Sonny Valens The Latino Actor Making His Dream Come Alive

Valens auditioned and beat out thousands of Hispanic actors to score the main role in one of two-time Oscar winner Hilary Swank's feature films. End Quote

Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA (1888PressRelease) September 11, 2010 - Sonny Valens an upcoming inspiring actor who is most remembered in Paramount Pictures "Freedom Writers" where he auditioned and beat out thousands of Hispanic actors to score the main role in one of two-time Oscar winner Hilary Swank's feature film "Freedom Writers". Working alongside industry notables such as Grey's Anatomy's Patrick Dempsey, recording artist Mario, and Imelda Staunton afforded Valens to learn a great deal on the set while working alongside these amazing talented actors, reinforcing his desires to become a successful working actor.

Born in Upland California, Sonny Valens rose from the poverty-filled warzone into a young man imbued with hardened dreams and aspirations for the better. At the age of 13, he decided he wanted to become a wrestling superstar like his heroes on TV. He was a small framed kid when he entered The School of Hard Knocks in San Bernardino California. The owners of the school, legendary WWE wrestlers Bill Anderson and Jesse Hernandez, trained him on a weekly basis as he dedicated his life to the sport. Eventually, he spent about 10 years traveling to places such as Japan, Korea, and Guam, wrestling with the likes of WWE superstars such as Honky Tonk Man, Iron Sheik, and the One Man Gang. Other mentors who took him under their wings throughout the years included Mondo Guerrero the brother of the late Eddie Guerrero of the world famous Guerrero family.

By 2000, Valens felt in his heart he was ready for a change to try something new. Through a series of fortunate events, his trainer Jesse Hernandez helped get him cast in a direct-to-video called "Backyard Dogs". The casting director chose Valens as one of the lead wrestlers, Psycho Dave, which led to solid screen time. After this amazing experience, he was inspired to turn his pursuits towards the career path of acting.

As 2008 rolled inwards, Valens scored the role of George in an episode of "America's Most Wanted". In the same year, he personally read for Kevin Bacon in his directorial effort for TNT's "The Closer" and was booked for the episode. Furthermore, numerous auditions for FX's "The Shield" throughout the course of the year for various roles, the casting director hired him for one of the last episodes of the final season, in the role of Flaco, a hardened gangster that robs Walton Goggins, who plays Michael Chiklis' partner in the series.

In the summer of 2009, Valens was booked on two big NBC shows, "TNT Southland" and "Trauma". On "Southland", he played Hando Ruiz, a main henchman devoutly loyal to his female gang leader. His role on "Trauma" is his biggest to date, as he portrays Popeye Vasquez, a madman guilty on accounts of rape and shooting innocent people. His performance is a tour de force that displays his stunt skills and versatile dramatic range.

Valens is currently represented by Momentum Talent and Literary Agency, double nominated adult theatrical agency of the year 2010.

For information about Sonny Valens please visit: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1226849/

All press inquiries regarding Sonny Valens should be forwarded to:
Publicist D. Griffin
323.692.2881 323.692.2881
deborahmckj ( @ ) yahoo dot com

Related Links:

Sonny Valens Acting Reel -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sT43l2DbjVU

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