Wilmer Valderrama
Actor, Producer, and Activist
Actor, producer, and activist Wilmer Valderrama has been making audiences laugh, listen and think for over two decades. Perhaps most recognized for his role as exchange student ‘Fez’ on the Emmy-nominated series That 70s Show, the role catapulted him to stardom.
Valderrama recently reprised his role as ‘Fez’ on Netflix’s That ‘90s Show and currently stars in the #1 TV drama NCIS on CBS, and it was recently announced that he is developing a live-action “Zorro” series at Disney Branded Television in which he will star and executive produce. The project both marks the return of Zorro to the Disney family as well as a lifelong dream for Valderrama to bring this iconic character to life. On the big screen, he most recently lent his voice to the hit Academy Award-winning Disney animated film Encanto, which topped the box office and has become a cultural phenomenon. Other accolades awarded to the film include the National Board of Review Award for “Best Animated Film,” BAFTA for “Best Animated Film,” NAACP Image Award for “Outstanding Animated Motion Picture” and Golden Globe for “Best Animated Feature Film” as well as three Academy Award nominations including “Best Animated Feature.” Other recent animation credits include Valderrama voicing Thurman Sanchez in the Netflix animated film Dog Gone Trouble, which he also executive produced, Gaxton in the Academy Award-nominated Disney film Onward, the first Latino Prince Charming in the animated film Charming for Netflix, and the main character of Disney's hugely popular animated children’s show Handy Manny, which introduced preschoolers to Spanish. Other past credits include appearances in the indie-drama Blast Beat, which premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival, Netflix’s The Ranch, ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy and Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino’s television series From Dusk Till Dawn.
In the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Valderrama was inspired to turn the spotlight on frontline workers after a grocery store encounter and used his platform to give a voice to those being directly impacted by pandemic with his IG Live series “6 Feet Apart.” These conversations have since morphed into his popular podcast with iHeartRadio called “Essential Voices with Wilmer Valderrama.” Produced by WV Entertainment and Clamor, each episode is broken up into two parts - first an intimate conversation with a frontline worker and then a roundtable with activists, thought leaders, and celebrities discussing what each of us can do to help.
Behind the camera, Valderrama recently partnered with John Pollack to launch Allied Management Group, which focuses on partnering with, collaborating, and representing new and existing Latino voices across traditional and digital media. It was also recently announced that he expanded his role with the My Cultura Podcast Network from iHeartMedia by becoming a shareholder. Valderrama is also helping curate the network’s slate of Latinx-focused podcasts and has committed to 5 new shows that will be executive produced by and/or star him, including ‘Date My Abuelita, First!’ which debuted on July 27th, 2023. Additionally, he created and produced the MTV series Yo Momma, serving as the host for all three seasons. He and his production company, WV Entertainment, along with CBS TV Studios have multiple projects in development including the family comedy Mexican Beverly Hills about a working-class Mexican-American family that moves to the wealthy and heavily Latinx city of Downey, and the WWII drama Patriots based on the book by Dave Gutierrez. The team is also working on Riding the Lightning: A Year in the Life of a New York City Paramedic, based on Anthony Almojera’s memoir, which follows a veteran team of EMS workers in New York. Moreover, WV Entertainment, in conjunction with TPlus will produce Keep This To Yourself, an adaptation of Tom Ryan’s YA thriller taking place the year after the notorious Catalog Killer murdered four victims before disappearing.
Valderrama is active in several philanthropic agencies. Along with America Ferrara and Ryan Piers William, he co-founded HARNESS, a group dedicated to connecting communities through conversation to inspire action and power change. In addition, Valderrama serves on the board of Voto Latino and is co-chair of their artist coalition as well as the spokesperson for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) and founder of their Ready 2 Lead program, which educates and empowers the Latino youth. Valderrama is also deeply involved with our military, serving as a USO Global Ambassador, traveling with the USO a multitude of times having participated in over 40 shows domestically and internationally. In 2013, Valderrama was honored with an ALMA Award for Outstanding Social Activism. In 2022 Valderrama received the Trailblazer Impact Award from the National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC). He most recently joined the NHMC’s inaugural alliance to promote progress for Latinos from Hollywood to Washington, D.C.
Born in Miami and raised in Venezuela from 3 to 13, Valderrama is fluent in Spanish and English. His family relocated to Los Angeles, where he currently resides.
Valderrama recently reprised his role as ‘Fez’ on Netflix’s That ‘90s Show and currently stars in the #1 TV drama NCIS on CBS, and it was recently announced that he is developing a live-action “Zorro” series at Disney Branded Television in which he will star and executive produce. The project both marks the return of Zorro to the Disney family as well as a lifelong dream for Valderrama to bring this iconic character to life. On the big screen, he most recently lent his voice to the hit Academy Award-winning Disney animated film Encanto, which topped the box office and has become a cultural phenomenon. Other accolades awarded to the film include the National Board of Review Award for “Best Animated Film,” BAFTA for “Best Animated Film,” NAACP Image Award for “Outstanding Animated Motion Picture” and Golden Globe for “Best Animated Feature Film” as well as three Academy Award nominations including “Best Animated Feature.” Other recent animation credits include Valderrama voicing Thurman Sanchez in the Netflix animated film Dog Gone Trouble, which he also executive produced, Gaxton in the Academy Award-nominated Disney film Onward, the first Latino Prince Charming in the animated film Charming for Netflix, and the main character of Disney's hugely popular animated children’s show Handy Manny, which introduced preschoolers to Spanish. Other past credits include appearances in the indie-drama Blast Beat, which premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival, Netflix’s The Ranch, ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy and Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino’s television series From Dusk Till Dawn.
In the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Valderrama was inspired to turn the spotlight on frontline workers after a grocery store encounter and used his platform to give a voice to those being directly impacted by pandemic with his IG Live series “6 Feet Apart.” These conversations have since morphed into his popular podcast with iHeartRadio called “Essential Voices with Wilmer Valderrama.” Produced by WV Entertainment and Clamor, each episode is broken up into two parts - first an intimate conversation with a frontline worker and then a roundtable with activists, thought leaders, and celebrities discussing what each of us can do to help.
Behind the camera, Valderrama recently partnered with John Pollack to launch Allied Management Group, which focuses on partnering with, collaborating, and representing new and existing Latino voices across traditional and digital media. It was also recently announced that he expanded his role with the My Cultura Podcast Network from iHeartMedia by becoming a shareholder. Valderrama is also helping curate the network’s slate of Latinx-focused podcasts and has committed to 5 new shows that will be executive produced by and/or star him, including ‘Date My Abuelita, First!’ which debuted on July 27th, 2023. Additionally, he created and produced the MTV series Yo Momma, serving as the host for all three seasons. He and his production company, WV Entertainment, along with CBS TV Studios have multiple projects in development including the family comedy Mexican Beverly Hills about a working-class Mexican-American family that moves to the wealthy and heavily Latinx city of Downey, and the WWII drama Patriots based on the book by Dave Gutierrez. The team is also working on Riding the Lightning: A Year in the Life of a New York City Paramedic, based on Anthony Almojera’s memoir, which follows a veteran team of EMS workers in New York. Moreover, WV Entertainment, in conjunction with TPlus will produce Keep This To Yourself, an adaptation of Tom Ryan’s YA thriller taking place the year after the notorious Catalog Killer murdered four victims before disappearing.
Valderrama is active in several philanthropic agencies. Along with America Ferrara and Ryan Piers William, he co-founded HARNESS, a group dedicated to connecting communities through conversation to inspire action and power change. In addition, Valderrama serves on the board of Voto Latino and is co-chair of their artist coalition as well as the spokesperson for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) and founder of their Ready 2 Lead program, which educates and empowers the Latino youth. Valderrama is also deeply involved with our military, serving as a USO Global Ambassador, traveling with the USO a multitude of times having participated in over 40 shows domestically and internationally. In 2013, Valderrama was honored with an ALMA Award for Outstanding Social Activism. In 2022 Valderrama received the Trailblazer Impact Award from the National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC). He most recently joined the NHMC’s inaugural alliance to promote progress for Latinos from Hollywood to Washington, D.C.
Born in Miami and raised in Venezuela from 3 to 13, Valderrama is fluent in Spanish and English. His family relocated to Los Angeles, where he currently resides.