Wilson Cruz, whose heritage is Puerto Rican, was born in New York City, the eldest of three brothers. Early on, his parents encouraged his interest in the theater. At age seven, Wilson began appearing in plays, among them "Cradle of Fire," "Supporting Cast," "Becoming Memories," and "The Roar of the Greasepaint...," as well as in a number of Shakespearean productions on both coasts. Blessed with a beautiful singing voice, Wilson also performed across the country with Young Americans, and has been featured in shows seen at Disneyland, Walt Disney World, and Sea World/Orlando.

When the young actor was 10, he moves with his family to San Bernadino, California, where he grew up. A graduate of Eisenhower High School, he attended California State University at San Bernadino, where he was pursuing a double major in theater and English before he joined the cast of "My So-Called Life." He plans on returning to college eventually. In the meantime, his acting career continues to flourish. He made his television debut in 1991 on the series, "Great Scott!," in the recurring role of Jonathan, an obnoxious choirboy. The role of Rickie Vasquez is his first as a series regular.

In his rare free time, Wilson finds relaxation in playing the saxophone. He likes to collect vintage black-and-white photos of actors, and admires the work of Tom Hanks and Robert De Niro. Does the handsome young actor think of himself as an Hispanic role model? "I don't know if I believe in role models," Wilson reflects. "We're all so different; we're all individuals. In the long run, that's what matters."


Is of Puerto Rican ancestry. Filmed a Public Service Announcement to raise awareness for the issue of homelessness among gay teens in which he revealed that he was kicked out of his house as a teen when he told his family that he was gay. His character on "My So-Called Life" (1994) went through an almost-identical storyline.