Jesse Santoyo is a Mexican American actor, writer, filmmaker, and singer-songwriter from Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood. The son of Mexican immigrants who came to the United States in pursuit of a better future, Santoyo credits his upbringing for instilling the work ethic, resilience, and passion for storytelling that continue to shape his career.
His love of film began early, fueled by weekend movie marathons, school plays, and community theater productions at his local church. While attending college, Santoyo began responding to newspaper casting calls, eventually landing background roles in studio features including The Break-Up and The Lake House. Those early experiences on professional film sets solidified his commitment to a career in entertainment.
Since then, Santoyo has built a diverse body of work spanning independent film, television, commercials, and studio productions. Throughout his career, he has remained committed to expanding the range of Latino characters represented on screen, pushing beyond the stereotypical roles that have too often limited Latino actors to gang members, cartel figures, or inmates. His work reflects a desire to bring greater depth, humanity, and complexity to the characters he portrays.
Santoyo’s credits include Cobra Kai, The Naked Gun, Dynasty, Sketch, It’s Not Like That, and a recent FIFA World Cup campaign for Telemundo. His work as an actor is complemented by his experience as a writer, filmmaker, and singer-songwriter, giving him a multifaceted perspective on storytelling and the creative process.
With roots firmly grounded in his Chicago upbringing and a career driven by perseverance and a love of the craft, Santoyo continues to pursue roles and projects that challenge expectations and create opportunities for more authentic and dimensional Latino representation on screen.
Representation:
Carla Hough — BOLD Talent
Rafael Villegas — The Kim Dawson Agency
Kathleen Deters — KD Talent Management