Laz Alonso

Born and raised in Washington D.C., Laz Alonso, whose parents were Cuban immigrants, pursued higher education at Howard University. He graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, specializing in Marketing. Following his graduation, Alonso began his professional career working as an investment banker at Merrill Lynch on Wall Street. His interest in acting led him to simultaneously pursue off-Broadway theater in New York, which provided him with foundational training for his later roles.

Alonso’s career trajectory shifted towards entertainment as he gained early recognition in commercials and music videos. A notable early achievement was his participation in Budweiser’s iconic “Wassup” ad campaign, which debuted during the Super Bowl in 1999 and earned him an Emmy Award. This exposure led to hosting television shows such as A.M. @BET and NYLA, further establishing his presence in the entertainment industry. He steadily built his filmography with roles in films like “Jarhead” (2005) and “Stomp the Yard” (2007), showcasing his versatility.

His career achieved significant milestones with lead roles in major productions. In 2009, he played Fenix Calderon, the main antagonist in “Fast & Furious,” and later that year, he portrayed the Na’vi warrior Tsu’Tey in James Cameron’s highly successful film “Avatar.” These roles cemented his status as a leading actor in Hollywood. Alonso has continued to take on prominent roles in television, including “The Mysteries of Laura” (2014-2016) as Detective Billy Soto and, more recently, as Marvin T. “Mother’s Milk” Milk in the critically acclaimed Amazon Prime series “The Boys” (2019-present). He also served as an executive producer for films such as “Detained” (2024) and “Down for Life” (2009), demonstrating his involvement behind the camera.