Armando Riesco: What You Need To Know About The Puerto Rican Actor

Puerto Rico has produced some really great actors and actresses who have all contributed to making the entertainment industry what it is today. Among this distinguished sect is Armando Riesco – a Puerto Rican by birth who spent his growing up years in the Island of San Juan and achieved his higher academic qualifications in the United States of America. Armando’s career life started in the United States and today, he has made his mark in the world of showbiz with several productions to his credit. The gamut of his projects includes movies, television series, commercials, as well as video games.

Armando Riesco spent his childhood in Puerto Rico and San Juan

Armando Riesco is a child of the ’70s, born on the 5th of December 1977, and the records captured his place of birth as Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. A short while after his birth, the movie star’s parents moved house to another part of the island called San Juan, where he spent a greater part of his growing up years. There isn’t much to go by on the identity of his parents but from what we have, they were originally Cubans who migrated into Puerto Rico and settled there. There is equally no info about Armando’s siblings, thus, it is hard to know whether the actor is an only child or shared his childhood with others.

Growing up in San Juan, the movie star joined Colegio San Ignacio de Loyola for his basic academic qualifications. After graduation, Armando Riesco left for Illinois in the United States of America where he proceed to further his education. He joined the well-respected Northwestern University, Illinois, and graduated after some years, though his course of study was never mentioned, Armando left with a first degree. The actor made another move, this time, Armando chose New York City where he proceeded to create a niche for himself in the entertainment industry.

His acting career started with stage productions

A stage performance with Armando – image source

Following his graduation from the university, Armando Riesco moved to New York City in search of work. Within a short while, he began scoring roles in off-Broadway and local stage productions. In the long run, the youngster began earning on-screen roles in both commercials, television, and movies. He also made his mark in video games.

His on-screen roles began on TV in 1999 when the Puerto Rican hunk appeared on the set of Early Edition as Orderly. Riesco’s movie debut was made several years later in 2002 as part of the cast of 25th Hour, playing the role of Phelan.

While most of his roles were recorded in critically acclaimed independent movies like Pieces of April and Garden State, Armando also made appearances in major Hollywood movies like Oliver Stone’s World Trade Center, National Treasure, Fever Pitch, and of course his debut film 25th Hour.

The most popular of his television roles were in Royal Pains, Law & Order, 3 lbs., and Season 3 of Queen of the South, where he is currently breathing life into the character of Pecas.

From what is obvious, Armando Riesco is one guy who does not take himself too seriously. The movie and TV actor’s sense of humor is clearly evident in his social media accounts where he uploads funny photos of himself as he poses for shots as a model. Armando is also neck-deep in comedy skits – in collaboration with Frank Pando, a comedian, and fellow actor, he has released some very hilarious videos on YouTube.

Movies

• 25th Hour as Phelan – 2002
• Pieces of April as Tyrone – 2003
• Garden State as Jesse – 2004
• National Treasure as – 2004
• Fever Pitch as Gerad – 2005
• Harsh Times as Alex – 2005
• World Trade Center as Antonio Rodrigues – 2006
• Bella as Francisco- 2006
• National Treasure: Book of Secrets as FBI Agent Hendricks
• Che as Dariel Alarcón Ramirez / Benigno – 2008
• Brooklyn’s Finest as Detective George Montress – 2009
• The Tested as Julian Varone – 2009
• Putzel as Jake – 2012
• Adult World as Rubia – 2013
• 7E as Rich – 2013
• Diamond Cartel as Ruslan (voice) – 2017
• White Fang as Cutis (voice – 2018

Television roles

• Early Edition as Orderly 1999
• Law & Order: Criminal Intent as Scott Calderon – 2002
• Third Watch as ‘Pee-Wee’ – 2002
• Dora the Explorer as Daddy Monster (voice) – 2003
• The Path to 9/11 as John Atkinson – 2006
• 3 lbs. as Dr. Thomas Flores 2007
• Law & Order as Ruben Alvera – 2008
• Fring as Gavin – 2009
• Kings as Sean Savoy – 2009
• Law & Order as Gregory Cardenas 2009
• Royal Pains as Oscar – 2010
• Army Wives as Dan – 2010
• A Gifted Man as Tavo – 2013
• Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives as Bobby Lopez – 2013
• Blue Bloods as Raoul Delgado 2013
• Elementary as Jacob Esparza – 2013
• The Family as Corey Sanchez – 2016
• The Chi as Detective Cruz – 2018-2019
• Queen of the South as Pecas – 2019

Video games

• Grand Theft Auto: Vice City as Pierre La Ponce / Victor ‘Vic’ Vance (Credited as supplier) – 2002
• Midnight Club II as Hector – 2003
• Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas as Officer Hernandez / Pedestrian – 2004
• The Warriors as People of New York – 2005
• Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories as People of Vice City – 2006
• Midnight Club: Los Angeles as Jeff the Mechanic – 2008
• Grand Theft Auto IV as The Crowd of Liberty City – 2008
• Need for Speed: Undercover as Primary – 2008
• Grand Theft Auto: The Ballad of Gay Tony as Parking Attendant – 2009
• Need for Speed: World as unknown – 2010
• Just Cause 3 as Mario Friogo – 2015

What is Armando Riesco’s net worth?

For now, we are only working with a rough estimate of the actor’s net worth which puts it at $1.5 million. However, his exact earnings from the numerous projects he has taken part in have not been verified. Nonetheless, we can safely say that he earns enough to live in luxury, considering the number of films and TV shows he has under his belt. The actor has also diversified his career to include a portfolio as a voice artist, lending his voice to several video game characters and this venture translates to more money for him.

Read Also: Miguel Parra – All You Need To Know About The Spanish Filmmaker

Personal life of Armando Riesco with his wife, Shirley Rumierk

Armando and his wife Shirley image source

Riesco has been off the market for a while. The 25th Hour alum shed the cloak of bachelorhood to embrace matrimony when he exchanged marriage vows with his current partner. Though the details of Armando’s love life were not initially in the public space, it soon came to the fore that his wife is actress Shirley Rumierk. Going by reports, Rumierk is just as talented as her husband; her acting prowess is evident in the characters she portrayed in RISE and Manifest.

The couples union has birthed one child – a daughter whose name has never made it to the public arena, from what is obvious, Armando and his wife Rumierk are overly protective of their daughter’s privacy and you can hardly see any social media picture with her face showing. What you would normally get are shots with the back of the little girl’s head and we have seen some photos where the parents obstructed her face. Even with all the secrecy, it is easily seen that both Armando Riesco and Shirley Rumierk dote on their daughter.