Raúl Castillo Jr., born on August 30, 1977, in McAllen, Texas, is an American actor and playwright of Mexican descent.
Raised in a bicultural environment along the Texas-Mexico border, Castillo grew up in a predominantly Mexican-American community, which deeply influenced his identity and artistic perspective.
His parents, Raúl H. Castillo Sr. and Adela “Adelita” Rodríguez de Castillo, emigrated from Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico, to McAllen, where they raised Raúl and his siblings.
Castillo’s early exposure to both American and Mexican cultures shaped his worldview, often reflected in his work, which explores themes of identity, masculinity, and cultural duality.
He pursued theater at Boston University’s College of Fine Arts, focusing on playwriting while continuing to act, and later moved to New York City to join the LAByrinth Theater Company.
Siblings
Raúl grew up with his older brother, Tony Castillo.
Tony, a musician who played guitar, significantly influenced Raúl’s early interest in the arts.
As a child, Raúl was inspired by watching Tony perform as the Tin Woodman in a school production of The Wizard of Oz, sparking his own passion for acting.
Career
Castillo’s career began in the theater, ignited by his high school involvement in McAllen High School’s drama department, where he performed in plays like The Secret Affairs of Mildred Wild and I Remember Mama.
His early passion for music also saw him playing bass guitar in an underground punk-rock band called IPM alongside friends, including future Mutemath bassist Roy Mitchell-Cárdenas.
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After graduating from Boston University, Castillo debuted on stage in 2000 with Santos & Santos at the Nushank Theater Collective in Austin.
Moving to New York, he joined the LAByrinth Theater Company, performing in productions like José Rivera’s School of the Americas (2006) and Flowers (2008), where his portrayal of Beto earned critical praise.
His film career kicked off with the 2005 short Immaculate Perception, followed by his feature debut in Amexicano (2007).
Castillo gained wider recognition for his role as Richie Donado Ventura in HBO’s Looking (2014-2015) and its finale film, Looking: The Movie (2016), a performance that resonated deeply with audiences for its authentic portrayal of a gay Mexican-American character.
His filmography expanded with roles in indie films like Cold Weather (2010) and We the Animals (2018), as well as blockbusters such as Knives Out (2019) and Army of the Dead (2021).
Recent projects include Cassandro (2023) and Smile 2 (2024), where he collaborated with his wife, costume designer Alexis Forte.
As a playwright, Castillo’s works, including Border Stories and Between Me, You, and the Lampshade, have been associated with the LAByrinth and Atlantic Theater Companies, showcasing his ability to craft compelling narratives about the Mexican-American experience.
Accolades
In 2021, Castillo won the CinEuphoria Award for his performance in We the Animals, a film that also garnered him a nomination for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male, highlighting his ability to deliver emotionally resonant performances.
He was nominated for a Gotham Award in 2022 for his role in The Inspection, further cementing his reputation as a versatile actor capable of navigating complex characters.
His stage work, particularly with the LAByrinth Theater Company, has been praised, with his performance in Flowers (2008) described as one of the best of the production.
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