Back to Cast
Detective Cruz
Armando Riesco
Biography
DETECTIVE CRUZ
Played by Armando Riesco
A soft-hearted police officer whose beat is the south side, Detective Cruz is doing his best to try and stem the violence and bloodshed in the neighborhood. But he is impeded on both sides by a police force that thinks he's too soft, and a local populace that wants nothing to do with the cops.
ARMANDO RIESCO
Armando Riesco continues to captivate audiences on film, TV and the stage. Born in Puerto Rico to Cuban parents, he earned a B.A. from Northwestern University in Illinois. After graduation, he landed roles in productions at Chicago theaters, including Victory Gardens, Steppenwolf, AboutFace and Lookingglass. He moved to the Big Apple when playwright Christopher Shinn asked him to play the role of Dexter in the New York premiere of FOUR. In 2014, Riesco earned a Lucille Lortel Award nomination for his role as Elliot Ortiz in THE HAPPIEST SONGS PLAY LAST. He also appeared in TOAST at The Public Theater; starred in JUNK at the La Jolla Playhouse and THE FUNDAMENTALS. Riesco’s big screen performances include memorable roles in ADULT WORLD, GARDEN STATE, NATIONAL TREASURE, FEVER PITCH, CHE PART ONE & TWO, Oliver Stone’s WORLD TRADE CENTER and Toronto Film Festival Audience Award winner BELLA. His television credits include BULL, POWER, THE FAMILY, VINYL, SNEAKY PETE, UNFORGETTABLE, BLUE BLOODS, ELEMENTARY, A GIFTED MAN, ARMY WIVES, ROYAL PAINS, LAW & ORDER, LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT and FRINGE. He has lent his voice to the video game series NEED FOR SPEED and GRAND THEFT AUTO, as well as DORA THE EXPLORER and several commercial campaigns. Riesco collaborates with Manhattan Theatre Club’s education program, helping at-risk youth in public high schools and correctional facilities develop a voice through theater.
Played by Armando Riesco
A soft-hearted police officer whose beat is the south side, Detective Cruz is doing his best to try and stem the violence and bloodshed in the neighborhood. But he is impeded on both sides by a police force that thinks he's too soft, and a local populace that wants nothing to do with the cops.
ARMANDO RIESCO
Armando Riesco continues to captivate audiences on film, TV and the stage. Born in Puerto Rico to Cuban parents, he earned a B.A. from Northwestern University in Illinois. After graduation, he landed roles in productions at Chicago theaters, including Victory Gardens, Steppenwolf, AboutFace and Lookingglass. He moved to the Big Apple when playwright Christopher Shinn asked him to play the role of Dexter in the New York premiere of FOUR. In 2014, Riesco earned a Lucille Lortel Award nomination for his role as Elliot Ortiz in THE HAPPIEST SONGS PLAY LAST. He also appeared in TOAST at The Public Theater; starred in JUNK at the La Jolla Playhouse and THE FUNDAMENTALS. Riesco’s big screen performances include memorable roles in ADULT WORLD, GARDEN STATE, NATIONAL TREASURE, FEVER PITCH, CHE PART ONE & TWO, Oliver Stone’s WORLD TRADE CENTER and Toronto Film Festival Audience Award winner BELLA. His television credits include BULL, POWER, THE FAMILY, VINYL, SNEAKY PETE, UNFORGETTABLE, BLUE BLOODS, ELEMENTARY, A GIFTED MAN, ARMY WIVES, ROYAL PAINS, LAW & ORDER, LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT and FRINGE. He has lent his voice to the video game series NEED FOR SPEED and GRAND THEFT AUTO, as well as DORA THE EXPLORER and several commercial campaigns. Riesco collaborates with Manhattan Theatre Club’s education program, helping at-risk youth in public high schools and correctional facilities develop a voice through theater.
