimiento/telenovelas/048051/william-levy-y-jackie-bracamontes-juntos-telenovela-carla-estrada |url-status=dead }} Sortilegio aired on Univision, and the finale drew 6.6 million viewers, beating ABC and CBS for viewers in that time slot.{{cite web |url=http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/02/18/univision-beats-abc-and-cbs-wednesday-night-sortilegio-finale-draws-6-6-million/42386 |title=bythenumbers |publisher=Tvbythenumbers.com |access-date=August 27, 2013 |archive-date=February 22, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100222173342/http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/02/18/univision-beats-abc-and-cbs-wednesday-night-sortilegio-finale-draws-6-6-million/42386 |url-status=dead }} In November 2009, the actor lent his voice to the Spanish version of the animated movie Planet 51.[http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/634611.html El Universal "William Levy incursiona en el doblaje en la cinta Planet 51"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130113051821/http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/634611.html |date=January 13, 2013 }} - October 2009 The movie opened on November 27 in Mexico, and won an award for best animated Spanish-language film of 2009 at the Premios Goya.{{cite web|url=http://www.elmundo.es/especiales/premios_goya/2010/candidatos.html |title=El Mundo, España |publisher=Elmundo.es |access-date=August 27, 2013}} From November 2009 to February 2010, Levy toured several Mexican cities with the play Un Amante a la Medida,[http://www.peopleenespanol.com/pespanol/articles/0,22490,1932692,00.html People en español "William Levy en Un amante a la medida"] - October 2009 which toured in the United States in June 2010.

Levy starred in the Mexican telenovela Triunfo del Amor, a remake of the Venezuelan classic Cristal, again with Maite Perroni. The telenovela aired on El Canal de las Estrellas on October 25, 2010. Pedro Torres, executive producer of Mujeres Asesinas, confirmed Levy's role in the third season of the popular Mexican series. Levy starred as Jennifer Lopez's love interest in the music video "I'm Into You", from her album Love?. It aired on NBC's Today on May 2, 2011.{{cite web|url=http://www.hola.com/musica/2011041952177/jennifer-lopez-william-levy-videoclip/1/|title=Jennifer López, muy sensual junto al nuevo galán de su videoclip, el modelo cubano William Levy|date=April 19, 2011|publisher=¡Hola!|access-date=April 19, 2011|archive-date=May 13, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110513203146/http://www.hola.com/musica/2011041952177/jennifer-lopez-william-levy-videoclip/1/|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.gossipcop.com/jennifer-lopez-today-show-may-2-2011-interview-video-im-into-you-premiere/|title=Jennifer Lopez Premieres 'I'm Into You' |date=May 2, 2011|work=Gossip Cop |access-date=May 8, 2011}} Levy appeared on the cover of People en Español for its special issue on the sexiest men of the year for 2011.{{cite news| url=http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/entertainment/2011/08/25/william-levy-tops-people-en-espanol-list-sexiest-men/ | work=Fox News | title=William Levy tops People en Español list of sexiest men | date=August 25, 2011}}

In January 2012, it was announced that Levy would appear in two episodes of the VH1 television series Single Ladies, with Denise Vasi.{{cite web|url=http://www.latina.com/entertainment/tv/william-levy-guest-star-single-ladies |title=William Levy to Guest Star on 'Single Ladies' |work=Latina |first=Adriana |last=Rivera |date=January 4, 2012 |access-date=February 29, 2012}} He was a participant in the fourteenth season of Dancing with the Stars, with two-time mirror ball champion Cheryl Burke as his dance-pro partner; they finished in third place.{{cite web|url=http://abc.go.com/shows/dancing-with-the-stars/cast-announcement/ThemeGallery/934511 |title=Meet the Season 15 cast of Dancing with the Stars | ABC TV Show News, Cast, Photos & More – ABC.com |publisher=Abc.go.com |access-date=September 9, 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://www.realitytvworld.com/news/dancing-with-stars-crowns-donald-driver-and-peta-murgatroyd-new-champs--13503.php |title='Dancing with the Stars' crowns Donald Driver and Peta Murgatroyd new champs |publisher=Reality TV World |date=May 23, 2012 |access-date=September 9, 2012}} In December 2012, Levy was cast as Captain Damian Fabre for the remake of La Tormenta titled La Tempestad which aired in 2013. Levy starred in Addicted, an erotic drama based on the novel of the same name by Zane.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/erotic-drama-addicted-rounds-cast-386129 |title=Erotic Drama 'Addicted' Rounds Out Cast |magazine=The Hollywood Reporter |date= November 2, 2012|access-date=August 27, 2013 |first=Borys |last=Kit}} Variety named Levy one of the Top 10 Latino Actors and Actresses in Hollywood.{{cite magazine|url=https://variety.com/gallery/top-10-latino-actors-and-actresses/#!18/9-william-levy/|title=Top 10 Latino Actors and Actresses|magazine=Variety|access-date=April 15, 2015}}

Levy co-starred in Tyler Perry's film The Single Moms Club (2014).{{cite web |url=http://www.comingsoon.net/films.php?id=95984 |title=Tyler Perry's Single Mom's Club Trailer, News, Videos, and Reviews |publisher=ComingSoon.net |access-date=August 27, 2013 |archive-date=October 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006083144/http://www.comingsoon.net/films.php?id=95984 |url-status=dead }} Levy was cast in the lead role as Warrior in the Brent Ryan Green film The Veil (2017).{{cite news|url= http://www.screendaily.com/news/production/the-veil-to-star-william-levy/5064378.article|title= The Veil to star William Levy |date= December 5, 2013 |access-date= August 8, 2014 |magazine= Screen International}} In 2018, he played the role of Mateo Ferrera in the Fox musical drama series Star.{{cite news| url=https://deadline.com/2018/08/star-william-levy-fox-drama-series-regular-season-3-1202447188/|title= 'Star': William Levy Joins Fox Drama As New Series Regular In season 3 |date= August 17, 2018 |access-date= April 21, 2019 |work= Deadline}}

In 2021, Levy returned to telenovelas as Sebastián Vallejo in the new adaptation of Café con aroma de mujer, with Colombian actress-singer Laura Londoño.{{cite web |url=https://www.todotvnews.com/en/telemundo-unveils-sneak-peak-of-new-version-of-cafe-con-aroma-de-mujer/ |title=Telemundo Unveils Sneak Peak[sic] of New Version of Café con aroma de mujer |website=TTV News |access-date=September 12, 2024 |date=May 12, 2021 }} In 2023, Levy starred in a lead role and worked as executive producer in the Telemundo telenovela Vuelve a mí, with Samadhi Zendejas.{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/veronicavillafane/2023/09/30/william-levys-return-to-telemundo-on-vuelve-a-mi-gets-premiere-date/ |title=William Levy's Return To Telemundo On 'Vuelve A Mi' Gets Premiere Date |website=Forbes |first=Veronica |last=Villafañe |access-date=September 12, 2024 |date=September 30, 2023 }}

Levy is a naturalized United States citizen.{{Cite web|date=2019-01-21|title=Thalía y otras celebs latinas con nacionalidad estadounidense|url=https://www.hola.com/us-es/celebrities/galeria/2019012115898/famosos-latinos-nacionalidad-estadounidense-mz/1/|access-date=2022-01-29|website=hola.com|language=es-US}} He has been in an on-off relationship with Mexican-American actress Elizabeth Gutiérrez since 2003, and they have two children together, a son, Christopher Alexander, in 2006, and a daughter, Kailey Alexandra, on March 6, 2010.{{cite web|url=http://www.tvynovelas.com/us/noticias/17/08/29/elizabeth-gutierrez-sorprende-a-william-levy-en-su-cumpleanos/|title=Elizabeth Gutierrez sorprende a William Levy en su cumpleaños|publisher=TVyNovelas|language=es|date=August 29, 2017|access-date=June 9, 2018|archive-date=September 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180915172420/http://www.tvynovelas.com/us/noticias/17/08/29/elizabeth-gutierrez-sorprende-a-william-levy-en-su-cumpleanos|url-status=dead}}{{cite magazine|url=http://www.peopleenespanol.com/pespanol/articles/0,22490,2056542,00.html|title=William Levy y Elizabeth Gutiérrez por primera vez en familia|date=March 2, 2011|magazine=People en Español|access-date=March 14, 2011}} On July 11, 2009, Levy converted to Catholicism.{{Cite news|last=Notimex|first=Domingo|title=William Levy was baptized and confirmed|publisher=Quién.com|date=July 12, 2009|url=http://www.quien.com/espectaculos/2009/07/12/william-levy-fue-bautizado-y-confirmado|access-date=October 20, 2010|quote=William Levy fue bautizado y confirmado|language=es}} In April 2024, Gutiérrez confirmed that she and Levy had parted ways after 20 years.{{cite web |url=https://www.hola.com/us/celebrities/20240410358540/elizabeth-gutierrez-confirms-breakup-william-levy/|title=Elizabeth Gutiérrez confirms her breakup with William Levy in a candid and emotional interview: 'We're not together'|work=¡Hola!|first=Alonso|last=Collantes|date=April 10, 2024|accessdate=May 14, 2024}}

On April 14, 2025 at 10:10 PM, Levy was arrested in the Miami area for disorderly intoxication in a public place causing disturbance and trespassing.{{cite web|url=https://abc7.com/post/william-levy-estrella-de-telenovelas-detenido-en-florida-por-intoxicacion-y-invasion-propiedad-privada/16179610/|title=William Levy detenido en Florida por intoxicación e invasión de propiedad privada|work=ABC 7|language=es|date=April 15, 2025|access-date=April 15, 2025}}

He was born as William Gutiérrez Levy. He got the idea for his name change from a friend of his parents who tried helping the family get out of Cuba while William's mother was still pregnant, as he told Entertainment Tonight. Levy is his mother's last name.{{Cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/13/7-things-william-levy_n_3435987.html|title=7 Things You Didn't Know About William Levy|last=VOXXI|date=June 13, 2013|work=Huffington Post|access-date=October 22, 2018|language=en-US}}

In May 2012, while competing on Dancing with the Stars, nude photos of Levy leaked. Levy responded by saying "I'm used to that already. [The photos] have been out already all over the world. I was a model when I did these things, so as a model there's nothing wrong [with] doing those kind[s] of things. You gotta work. You gotta make money".{{cite web|url=https://www.etonline.com/tv/120280_William_Levy_Responds_to_Nude_Photos_Resurfacing|title=William Levy Responds to Nude Photos Resurfacing|work=ET Online|last=Pace|first=Robert|date=March 26, 2012|access-date=July 1, 2020}}

Levy is a philanthropist and donates his time to fix houses for low-income families in Mexico as part of the "Alianzas que Construyen" Televisa Foundation.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}

Levy was announced to be a contestant on ABC's Dancing With The Stars partnering with two-time champion Cheryl Burke for season 14.

File:William Levy in 2015 (3).jpg

• Un amante a la medida (2009–10)

• 2011: He appeared in People en Español{{'}}s list of the 50 handsomest men.
• 2009: People en Español named him as one of "Los 25 hombres más guapos".[http://www.peopleenespanol.com/pespanol/galleries/0,22491,1919243,00.html Revista People en español "William Levy uno de los 25 hombres más guapos"] - August 2009
• 2009: People en Español named him as one of "Los 50 más bellos".[http://www.peopleenespanol.com/pespanol/galleries/0,22491,1891725_1898172_2,00.html People en Español] May 2009.
• 2008: Quién named him as one of "Los 12 hombres más sexys".[http://www.quien.com/espectaculos/2008/11/25/william-levy-uno-de-los-mas-sexys-de-mexico Quién] November 2008.
• 2008: People en Español named him as one of "Los 50 más bellos".[http://www.peopleenespanol.com/pespanol/galleries/0,22491,1732189_1731928_1,00.html People en Español] January 2009.
• 2006: People en Español named him as one of "Los 20 solteros más sexys".[http://www.peopleenespanol.com/pespanol/galleries/0,22491,1542919_10,00.html People en Español] January 2009.
• 2006: People en Español named him as one of "Los 20 solteros más sexys".[http://www.peopleenespanol.com/pespanol/galleries/0,22491,1542919_10,00.html People en Español] January 2009.

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Category:1980 births

Category:21st-century American male actors

Category:American male film actors

Category:Hispanic and Latino American male models

Category:American male stage actors

Category:American male telenovela actors

Category:American male voice actors

Category:Converts to Roman Catholicism

Category:Cuban emigrants to the United States

Category:Cuban male stage actors

Category:Cuban male telenovela actors

Category:Cuban male voice actors

Category:Cuban Roman Catholics

Category:Cuban people of Spanish-Jewish descent

Category:Hispanic and Latino American male actors

Category:Living people

Category:Male actors from Miami

Category:Mexican male telenovela actors

Category:Participants in American reality television series

Category:Naturalized citizens of the United States