`Carlo Mendez’ Shocking Rise to Fame as Dexter’s New Villain`

Her sister is a prominent actress in Hollywood, primarily due to her successful acting career and long-lasting relationship with Ryan Gosling.

Currently, Carlo Mendez, Eva Mendes’ handsome younger brother, is making waves by securing a leading and spine-tingling part in the praised revival of Dexter titled “Original Sin.

In a captivating debut, Carlo, aged 46, stole the spotlight as the sinister villain Hector Estrada within the Michael C. Hall-led series.

In its initial appearance during Dexter’s original series, the character of Mendez strikingly made an impact when portrayed shirtless by Nestor Serrano, leaving viewers astonished.

Nestor Serrano first played Mendez without a shirt on in Dexter’s original broadcast, which left fans amazed and impressed.

In 1973, the imposing figure of Carlo, a powerful mob leader with a muscular physique, completed his routine swim of 100 laps before encountering Laura Moser, Dexter’s mother, for the very first time. (Brittany Allen played the role of Laura Moser)

In a more straightforward manner: The ominous depiction by Mendez has earned him praise, with spectators commenting: “Your acting and on-screen charisma were outstanding.

‘I love it, I’m your number one fan, ‘Keeeeeeep killing it!!! and ‘your acting was on point!’

Although Carlo gained a larger following due to his role on the Showtime series, he’s been a professional actor since his mid-thirties.

He hails from Los Angeles and grew up in Miami alongside his sister Eva and elder brother Juan Carlos. Sadly, Juan Carlos passed away due to throat cancer in 2016 at the age of 53.

Carlo learned acting from the well-known mentor, Ivana Chubbuck, who has previously coached stars such as Halle Berry, Sylvester Stallone, Brad Pitt, Charlize Theron, and his sibling Eva.

He has previously said: ‘Acting, acting and more acting. I know I was born to do this.

Engaging in acting gives me a sense of empowerment, mastery, self-assurance, a means for self-expression, but above all, it offers an enjoyable and entertaining experience.

His other screen credits include 90210, 911 and Parks and Recreation.

He had a recurring role on Emmy nominated show The Bay from 2013-2024 as Officer Benji Ramos. 

Though Eva retired from acting in 2014, Carlo is aiming to broaden his own career by taking on a more dramatic part in the series “Original Sin,” a shift from his previous comedic roles.

He is optimistic that his part in the Dexter universe, now recognized as Showtime’s most watched initial release with a staggering viewership of over 2.1 million worldwide across various platforms, may pave the way for additional intense roles.

He shared with the Boston Herald this month, “Since no one has witnessed me portray such a character before, I hope it opens up more roles for me. Typically, I play law enforcement characters, but in reality, I’m comedic. So for the first time as a dark character like this, I believe people will find it surprising.

Excitedly sharing the news with you all! I’ve landed a new role on @sho_dexter as Hector Estrada, a character unlike any I’ve portrayed before – a terrifying cartel boss who commands everything he desires. What makes it even more challenging is that I can’t swim, yet somehow I managed to pull it off. The series is fantastic, don’t miss out! Stay tuned for more updates.

Carlo emphasizes that he’s always avoided using his famous sister and last name for trading purposes, and he’s firmly committed to building his own success independently.

This field is extremely challenging with fierce competition. Persistence and effort are key. Many people aren’t aware that we share the same surname due to having a well-known sibling, unless by chance they discover it.

He mentioned that although he keeps a strong bond with Eva, they tend to avoid business discussions since he doesn’t want to seek any special advantages from her.

‘I’m just trying to do as much as I can on my own and prove myself as much as I can’, he said.

Pondering over the unique portrayal of the well-known Dexter character, Carlo commented: ‘This guy is definitely a ruthless killer. He’s meticulous in his actions. He’s fully aware of what he’s doing and what he desires – and he has a clear plan on how to obtain it.’

I tend not to pass judgment. Instead, I respect his desires and aspirations. He views himself as an entrepreneur rather than a wrongdoer, and his actions are always purely business-related, never personal.

Fans of the show Dexter perceived Carlo Estrada’s character as sealing Moser’s fate when they learned that she was a police informant and had an affair with the police officer, Harry Morgan, who would later become Dexter’s adoptive father.

In the Original Sin episode titled “Business and Pleasure,” the gruesome act committed by Estrada and his criminal associates – the brutal murder of Laura using a chainsaw, which they carried out right before Dexter and his brother Brian’s eyes – served as the catalyst that awakened Dexter’s darker instincts.

In a chilling turn of events, Estrada severed an informant’s limb using a chainsaw, as a terrified Moser watched, fully aware that she was the next target.

Currently, Carlo steps into the limelight for the first time as the leading actor in the upcoming thriller titled Demise. In this movie, he portrays Caleb Castillo, a married landscaper, embroiled in a scandalous situation with fashion icon Fiona Hernandez.

He has consistently stayed connected with Eva, posting a throwback photo from an event she organized three years ago, praising her as one of the hardest-working women in show business. He expressed his amazement at how quickly time passes, toasting to more positive moments amidst the ongoing chaos. Gratitude, humility, and ambition are his constant companions.

Additionally, Carlo attended the 2024 Screen Actors Guild Awards alongside his brother-in-law Ryan. At this event, Ryan, who played the role of Ken in the Barbie movie, received a nomination for Best Supporting Actor due to his amusing performance.

I had such a fantastic experience at the @sagawards that I forgot to snap a real photo because I was simply so astonished by everyone who attended. This was my first time, but definitely not my last. Keep working hard and never abandon your dreams. There’s nothing you can’t achieve if you believe in yourself.

In April 2024, he praised his sister and partner Gosling for being fantastic parents to their daughters Esmeralda (age 9) and Amada (age 7).

He mentioned that they engage in conversations with the girls quite a bit. The manner in which they pose their questions – I’ve witnessed it firsthand – is similar to asking things like “What’s your opinion on this?” or “What’s your take on that?”. Indeed, they are impressive.

Pondering about his personal family aspirations, Mendez admitted that raising children requires a great deal of effort, and for now, he prioritizes his professional life over starting a family.

He said: ‘If it happens, it happens. But I’m not looking forward to it right now.

Since Robert De Niro and Al Pacino became fathers at the age of 80, it shows there’s still plenty of time for me. First, I need to build a successful career, and then I can focus on starting a family.

New episodes of Dexter: Original Sin premiere every Friday on Paramount +.

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2025-02-08 19:07

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