Ramon Franco is a highly acclaimed character actor, recognized as one of the finest of his generation. He has made a significant impact in the industry, earning numerous accolades and nominations for his outstanding performances.
Ramon's early years were marked by a baptism by fire in the off-Broadway Theatre, where he worked alongside the Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre and Joseph Papp's Public Theatre in New York. His first screen appearance was in 1979's Boardwalk, where he played opposite the legendary Lee Strasberg at the age of 14.
Throughout his teenage years, Ramon divided his time between stage work, television production, and high school studies in the Bronx. He credits from that period include the critically praised stage productions of Runaways by Elizabeth Swados, The Sun Always Shines for the Cool by Miguel Pinero, and We're Fighting Back (1981),a TV movie about the New York Guardian Angels.
Ramon took a brief hiatus from acting to pursue a bachelor of arts degree at Bard College, but was enticed away by his agent with several firm work offers. He went on to appear in several notable productions, including Guiding Light, Hill Street Blues, Miami Vice, and the pilot for Stingray.
His performance in the Chelsea Theatre production of Wasted caught the attention of Clint Eastwood, who cast him in the role of Private Aponte in his film Heartbreak Ridge. This breakthrough role opened many doors for Ramon, leading to a successful career in film and television.
Ramon's notable roles include Private Alberto Ruiz in the CBS television series Tour of Duty, which ran for three seasons and earned him international recognition. He has also worked with many talented actors, including John Travolta, Scott Glenn, Gary Busey, Robert Beltran, and Robert Conrad.
Over the years, Ramon has appeared in nearly every popular TV show made, including dramas like House, The X-Files, Cold Case, Medium, and NYPD Blue, as well as comedies like Dead at 21, Bakersfield P.D., Seinfeld, and Eagleheart.
Ramon's most recent film work includes The Perfect Game, Resident Evil: Extinction, and The Company, for which he received great notices. He has also appeared in several notable TV shows, including Weeds, CSI: Miami, and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.
In 2014, Ramon received critical acclaim for his breakout performance as Fausto Galvan in the Peabody award-winning show The Bridge. He has also been recognized for his work in Quentin Tarantino's films, including Once upon a time in Hollywood.
Throughout his career, Ramon has been honored with several awards and nominations, including the Desi Arnaz Vanguard Award for being a strong role model and improving the image of Hispanics in the media arts.
