Carlos Ponce (born September 4, 1972) is a Cuban-Puerto Rican actor, singer, composer and television personality. He began his acting career by participating in Spanish language soap operas for Televisa and Telemundo. This was followed by roles in various American television series. Ponce, who is also a singer, is also active in the American movie industry as a character actor.

Ponce (birth name: Carlos Ponce Freyre was born in Santurce, Puerto Rico. His parents, Carlos Ponce, Sr. and Esther Freyre, emigrated from Cuba after the Cuban Revolution led by Fidel Castro.

After his birth, the family moved to Humacao where Ponce was raised. As a child, he would actively participate in his school’s plays and at home he would often put on a show for the family where he would sing the latest tunes. “Carlitos”, as he is known in Puerto Rico, started to appear in television commercials at the age of six. He attended high school in Humacao and was a member of the school’s drama club.

In 1986, the Ponce family moved to Miami, Florida and Ponce continued to participate in his school’s productions. He was named the best student actor of the southern region of the United States.

In 1990, Ponce participated in the Southeastern Theatre Conference and competed for the chance to win a scholarship. He won and enrolled in the New World School of the Arts conservatory. However, the Spanish-language television station Univision offered Ponce the opportunity to host a show called Hablando (Talking). This was his first serious television debut and after his debut he gave up his university studies.

Acting career.

After the show came to its end, Ponce went to Mexico to visit a friend. While there he visited the Televisa television station. The talent director of the station met Ponce and offered Ponce his first role in a soap opera: Guadalupe, starring Adela Noriega and Eduardo Yáñez. He participated in another soap opera for Televisa, Sentimientos Ajenos, in which he played the main character. Ponce also sang the theme song for the production. He received the “Actor Revelation of 1997 Award” by Eres magazine and named “Best Actor” by TV y Novelas magazine (both are Mexican publications).

In between productions, Ponce returned to Miami and Univision hired him as the host of a new show, Control. He hosted the show for three years and won an “ACE Award”.

In 2003, Ponce joined Entertainment Tonight as a correspondent. He also hosted An Entertainment Tonight Event — Celebrity Weddings Unveiled, a CBS primetime special. Ponce hosted the 2006 Miss Universe pageant in Los Angeles, with Shandi Finnessey, Nancy O’Dell and Carson Kressley. In 2007, he starred in the Telemundo NBC Universal telenovela Dame Chocolate (Give Me Chocolate) alongside Génesis Rodríguez and Karla Monroig. Ponce also starred in Perro Amor in 2010 on the same network. In 2012, Ponce began hosting the hit Puerto Rican singing competition for kids on Wapa Television called Idol Kids Puerto Rico. In 2013, Ponce appeared on Telemundo’s Santa Diabla as Humberto Cano.

Filmography.

Film and Television roles
Year Title Role Notes and awards
1994 Guadalupe
1996 Sentimientos ajenos Renato
1998 Beverly Hills, 90210 Tom Savin
7th Heaven Carlos Rivera Season 3, Episode 10 “Here comes Santa Claus”
2001 Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp’s Adventure Voice (song: “Belle Notte (This is the Night)”)
Once and Again Giancarlo
Sin Pecado Concebido Adrián Martorel Ibáñez
2002 Protagonistas de la Música – USA Host
2003 Ángel de la Guarda, Mi Dulce Compañía Gustavo
Chasing Papi Himself
Karen Sisco Will
2004 Maya & Miguel Santiago Santos
Eve Joe
2005 Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo Rodrigo
Meet Me in Miami Luis
Complete Guide to Guys Steve
2006 7th Heaven Carlos Rivera (12 episodes, 1998–2006)
Just My Luck Antonio
Stranded Chief Inspector Raddimus
Vanished Raddimus
Break-In Inspector Raddimus
Dame Chocolate Bruce Remington Protagonist
Miss Universe 2006 Himself Host
2008 Lipstick Jungle Rodrigo Vega
2009 Couples Retreat Salvadore
2010 Perro Amor Antonio “El Perro” Brando Protagonist
2011 Single in South beach Robert
Dos Hogares Santiago Ballesteros Nominated — TVyNovelas Award for Best Musical Theme
Nominated — Premios Juventud for What a Hottie!
Rio Marcel (voice)
2012 Hollywood Heights Max Duran Co-Protagonist
Idol Kids Puerto Rico Himself (Host)
2013 Santa Diabla Humberto Cano Antagonist,
Won 2014 Premios Tu Mundo- La Pareja Perfecta w/ Gaby Espino and El Malo Mas Bueno
Free Birds Alejandro Voice
2014 The Pirate Fairy Bonito Voice
2014 Cristela Felix

Musical career.

In 1998, Emilio Estefan Jr. and Kike Santander signed Ponce to a record contract. His first album was entitled Carlos Ponce, and included three of his own compositions. The album reached the #1 spot in the Latin Billboards for nine weeks in the Hispanic community of the United States. It also reached the #1 spot in Central America and South America. He was Awarded a Double Platinum Award for the sales which his album generated.

On the Billboard Hot Latin Tracks Carlos Ponce reached the number-one spot three times with “Rezo” (I Pray), “Decir Adiós” (Say Good-Bye) and “Escúchame” (Listen to Me).

Discography.

2012: Me Llevas
2011: Rendirme En Tu Amor ft Anahi
2010: Perro Amor
2005: Celebrando 15 Años Con
2003: La Historia
2002: Ponce
1999: Todo Lo Que Soy
1998: Carlos Ponce

Billboard Hot Latin Tracks chart chronology.

Year Single Peak.
1998 “Rezo” 1
1998 “Decir Adiós” 1
1999 “Recuerdo” 31
1999 “Te Vas” 10
1999 “Escúchame” 1
1999 “Busco una Mujer” 26
2000 “La Razón de mi Ser” 18
2002 “Mujer con Pantalones” 15

Awards.

In 1999, Ponce received many awards, including:
“Best Pop Album” from Billboard magazine
“Artist Revelation” from Premios Lo Nuestro and
“Pop Ballad Revelation of the Year” from Premios Tu Musica de Puerto Rico.

American television.

During this period he also made his debut in American television with his participation in the TV series Beverly Hills, 90210 and 7th Heaven where he played the on-screen husband of Jessica Biel’s character Mary Camden. He also made guest appearances in Live with Regis and Kathie Lee and in Donny & Marie.

In 1999, Ponce recorded his second studio album, Todo lo que Soy (Everything that I Am). The World Athletic Games held in Seville, Spain adopted the song “Amelia” from Ponce’s second album as its official theme. That same year, he was contracted by the Walt Disney Studios to vocalize the song “Bella Notte” for the animated film, Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp’s Adventure. He also appeared in ABC’s drama series Once and Again.

After the tragedy of the September 11, 2001 attacks, Ponce joined a group of 100 Latin American singers, who united to pay tribute to the victims by recording “Ultimo Adios” (“Last Good-Bye”). The proceeds of the recording were donated to families of the victims. That same year Ponce participated in Televisa production, Sin Pecado Concebido, along with Mexican actress, Angélica Rivera. In 2002, he recorded his third studio album, Ponce; later that year he signed a contract with Telemundo to host a reality show called Protagonista de la Musica”, which became one of the most popular Hispanic programs in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

In 2006, Ponce participated in the controversial recording of the Spanish-language version of the The Star-Spangled Banner, called “Nuestro Himno”, alongside Wyclef Jean, Gloria Trevi and Olga Tañón. That same year Ponce also played a role in a Lifetime movie, Break-In. A Suspense Thriller, A nightmare honeymoon for newlyweds vacationing at a remote location in the Caribbean when intruders take them hostage in the middle of the night.

In May 2008, VH1 began a search for America’s “numero uno telenovela star” and will chronicle the journey to stardom in its newest original series, “¡Viva Hollywood!”. The “¡Viva Hollywood!” cast of aspiring Latino and Latina telenovela stars will move into the “Casa De Locos” where they must master the “7 Deadly Sins of Telenovelas”: passion, lust, charisma, drama, fire, seduction and scandal. The “sins” are disciplines each cast member must learn in order to capture the over-the-top style and flair of a true telenovela star and impress the celebrity judges: the award-winning actress and singer María Conchita Alonso and accomplished actor singer/song-writer Carlos Ponce. International celebrity astrologer and Latino legend, Walter Mercado, will appear in each episode to give the contestants guidance on their journey and alert the cast of their upcoming challenges. Daisy Fuentes, Angélica Vale, Charo, Cristián de la Fuente, Lorena Rojas, María Celeste Arrarás and Perez Hilton have signed on as celebrity guest judges that will assist in determining who gets to stay and who will need to go. Each week contestants up for elimination discover their fate by watching their own over the top telenovela death scenes. Ponce started in the second season of Lipstick Jungle, where he played a character called “Rodrigo”. He has noted that he selected the program because it could “benefit” his career.

Personal life.

Ponce married his high school sweetheart, photographer Veronica Rubio (who is also the sister of current U.S. Senator Marco Rubio). They resided in Miami, Florida with their four children, Giancarlo (born 1999), Sebastián (born 2001), and twins Savannah and Sienna (born 2002). In 2010, the couple divorced. Since 2010, his girlfriend is the Colombian actress Ximena Duque.

Filmography.

In 2003, Ponce played himself in the movie Chasing Papi alongside fellow Puerto Ricans Roselyn Sánchez, Lisa Vidal, Walter Mercado, Colombian actress Sofía Vergara, and Latin pop singer Jaci Velásquez. After this experience, he left for New Zealand, where he participated in the independent film Meet Me in Miami.

In 2005, Ponce briefly appeared in the movie Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo. In 2006, Ponce lent his voice to the controversial recording of the Spanish-language version of the “The Star-Spangled Banner”, entitled “Nuestro Himno”, alongside Wyclef Jean, Gloria Trevi and Olga Tañón.

He hosted the Miss Universe 2006 pageant in Los Angeles, along with Shandi Finnessey, Nancy O’Dell and Carson Kressley. He also appears in the movie Just My Luck, with Lindsay Lohan, Chris Pine and McFly.
Ponce was cast as Salvadore, a sexy yoga instructor, in the 2009 comedy Couples Retreat.

Agencies/Various/Wiki/InternetPhotos/youtube/thecubanhistory.com
The Cuban History, Hollywood.
Arnoldo Varona, Editor.

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