David Del Rio to Star Opposite Kathy Bates in CBS’ Drama Pilot “Matlock”

Posted on March 8, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

David Del Rio is (Mat)locking in his next project…

The 35-year-old Latinx actor/director and former Baker and the Beauty star and Leah Lewis have been cast as series regulars opposite Kathy Bates and Skye P. Marshall in CBS’ drama pilot Matlock.

The project is a new take on the classic legal television drama starring Andy Griffith, which hails from Jane the Virgin creator Jennie Snyder Urman and NCIS: Los Angeles star Eric Christian Olsen.

In Matlock, written by Urman and to be directed by Kat Coiro, after achieving success in her younger years, the brilliant septuagenarian Madeline Matlock (Bates) rejoins the work force at a prestigious law firm where she uses her unassuming demeanor and wily tactics to win cases and expose corruption from within.

Del Rio plays Billy, a charismatic young associate a few years out of law school and assigned to work on one of the firm’s biggest cases. He helps Matty navigate her new work environment as he seemingly knows more than he should.

Lewis plays Sarah, a Junior Associate eager to get ahead and not worried about being liked. Sarah is all ambition, determined to be seen for her smarts and willing to do anything to move up a peg at the firm. She is not pleased when she’s forced to work alongside Matty, lowering her position at the company even further.

Bates executive produces alongside Sutton Street’s Urman and Joanna Klein, Coiro, as well as Cloud Nine’s Olsen and John Will.

Del Rio can be seen as a lead in the Hulu Original series, Maggie, opposite Rebecca Rittenhouse. His most recent credits include starring as Mateo in ABC’s Baker and the Beauty. He also replaced Lin-Manuel Miranda in his Tony winning role on Broadway as Sonny in In the Heights, and teamed up with Miranda to star in the Emmy nominated Grease: Live on Fox.

David Del Rio to Star in ABC’s Rom-Com Pilot “The Baker and the Beauty”

Posted on March 18, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

David Del Rio has landed a beautyof a role…

The 31-year-old Latino actor has been cast as a series regular opposite Victor Rasuk and Nathalie Kelley in The Baker and the Beauty, ABC’s hourlong romantic comedy from Keshet Studios, Universal Televisionand ABC Studios.

Written by Dean Georgarisand to be directed by David Frankel, the storyline follows the impossible Miami love story between a simple baker (Rasuk) and an international superstar, Noa Hollander (Kelley).

Del Rio will play Mateo Garcia, Daniel’s younger brother.

His recent credits include supporting roles in The Belko Experiment and Pitch Perfect, the role of Putzie in Grease Live! and a starring role in Sean McNamara’s Lionsgatefeature Spare Parts opposite George Lopez, Jamie Lee Curtisand Marisa Tomei.

PenaVega to Star Opposite Lucy Hale in CW’s Dramedy Pilot “Life Sentence”

Posted on March 14, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Carlos PenaVega has received a life setence…

The 27-year-old Spanish and Dominican American actor/singer will star as a series-regular opposite Lucy Hale in the CW’s dramedy pilot Life Sentence.

From Warner Bros. Television and Bill Lawrence’s studio-based Doozer Prods, the pilot was written by Significant Mother creators Erin Cardillo and Richard Keith.

Directed by Lee Toland Krieger, Life Sentence centers on Stella (Hale), a young woman diagnosed with terminal cancer. When she finds out that she’s not dying after all, she has to learn to live with the choices she made when she decided to “live like she was dying.”

PenaVega will play Darrius, Lucy’s brother-in-law. He’s the extremely positive and family-loving, pharmaceutical rep who Stella’s sister, Elizabeth, met during one of her hospital stays.

PenaVega, best known for starring on the Nickelodeon series Big Time Rush, most recently starred as Kenickie in Grease: Live.

He competed on the 21st season on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars, finishing in fourth place.

Pena Hand-Jives in First Promo for Fox’s “Grease: Live”

Posted on November 26, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Grease is the word for Carlos Pena, Jr.

Fox has released the first promo for the television adaptation of the 1978 film Grease, with a look at the 26-year-old Spanish, Venezuelan and Dominican American singer/actor and his Big Time Rush band member and other cast members of the live musical.

Along with Pena, who now goes by Carlos PenaVega, the video introduces Julianne Hough (Sandy), Aaron Tveit (Danny), Vanessa Hudgens (Rizzo) and their co-stars, as they all do the hand jive at Rydell High.

Additionally, viewers also get a first look at Carly Rae Jepsen as Frenchie, Keke Palmer as Pink Lady Marty Maraschino, Pena as Kenickie, David Del Rio as T-Bird “Putzie”, and Kether Donohue as Jan.

The Fox live TV production which has been titled Grease: Live, also stars Mario Lopez as Vince Fontaine, the emcee of a national dance competition. Jessie J, meanwhile, is set to open the show with a performance of Barry Gibb‘s “Grease (Is the Word)” from the classic film.

In this TV version, the beginning of senior year means the end of Danny and Sandy’s summer romance – until Sandy unexpectedly transfers to Danny’s high school. With their friends pulling them in different directions, it’s up to Danny and Sandy to stay hopelessly devoted to each other as they make their way from Rydell High to a new frontier.

Grease: Live will air Sunday, January 31, 2016 at 7:00 pm ET on Fox.

Lopez to Star in Fox’s Live Musical “Grease: Live”

Posted on October 22, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Grease is the word for Mario Lopez…

The 42-year-old Mexican American actor and television host has joined the ensemble cast of Grease: Live, set to air Sunday, January 31 on Fox.

Lopez will portray television teen dance show host Vince Fontaine, played by Edd Byrnes in the 1978 feature film.

In this live television adaptation of the musical classic, the beginning of senior year means the end of Danny (Aaron Tveit) and Sandy’s (Julianne Hough) summer romance – until Sandy unexpectedly transfers to Danny’s high school.

With their friends pulling them in different directions, it’s up to Danny and Sandy to stay hopelessly devoted as they make their way from Rydell High to a new frontier.

The former Saved by the Bell star hosts the Emmy-winning daily show Extra and Clear Channel radio’s On With Mario Lopez.

His other TV credits include a guest role on Nip/Tuck.

Del Rio Joins the Cast of Fox’s Upcoming Musical “Grease: Live”

Posted on October 1, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Grease is the word for David Del Rio…

The 28-year-old Latino actor has joined the cast of Fox’s upcoming musical Grease: Live.

Del Rio, who starred in the Broadway musical In the Heights, will portray T-Birds’ Putzie in the live event.

Del Rio joins the ensemble cast that includes Julianne Hough (Sandy), Aaron Tveit (Danny), Vanessa Hudgens (Rizzo), Carlos PenaVega (Kenickie), Keke Palmer (Marty), Carly Rae Jepsen (Frenchy) and Kether Donohue (Jan).

Meanwhile singer, Jessie J, will open the live event with a new version of “Grease (Is the Word).” The Bee Gees’ Barry Gibb wrote the song, which originally was performed by Frankie Valli in the animated opening title sequence of the movie and went on top the pop charts.

Also joining the creative team is Glee and Annie choreographer Zach Woodlee. His credits also include the 100th episode of How I Met Your Mother and 2008’s MTV Movie Awards, as well as the films Eat Pray Love, Hairspray, 27 Dresses and 17 Again.

Thomas Kail and Alex Rudzinski are directing the production, which Fox airs on Sunday, January 31 — live in the East and delayed in the West.

Del Rio’s other credits include Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, The Troop, Pitch Perfect and Spare Parts.

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