From playing trumpet alongside Dizzy Gillespie to performing opposite Patrick Stewart in the Public Theatre's Shakespeare in the Park production of The Tempest directed by George C. Wolfe - Kamar de los Reyes has crafted a musical and acting career as rich and complex as the syncopated rhythms of his Latin roots.A native of San Juan, Puerto Ri...
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From playing trumpet alongside Dizzy Gillespie to performing opposite Patrick Stewart in the Public Theatre's Shakespeare in the Park production of The Tempest directed by George C. Wolfe - Kamar de los Reyes has crafted a musical and acting career as rich and complex as the syncopated rhythms of his Latin roots.A native of San Juan, Puerto Rico, Kamar de los Reyes moved to Las Vegas at the age of two and had a childhood filled with music. Kamar's father, a Cuban drummer and percussionist, would see two of his three sons become professional musicians, one a world renowned drummer, the other a world renowned percussionist. Kamar, the youngest of the brood, began playing the trumpet at the age of four and although he played alongside trumpet greats like Harry James, Doc Severinsen, and Dizzy Gillespie, Kamar chose to go another route.Putting trumpet aside while in high school, he rediscovered the arts as a singer and dancer in a pop/jazz ensemble called Harmony Express. During his senior year, a stage role as El Gallo in The Fantastiks marked his acting debut. Throughout this same period, he studied dance at Backstage Dance Studio and performed with small musical combos. During a trip to Los Angeles to visit his brother Daniel, who was playing percussion for the Cher music video We All Sleep Alone, Kamar landed a dancing role and subsequently went on to work with Kenny Ortega in the feature "Salsa"(1998)_ and the television series "Dirty Dancing"(1988)_. Later in 2001, Kamar would work again with Kenny Ortega in the VH-1 movie "The Way She Moves"(2001)_ only this time he would work as the lead actor.In 1989, Kamar began to focus on his acting career. Kamar finally rose to critical attention in 1994 for his portrayal of gay Irish-Mexican boxer Pedro Quinn in the Public Theatre's production of Blade to the Heat. The Associated Press praised Kamar's mesmerizing performance and a New York Times review noted the most arresting figure [in the cast] is Mr. de los Reyes.Kamar has steadily performed alongside a virtual who's who in television, movies, stage, and music for over two decades including projects such as "E.R.", "One Life to Live" (1968)_, "Pretty Little Liars" (2010)_, "Blue Bloods" (2010)_, and "The Mentalist" (2008)_. He would star in made for television movies "The Way She Moves"(2001)_, "Undefeated"(2003)_ directed by John Leguizamoand the feature film "Salt"(2010)_, starring Angelina Jolie. Kamar is also known as the voice and face of Raul Menendez in the most popular video game franchise in video game history "Call of Duty:Black Ops II" (2010)_. Kamar has been awarded the 2008 ALMA Award for Outstanding Performance in a Daytime Drama. The American Latino Media Arts Award is a distinction awarded to Latino performers who promote positive portrayals of Latinos in the entertainment field. Kamar was also chosen as one of PEOPLE Magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People alongside Tom Cruise and Derek Jeter and PEOPLE En Espanol's 25 Sexiest Bachelors alongside Enrique Iglesias and Wilmer Valderrama.
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