- Xolo Mariduena is a 22-year-old actor.
- He plays Miguel Diaz in Cobra Kai.
- He stars in the new Blue Beetle movie.
Xolo Maridueña is playing the superhero of the summer, Blue Beetle. The 22-year-old Cobra Kai actor is about to be introduced to the superhero fandom as the lead star of Blue Beetle. Xolo plays Jamie Reyes in the DC movie that comes out August 18. He has to contend with transforming into a superhero, all the while dealing with his wild Latino family.
So, who is Xolo Maridueña? Here is everything you need to know about the talented actor who has already made a name for himself in Hollywood.
Xolo is the first Latin lead in a superhero film
Xolo is making history with his role in Blue Beetle. He’s the first Latin actor to lead a live-action superhero film. Xolo is of Mexican, Cuban and Ecuadorian decent.
Xolo’s mom helped him prepare for Blue Beetle
Xolo’s mother, Carmelita, was a big comic book fan even before her son got cast in a DC movie, which proved helpful when he got the call. “I personally was not a huge comic book reader,” he told PEOPLE. “But my mother, who helped raise me and was reading me bedtime stories at night, definitely was reading comic books instead of, you know, Goodnight Moon.”
Xolo continued, “She was the type of kid who worked to buy records and comic books. So for that reason, of course, I knew who Blue Beetle was and had watched Young Justice and was familiar with the character.”
Xolo is best known from Cobra Kai
Xolo has played Miguel Diaz in Netflix’s Cobra Kai since the series began in 2018. Xolo’s character is similar to the original Karate Kid, Daniel, who was portrayed by Ralph Macchio. Miguel has trouble with bullies, is raised by a single mother, and learns karate to defend himself. Xolo will play Miguel for the last time in the sixth and final season of Cobra Kai.
Xolo was in Parenthood
Xolo played Victor Graham on Parenthood from 2012 to 2015. He’s also appeared on Twin Peaks, Major Crimes and Rush Hour over the years.
Xolo has a podcast
Xolo hosts the Lone Lobos podcast with his Cobra Kai co-star Jacob Bertrand. The description for the podcast on Spotify reads, “Unapologetically honest on-and-off-screen best friends Xolo Maridueña and Jacob Bertrand take you into their world each week on their new show Lone Lobos. The Cobra Kai duo will navigate adulthood through all things pop culture with topics ranging from movies and television, to food, music and relationships. They’ll also give their perspective on newsworthy headlines and events.”