Oscar Isaac Siblings: Get to Know Nicole and Michael Benjamin Hernandez
Actor Oscar Isaac PHOTO/WireImage
Óscar Isaac Hernández Estrada, born March 9, 1979, in Guatemala City, Guatemala, is a Guatemalan-American actor and singer.
Raised in Miami, Florida, after his family immigrated to the United States when he was five months old, Isaac grew up in a culturally rich household with a Guatemalan mother, María Eugenia Estrada Nicolle, and a Cuban father, Óscar Gonzalo Hernández-Cano, a pulmonologist.
His early life was marked by a passion for the arts, sparked by creating backyard plays with his siblings and later performing in punk and ska bands as a teenager.
Isaac’s rebellious streak led to his expulsion from Westminster Christian Middle School, but his creative drive found focus at Miami Dade College and the prestigious Juilliard School, where he honed his acting craft, graduating in 2005.
Siblings
Oscar has two siblings, an older sister, Nicole Hernandez Hammer, and a younger brother, Michael Benjamin Hernandez.
Nicole, born in Guatemala and four years old when the family relocated to the United States, is a climate scientist and activist.
She serves as a climate advocate for the Union of Concerned Scientists and has held roles such as the former deputy director of the Florida Center for
Michael, Oscar’s younger brother, is a journalist and actor who has also made notable contributions to the arts.
He has written for publications like the Miami New Times, where he shared personal reflections on growing up with Oscar in Miami, including their shared love for Nintendo games and music.
Michael’s creative talents extend to acting, and he notably served as Oscar’s double in the Marvel Cinematic Universe series Moon Knight (2022).
Career
Isaac’s career trajectory is a testament to his dedication and versatility.
His entry into professional acting began at the Area Stage Company in Miami Beach, where he performed in plays under the direction of John Rodaz.
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To avoid typecasting as a “Latino gangster,” Isaac adopted his stage name, dropping Hernández, as he noted the commonality of the surname in Miami.
Early roles included minor parts in films like All About the Benjamins (2002) and a guest appearance on Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001).
His first major role came as Joseph in The Nativity Story (2006), the first film to premiere at the Vatican.
Isaac gained critical acclaim for portraying José Ramos-Horta in the Australian film Balibo (2009), a performance that showcased his ability to tackle complex historical figures.
His breakthrough arrived with the Coen Brothers’ Inside Llewyn Davis (2013), where he played a struggling folk singer, earning a Golden Globe nomination for his soulful performance.
This role catapulted him into leading parts in films like A Most Violent Year (2014), Ex Machina (2015), and X-Men: Apocalypse (2016), where he portrayed the titular villain.
Isaac achieved global stardom as Poe Dameron in the Star Wars sequel trilogy (2015–2019), bringing charm and depth to the roguish pilot.
His filmography expanded with roles in Annihilation (2018), Dune (2021) as Duke Leto Atreides, and The Card Counter (2021).
On television, he starred in HBO’s Show Me a Hero (2015), Scenes from a Marriage (2021), and Moon Knight (2022), where his portrayal of a character with dissociative identity disorder was lauded for its emotional complexity.
Isaac’s venture into production with Operation Finale (2018) and his work with his production company, Mad Gene Media, co-founded with his wife, Elvira Lind.
Accolades
Isaac’s performances have garnered significant recognition, reflecting his status as one of Hollywood’s most respected actors.
For his role in Balibo (2009), he won the AACTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role, marking an early milestone in his career.
His lead performance in Inside Llewyn Davis (2013) earned him a Golden Globe nomination and multiple awards, including the Best Actor award from the National Society of Film Critics, the San Diego Film Critics Society, and the International Cinephile Society.
In 2015, Isaac won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Miniseries or Television Film for his portrayal of Nick Wasicsko in Show Me a Hero, a role that showcased his ability to convey nuanced political and personal struggles.
His work in A Most Violent Year and Ex Machina also received critical praise, with nominations from various critics’ circles. In 2016, Time magazine included him on its list of the 100 most influential people in the world, recognizing his cultural impact.
Isaac’s performance in The Card Counter (2021) was described by IndieWire as a career-best, and his role in Moon Knight earned him a Primetime Emmy Award nomination, underscoring his ability to excel in both film and television.