Alec Mapa

Alec Mapa, born Alejandro Mapa on July 10, 1965, in San Francisco, California, is a Filipino-American actor, comedian, and writer. His professional career began on Broadway, where he secured his first major role as an understudy and eventual replacement for B.D. Wong in “M. Butterfly.” He later toured nationally with the production and returned to Broadway in 1992 for “A Little Hotel on the Side” and in 1993 for Shakespeare’s “Timon of Athens.” Off-Broadway, Mapa received a nomination at the 2001 Lucille Lortel Awards for his work in Jessica Hagedorn’s play “Dogeaters” and participated in Chay Yew’s “Whitelands” trilogy, which explored themes relevant to gay Asian men. These early theater experiences established his foundation in performance, setting the stage for his subsequent work in television and film.

Mapa transitioned into television with guest appearances on numerous programs including “The Jamie Foxx Show,” “Roseanne,” “Seinfeld,” “NYPD Blue,” “Friends,” and “Dharma & Greg.” He held recurring roles as Vern on “Desperate Housewives” (2004-2007), Adam Benet in the UPN comedy “Half & Half” (2002-2005), and Suzuki St. Pierre on “Ugly Betty” (2007-2010), a character known as the flamboyant host of a fictional gossip show. His film credits include “Bright Lights, Big City” (1988), “Playing by Heart” (1998), “Connie and Carla” (2004), “Marley & Me” (2008), and “You Don’t Mess with the Zohan” (2008), showcasing his versatility across comedic and dramatic roles.

Beyond acting, Mapa has also established himself as a writer and comedian. He wrote and performed the one-man play “I Remember Mapa,” detailing his experiences growing up gay in San Francisco. In 2013, his one-man show “Alec Mapa: Baby Daddy,” which documented his family life, was adapted into a concert film and premiered on Showtime in 2015. Mapa has also been a host for several television programs, including Logo’s reality dating show “Transamerican Love Story” (2008) and Animal Planet’s “Dancing with Dogs” (2008). He co-hosted Logo’s “The Gossip Queens” (2010) and the official “RuPaul’s Drag Race” podcast, “Squirrel Friends,” in collaboration with iHeartRadio. His consistent work in varied entertainment forms reflects a sustained career in the industry.