Hector Luis Bustamante was born in Medellin, Colombia, and his family relocated to the United States when he was just 12 years old. This pivotal moment in his life would later influence his pursuit of a career in the arts.
As a young boy, Bustamante discovered his passion for acting through school plays, but his dreams were initially crushed when he was told that his accent would never allow him to become a professional actor. Undeterred, he decided to put his acting aspirations on hold and instead honed his artistic talents over the next several years.
In 1995, Bustamante enrolled in the prestigious Parsons School of Design in New York to study graphic design, yet his desire to act never fully dissipated. It was during his daily commute home from work that he stumbled upon the set of the popular TV series "Nash Bridges" and was inspired by the lead actor's Latino heritage and accent. This chance encounter cemented his return to acting.
Fast forward to 1999, Bustamante made the bold decision to enroll in acting classes at the Shelton's Actors' Studio in San Francisco, where he had the privilege of studying under the guidance of renowned acting coach and mentor Jean Shelton.
In 2002, Bustamante landed his first major television role, appearing on the CBS drama series "The Agency," where he played the head of the Colombian police. Two years later, he broke onto the movie scene, starring alongside Bruce Willis as one of his police officers in the film "Hostage" for Miramax.
