How many movies can you co-star in with Hollywood A-listers before you’re considered part of the A-list yourself? As New York Film Academy (NYFA) Acting for Film Alum Manuel Garcia-Rulfo keeps adding big roles in major films to his already-impressive filmography, that question may be answered fairly soon.
Garcia-Rulfo continues to build on the incredible momentum his career has carried with roles in several upcoming movies, including major Hollywood motion picture Widows, out this November. Widows is already gaining a lot of buzz because of the high-caliber talent behind every aspect of the film. It’s directed by Steve McQueen, who was nominated for a Best Directing Academy Award for 12 Years a Slave, 2013’s Best Picture Oscar winner. Widows is also written by bestselling author Gillian Flynn, who wrote Gone Girl and HBO’s Sharp Objects. The film is scored by master composer Hans Zimmer.
And that’s just behind the scenes. The cast is filled with Hollywood veterans and up-and-coming stars alike, including Viola Davis, Liam Neeson, Colin Farrell, Robert Duvall, Daniel Kaluuya, Carrie Coon, Jacki Weaver, Elizabeth Debicki, Cynthia Erivo, Brian Tyree Henry, and Michelle Rodriguez. Garcia-Rulfo plays the husband of Michelle Rodriguez’s character in the film, which tells the story of the women left behind after their criminal spouses are killed in a bloody heist. Viola Davis then leads the widows on a dangerous heist of their own.
The film, out this November, is just one highlight of many in Garcia-Rulfo’s career. The Mexican actor was born in Guadalajara before coming to study in the United States. He graduated from the 1-Year Conservatory in Acting for Film at New York Film Academy’s Los Angeles campus in 2004. The acting school at NYFA is renowned for its educational approach, providing practical experience and hands-on training to its students from a faculty of professional, working and veteran actors, writers, directors, and producers who give each student a personal focus in every class.
After completing his studies at NYFA, Garcia-Rulfo became a working actor in Mexico and Hollywood. His career has really taken off since landing a lead role in the From Dusk Till Dawn television series. He followed that up with roles in major Hollywood films The Magnificent Seven, Murder on the Orient Express, and the sequel to Sicario, as well as the Amazon series Goliath.
These roles allowed him to work with directors like Antoine Fuqua and Kenneth Branagh and act alongside such incredible Hollywood talent as Michelle Pfieffer, Denzel Washington, Josh Brolin, Daisy Ridley, Willem Dafoe, Penelope Cruz, Josh Gad, Johnny Depp, Judi Dench, Chris Pratt, Ethan Hawke, Billy Bob Thorton, Maria Bello, Morris Chestnut, Dwight Yoakam, Molly Parker, William Hurt, Vincent D’Onofrio, Peter Sarsgaard, Catherine Keener, Matthew Modine, and Benicio del Toro.
Garcia-Rulfo’s career shows no signs of slowing down, either. After Widows, he has already landed a role in Michael Bay’s upcoming feature6 Underground, with co-stars Ryan Reynolds, Corey Hawkins, and Dave Franco. Garcia-Rulfo will also act with Jennifer Aniston, Anna Kendrick, Felicity Huffman, and William H. Macy in Mary, a film co-written by and starring Tom Hanks.
Starring in these Hollywood films with A-listers hasn’t caused Garcia-Rulfo to forget his roots, however. He’s still appearing in Mexican and Spanish-language films, including the upcoming Mexiwood and Perfectos Desconocidos. He has sought to continue and expand his education as well, having returned to NYFA in 2018 for our 4-week Filmmaking workshop.
The New York Film Academy congratulates Acting for Film alum Manuel Garcia-Rulfo and looks forward to charting his skyrocketing career as he continues to land major roles in upcoming Hollywood films!
Please note: NYFA does not represent that these are typical or guaranteed career outcomes. The success of our graduates in any chosen professional pathway depends on multiple factors, and the achievements of NYFA alumni are the result of their hard work, perseverance, talent and circumstances.