Profile: Luis Mendoza

SPARTAN IN HOLLYWOOD

            Those who follow General Hospital might have seen a new face in September, a character called Carlos who is part of Ruiz’s gang and was in four episodes. “He’s a real bad guy, pulls his gun on people,” says Luis Mendoza, ’98, the rising actor who plays the soap opera character. “It was a lot of fun.” Mendoza considers this role a huge break, and possible springboard to an acting career.

            Born in Mexico City but raised in Chicago and Detroit, Luis was a late convert to acting. As a catcher in high school, he went to Oakland University on a baseball scholarship and played three years before deciding to transfer to MSU. “My sister Maria was at MSU and I got to know the campus from visiting her,” he explains. “I really liked the atmosphere and thought it would open up more doors to me.”

            However, an ankle injury cut short his baseball career. He majored in finance but also took several acting courses and appeared in two student plays at the Wharton Center, The Taming of the Shrew and Inherit the Wind. “My acting professors were (Frank) Rutledge and Joyce Ramsey,” he recalls. “Oh, man. They were so passionate about acting. That’s how I got the bug.”

            After graduating, Luis worked for G.E. Financial in Louisville and for Federal Mogul in Southfield, but in 2003 decided to move to Los Angeles to pursue acting. His sister Maria, an aspiring singer, is now his publicist. Luis was able to star in a long string of national commercials for the likes of Universal Studios, Chrysler and Bank of America. “But this is my biggest break so far,” he says of his stint with General Hospital. “I think many actors, like Jenifer Aniston and Eva Longoria, got their starts in the soaps.” If Luis enjoys success in the field, he will join a long list of Spartans in Hollywood.