Manuel Garcia has garnered an irrefutable reputation in Hollywood and stayed calm during the silence that most foreign actors endure after their first big American gig. The boy from Guadalajara is the protagonist in a top-rated Netflix series.

The Tom Hanks movie, “A Man Called Otto,” was one of the 2022 movies that built up immense anticipation. The inspirational film is based on the 2012 novel, “A Man Named Ove,” and Hanks plays a 60-year-old man who’s constantly grumpy and pessimistic until a new family in his neighborhood changes his perspective.

Manuel Garcia-Rulfo stars in the film alongside Rachel Keller, Cameron Britton, Elle Chapman, and many more. He might come across as a familiar face to fans of Netflix’s “The Lincoln Lawyer,” where he stars alongside two actresses that have people questioning the state of Garcia-Rulfo’s love life.

Manuel Garcia-Rulfo at “A Man Called Otto” photocall at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles, CA on December 05, 2022. | Source: Getty Images

Who Is Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, and What Movies Has He Starred In?

Garcia-Rulfo was born on February 25, 1981, and grew up in a Guadalajara, Jalisco ranch. He hails from a prominent Mexican family with 31 cousins, and they were treated to Charles Chaplin and Mario Moreno films every weekend by their layperson director grandfather.

Growing up, Garcia-Rulfo had dreams of becoming a photographer for the photojournalism company National Geographic but discovered an enormous passion for filmmaking. He is a learned individual who acquired his education from Universidad del Valle de Atemajac and later at New York Film Academy.

The actor, whose interest evolved from filmmaking to acting, moved back to Mexico to jumpstart his career, shooting “La última y nos vamos” while attempting to steer clear of soap operas. Garcia-Rulfo then met “The West Wing” actor Richard Schiff who introduced him to the Hollywood agent that changed his life.

Manuel Garcia-Rulfo at the “Voyage Of Time: The IMAX Experience” premiere hosted at California Science Center in Los Angeles, CA, on September 28, 2016. | Source: Getty Images

The agent managed to provide him with an opportunity to be cast in his first big American film. Garcia-Rulfo succeeded, earning a role in “Bless ME, Ultima” as Uncle Pedro in 2016. Advised to relocate to Los Angeles by the agent, Garcia-Rulfo went on to star in “The Magnificent Seven,” “Windows,” and “6 Underground.”

A large number of the Mexican’s fans were intrigued by his chemistry with Neve Campbell on the Netflix series “The Lincoln Lawyer.”

Garcia-Rulfo landed a lead role in the 2022 Netflix adaptation of “The Lincoln Lawyer,” a 2011 movie based on the Michael Connelly novel series that starred Matthew McConaughey. The actor stars in the Netflix series as protagonist Mickey Haller, initially portrayed by McConaughey.

The character was initially ordained Mexican in the novel, making Garcia-Rulfo the preferred lead in the series. Author Connelly, who also executive-produced the Netflix series, discussed his approval of Garcia-Rulfo as the lead character, saying:

“Manuel brings a powerful dynamic and dimension to the role—one that aligns with the books and will give the show the opportunity to celebrate the Latinx heritage and roots of this Los Angeles-based story.”

Garcia-Rulfo has grown from his breakthrough role on “From Dusk Till Dawn,” which instigated his solid run after being jobless following “Bless Me, Ultima.” The actor has been part of the mainstream and contemporary film worlds and strongly appreciates the latter. He is still passionate about photography and uses his Instagram as an outlet.

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