Eugenio González Derbez (; born September 2, 1961) is a Mexican actor and comedian. He has appeared in many films and television series, including ''
The Book of Life'', ''
The Angry Birds Movie 2
''The Angry Birds Movie 2'' is a 2019 animated comedy film based on the ''Angry Birds'' video game series. It is the second installment in the Angry Birds film series, and was directed by Thurop Van Orman from a screenplay by Peter Ackerman, ...
'', and ''
CODA''.
In the 2010s, he appeared in many American films and television series, such as ''
Jack and Jill'', ''
Girl in Progress'', ''
Rob!'', and ''
Miracles from Heaven''. Derbez provided the Spanish dubs for many characters in the Spanish versions of American films, including ''
Dr. Dolittle'', ''
Mulan
Hua Mulan () is a legendary Chinese folk heroine from the Northern and Southern dynasties era (4th to 6th century Common Era, CE) of Chinese history. Scholar, Scholars generally consider Mulan to be a fictional character. Hua Mulan is depicte ...
'', ''
102 Dalmatians
''102 Dalmatians'' is a 2000 American crime comedy film produced by Walt Disney Pictures and distributed by Buena Vista Pictures Distribution. Directed by Kevin Lima from a screenplay by Kristen Buckley, Brian Regan, Bob Tzudiker and N ...
'', and the ''
Shrek
''Shrek'' is a 2001 American animated fantasy comedy film directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson, and written by Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio, Joe Stillman, and Roger S. H. Schulman, loosely based on the 1990 children's picture boo ...
'' franchise.
Early life
Derbez was born and raised in
Mexico City
Mexico City is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Mexico, largest city of Mexico, as well as the List of North American cities by population, most populous city in North America. It is one of the most important cultural and finan ...
and expressed interest in acting at an early age, landing his first roles as extras in soap operas at age 12. He made his directing debut in 1997 with a Mexican soap opera named .
Career
1980s
During the early 1980s, Derbez was a regular in , a Mexican television show. He also participated in , a children's television show.
In 1988, he got his first recurring television position when he played a number of roles in a comedy show called .
1990s
Derbez kept making movies during the 1990s. In 1992 he began hosting the variety show .
In 1997, Derbez made his directing debut in a soap opera named . In 1999 Derbez started a comedy show, . Derbez appeared in in 2000. He also starred that year in } ('Accomplices to the Rescue'). In 2003 he produced a television series named ''
XHDRBZ''. He later produced ('Countrymen Hospital'), ('Neighbors'), and in 2009 . He was the leading man in .
Derbez is one of the few Mexican actors to have achieved international acclaim, earning international award recognition as well as starring in commercial American films.
Derbez has appeared in a number of successful and critically acclaimed films including , which won the Grand Jury Prize at
Sundance in 2007 and his first non-comedy film, the indie smash hit (released as ''
Under the Same Moon'' in English) directed by
Patricia Riggen
Patricia Riggen (born June 2, 1970) is a Mexican film director.
She is best known for directing the 2007 film '' Under the Same Moon,'' the 2011 Disney Channel original film '' Lemonade Mouth,'' and the 2025 Amazon Prime action thriller film ...
, with
Adrián Alonso and
Kate del Castillo.
2000s
In 2002, Derbez and
Florinda Meza co-created a sitcom named ''
XHDRBZ'', which marked his debut as a producer. Also in 2002, Derbez co-created, co-directed, and starred in the family sitcom , which gained Derbez further recognition amongst the Mexican and Latin community.
2010s
In 2011, Derbez starred in Adam Sandler's ''
Jack and Jill'' as Felipe starring with
Adam Sandler
Adam Richard Sandler (born September 9, 1966) is an American actor, comedian, producer and screenwriter. Primarily a comedic leading actor in films, List of awards and nominations received by Adam Sandler, his accolades include an Independent Sp ...
,
Katie Holmes
Kate Noelle Holmes (born December 18, 1978) is an American actress. She first achieved fame as Joey Potter on the television series ''Dawson's Creek'' (1998–2003).
Holmes made her film debut with a supporting role in Ang Lee's '' The Ice Sto ...
and
Al Pacino; he also starred in ''
Girl In Progress'', with
Eva Mendes, also directed by
Patricia Riggen
Patricia Riggen (born June 2, 1970) is a Mexican film director.
She is best known for directing the 2007 film '' Under the Same Moon,'' the 2011 Disney Channel original film '' Lemonade Mouth,'' and the 2025 Amazon Prime action thriller film ...
. Eugenio also starred in the CBS sitcom ''
Rob!'' and on Broadway in ''
Latinologues'' at the Helen Hayes Theater.
Derbez starred in Sony's ''
Miracles from Heaven'', with
Jennifer Garner (directed by Patricia Riggen), and he voiced the role of Rico in the animated feature ''
Underdogs'', directed by Juan J. Campanella.
In 2013, Derbez starred in and directed ''
Instructions Not Included'' the most successful Spanish-language film in the U.S. and worldwide, which broke numerous box office records, earning over $100 million. The Spanish-language comedy-drama became a surprise $44 million hit in the U.S., and the third highest-grossing film ($46 million) of the year in Mexico (only ''Despicable Me'' and ''Iron Man'' sequels did better).
In 2016, Derbez wrapped production on the Lionsgate/Pantelion feature ''
How to Be a Latin Lover'' in which he starred with
Salma Hayek
Salma Valgarma Hayek Pinault ( , ; ; born September 2, 1966) is a Mexican and American actress and film producer. She began her career in Mexico with starring roles in the telenovela ''Teresa (1989 TV series), Teresa'' (1989–1991) as well a ...
,
Rob Lowe,
Kristen Bell
Kristen Anne Bell (born July 18, 1980) is an American actress, comedian, screenwriter, and producer. List of Kristen Bell performances, Her work includes both film and television, and List of awards and nominations received by Kristen Bell, h ...
,
Raquel Welch,
Rob Riggle,
Linda Lavin and
Rob Huebel. It was written by Chris Spain and Jon Zack and directed by
Ken Marino. The film, produced by Derbez and his producing partner Ben Odell, was released in the U.S. on April 28, 2017, and May 5, 2017, in Mexico.
2020s
Derbez is a partner of 3pas Studios with producer
Ben Odell.
In 2021, via 3Pas Studios, he inked a first look deal with
Univision
Univision () is an American Spanish-language terrestrial television, free-to-air television network owned by TelevisaUnivision. It is the United States' largest provider of Spanish-language content. The network's programming is aimed at the L ...
, and he and Odell were
executive producer
Executive producer (EP) is one of the top positions in the production of media. Depending on the medium, the executive producer may be concerned with management accounting or associated with legal issues (like copyrights or royalties). In film ...
s on behalf of 3Pas Studios of the 2021 television series ''
Acapulco
Acapulco de Juárez (), commonly called Acapulco ( , ; ), is a city and Port of Acapulco, major seaport in the Political divisions of Mexico, state of Guerrero on the Pacific Coast of Mexico, south of Mexico City. Located on a deep, semicirc ...
'', which stars Derbez.
[ He appeared in the ]Academy Award
The Academy Awards, commonly known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit in film. They are presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in the United States in recognition of excellence ...
-winning Apple TV+
Apple TV+ is an American subscription over-the-top streaming service owned by Apple. The service launched on November 1, 2019, and it offers a selection of original production film and television series called Apple Originals. The service w ...
film '' CODA'', which won him, along with the rest of the cast, the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. In 2022 he started as the main character in the movie The Valet as Antonio Flores and will be participating in the movie based in the International best selling book Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of The Universe.
Public image
Eugenio Derbez is one of Mexico's more successful comedic actors and directors. He was recognized by ''Variety'' in 2014 as the #1 most influential Latin American male in the world. On March 10, 2016, Derbez unveiled his star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame. The ceremony was attended by thousands of fans.
In 2014, following the success of ''Instructions Not Included'', Derbez partnered with former Pantelion President of Production Benjamin Odell to create 3Pas Studios, his film production company in Los Angeles.
Personal life
Derbez was born in Mexico City
Mexico City is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Mexico, largest city of Mexico, as well as the List of North American cities by population, most populous city in North America. It is one of the most important cultural and finan ...
, the son of actress Silvia Derbez and publicist Eugenio González Salas. Eugenio resides in Los Angeles with his family. Derbez is married to Alessandra Rosaldo, actress, model, and former Sentidos Opuestos singer. He is father to Mexican comedic actress Aislinn Derbez (her mother is Gabriela Michel), Mexican actor and singer Vadhir Derbez (his mother is Silvana Prince), Mexican actor José Eduardo Derbez (his mother is actress Victoria Ruffo) and Aitana Derbez (her mother is Alessandra Rosaldo). He has a bulldog named Fiona.
Filmography
Films
Television
References
External links
Eugenio Derbez bio
(in Spanish)
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Derbez, Eugenio
1961 births
Eugenio
Eugenio is an Italian and Spanish masculine given name deriving from the Greek language, Greek 'wiktionary:Eugene, Eugene'. The name is Eugénio in Portuguese and Eugênio in Brazilian Portuguese.
The name's translated literal meaning is well born ...
Mexican male film actors
Mexican male comedians
Mexican male television actors
Mexican television producers
Living people
Male actors from Mexico City
Comedians from Mexico City
20th-century Mexican male actors
20th-century American male actors
21st-century Mexican male actors
21st-century American male actors
Mexican people of French descent
Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Screen Actors Guild Award winners