Tim Perez was born in Fresno, California, as the middle child of five girls and two boys, in a close-knit Latino family. His athlete father was Associate Dean of Student Affairs at Fresno State University, and his mother earned her PhD at Stanford University, serving as a professor and chair of the Education Department at the University of North Carolina.
Growing up, hard work, upward mobility, and community activism were valued principles in the Perez household, which produced two lawyers, a doctor, and a scholar in Aztec literature. Tim's family instilled in him a strong work ethic, which would serve him well throughout his academic and professional pursuits.
As a student, Tim was a natural leader, serving as student body president in Jr. High and High School, and earning the title of most outstanding student. He was also an accomplished athlete, competing in Jr. Varsity Cross Country, High Hurdles, Low Hurdles, and Triple Jump, and lettering in Varsity Cross Country, Track and Field, and Basketball. Tim was the captain of his Varsity Basketball team and received the award for most outstanding Thespian in Drama, in addition to being nominated for the B'nai Brith Student Athlete award.
After a successful run in Jr. College basketball, Tim was accepted into the NYU Tisch School of the Arts at the age of 20, following an audition process that narrowed down the applicant pool to 18 candidates, with Tim being the sole Latino representative. He graduated with an MFA in Acting in 1986.
Tim's professional acting career began with a role in A Midsummer Night's Dream, directed by Tony-winning director A.J. Antoon, opposite Academy Award-winning actor F. Murray Abraham. He went on to work with legendary New York producer Joe Papp, appearing in eight Off-Broadway productions at the New York Public Theater, including Shakespeare in the Park and leading regional theaters.
Throughout his career, Tim has had the opportunity to work with some of the most talented individuals in the industry, including Academy Award-winning actors F. Murray Abraham, Morgan Freeman, and Helen Hunt, as well as Tony-winning directors Des McAnuff and A.J. Antoon. He has also collaborated with other leading figures in theater, including Artistic Directors Oskar Eustis, Garland Wright, Richard Hamburger, Carlos Gimenez, and Obie-winning directors JoAnne Akalaitis and David Greenspan.
Tim's work has been featured in various media outlets, including Spanish CNN, KTLA, and national print media, such as Espectaculos, Estylo, Daily Variety, Latin Style, and the New York Times. He has also written a full-length play, "El," about the infancy of the Cuban Revolution, as well as three screenplays.
With over 60 television and film credits to his name, Tim has had the opportunity to work on a wide range of projects, including starring opposite Academy Award nominee Jennifer Tilly in the Sundance Film Festival selection and Outfest Los Angeles, LGBT Film Festival Hall of Fame inductee, "Relax it's Just Sex."
Today, Tim lives in Canada with his wife, designer and fine artist Gail Taylor, and their son.
