Hispanic Actors With Crazy Hobbies

Many fans know these talented performers for their dramatic roles on screen, but their lives off camera are equally fascinating. These Hispanic actors have cultivated unique passions that range from high-speed sports to intricate artistic pursuits. Their hobbies reveal a depth of character and creativity that extends far beyond Hollywood.

Javier Bardem

Before he became an Academy Award winner, this Spanish actor dedicated his life to a very different physical pursuit. Bardem was a competitive rugby player who even made it to the Spanish national team at the junior level. He has often compared the discipline and teamwork required in rugby to the collaborative nature of acting. Although he eventually stopped playing to protect his face for his career, he remains a passionate fan of the sport.

Benicio del Toro

This Puerto Rican actor is known for his intense performances, but his private life involves a quieter artistic expression. Del Toro is an avid oil painter who studied painting before he fully committed to acting. He has maintained this practice for years and uses it as a way to decompress from his demanding film roles. His love for visual arts also extends to collecting, as he appreciates the history and technique behind various styles.

Antonio Banderas

After conquering Hollywood, Banderas decided to pursue a long-held interest in the world of fashion. He famously enrolled in Central Saint Martins in London to study fashion design and learn the trade professionally. The actor launched his own clothing line that reflects his personal style and Mediterranean roots. He takes the craft seriously and views it as another form of artistic storytelling alongside his acting and directing.

Danny Trejo

Trejo is famous for his tough-guy roles, but his personal passions involve classic cars and community food projects. He is a dedicated collector of lowriders and often showcases his customized vehicles at local car shows in Los Angeles. His love for automotive culture is matched by his culinary ventures, which started as a hobby and grew into a successful restaurant franchise. Trejo uses these platforms to give back to his community and support recovery programs.

Frankie Muniz

While he rose to fame as a child star, Muniz has spent much of his adult life pursuing a professional career in open-wheel racing. He put his acting career on hold for several years to compete in various racing series, including the Atlantic Championship. His dedication to the sport is serious, and he has suffered significant injuries while chasing his dream on the track. Muniz recently returned to full-time racing in the ARCA Menards Series to prove his skills behind the wheel.

Wilmer Valderrama

The ‘That ’70s Show’ star is a massive gearhead with a specific passion for collecting and customizing classic cars. His collection includes the original station wagon from the sitcom that launched his career, which he bought from the studio. Valderrama is deeply involved in the customization process and often collaborates with top mechanics to build unique vehicles. He regularly attends automotive events and treats his collection as a personal museum of his life and career.

Freddie Prinze Jr.

Prinze has built a reputation as a knowledgeable voice in the world of professional wrestling. He worked as a writer and producer for WWE and continues to analyze the industry through his popular podcast. Beyond wrestling, he is a dedicated gamer and a published cookbook author who shares his family recipes. His diverse hobbies showcase a playful and creative side that connects him with fans across different subcultures.

Edward James Olmos

This legendary actor originally dreamed of being a professional baseball player and was a batting champion in his youth. When he turned to the arts, he first pursued rock and roll as the lead singer of a band called Pacific Ocean. He performed in clubs on the Sunset Strip before transitioning into the acting roles that made him famous. Olmos still carries that musical rhythm and athletic discipline in his approach to directing and activism.

Oscar Isaac

Before he was a ‘Star Wars’ hero, Isaac was a ska musician who played guitar and sang for a band called The Blinking Underdogs. He performed in the Miami music scene and opened for notable punk and ska acts during the late nineties. His musical talent has occasionally bled into his acting roles, where he has performed his own songs live. Isaac continues to play music privately and considers it a vital part of his creative expression.

Pedro Pascal

Pascal was a competitive swimmer during his childhood and early teen years in Texas. He participated in state championships and showed significant promise in the sport before catching the acting bug. He eventually left competitive swimming to attend drama school, but he retains a strong love for the water. The actor credits the discipline he learned in the pool for his work ethic on set.

Andy Garcia

Garcia is a highly skilled musician who specializes in the bongos and piano. He frequently performs with the CineSon All Stars and has even toured with legendary Cuban musical acts. His passion for Afro-Cuban rhythms is not just a casual pastime but a deep connection to his heritage. He often produces music for his own film projects to ensure the soundtrack captures the authentic sound he loves.

Emilio Estevez

The ‘The Breakfast Club’ star stepped away from the limelight to become a vintner in Malibu. Estevez planted a vineyard in his backyard and began producing his own label called Casa Dumetz Wines. He is hands-on with the process and tends to the Pinot Noir grapes himself alongside his partner. This agrarian lifestyle allows him to stay grounded and connected to nature outside the Hollywood system.

Cheech Marin

Marin is widely recognized as one of the world’s premier collectors of Chicano art. He began collecting decades ago when the genre was overlooked by major museums and has since amassed hundreds of pieces. His hobby turned into a mission to bring recognition to Chicano artists, leading to touring exhibitions and the establishment of The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture. He views his collection as a cultural legacy rather than just personal property.

Don Omar

Known as the King of Reggaeton, Don Omar is also a professional drag racer with a serious need for speed. He competes in high-stakes races and holds a license to drive vehicles that reach extreme speeds on the quarter-mile. His passion for mechanics leads him to be deeply involved in the tuning and building of his race cars. He often describes the adrenaline of the track as comparable to performing in front of a sold-out stadium.

Bad Bunny

This global music superstar turned a lifelong fandom into an active participation in professional wrestling. Bad Bunny trained extensively to compete in WWE matches and impressed veterans with his commitment and athleticism. He did not treat it as a simple celebrity cameo but learned complex moves and bumps to perform at a high level. His involvement brought a massive new audience to the sport he has loved since childhood.

Cristián de la Fuente

De la Fuente is not just an actor but also a licensed pilot who serves in the Chilean Air Force Reserve. He is skilled in aerobatics and flies high-performance aircraft as part of the Halcones demonstration team. His dedication to aviation is rigorous and requires him to maintain peak physical condition and technical knowledge. He often posts videos from the cockpit to share the thrill of flight with his followers.

Raymond Cruz

Famous for playing intense villains, Cruz finds his peace in the garage building Moto Guzzi motorcycles. He restores these Italian bikes by hand and appreciates the mechanical precision required to make them run. Cruz prefers the solitude of mechanics to the chaos of a film set and rides his creations daily. His knowledge of engines is extensive enough that he can diagnose problems just by listening to the motor.

Carlos Ponce

Ponce has a surprising domestic talent that sets him apart from other leading men. He is skilled at sewing and used to design and alter his own denim jeans to create unique fashion statements. The actor and singer revealed that he finds the process of constructing garments to be a creative outlet. This hobby demonstrates a meticulous attention to detail that likely aids him in his multifaceted career.

Mark Consuelos

Television host and actor Mark Consuelos is an enthusiastic bird watcher. His wife Kelly Ripa revealed this unexpected hobby, noting that he enjoys the quiet observation of nature. He spends time in parks and his own backyard identifying different species and appreciating their behaviors. It is a patient and meditative pastime that contrasts with his energetic television persona.

Tyler Posey

The ‘Teen Wolf’ star is deeply embedded in the pop-punk music scene as a guitarist and singer. He has performed in multiple bands and tours regularly when he is not filming. Posey also has a unique interest in tattooing and has even tattooed himself and friends. His hobbies reflect a DIY punk ethos that influences his personal style and artistic choices.

Manuel Garcia-Rulfo

Garcia-Rulfo is a serious photographer who is rarely seen without his Leica camera. He captures candid moments on film sets and during his travels, focusing on black and white composition. His grandfather was an amateur filmmaker, which inspired Manuel to document the world around him visually. He views photography as a way to observe humanity without being the center of attention.

Lou Diamond Phillips

Phillips is a shark at the card table and has competed in the World Series of Poker multiple times. He takes the game seriously and has earned the respect of professional players on the circuit. His ability to read opponents and control his emotions serves him well in both poker and acting. He plays in various charity tournaments and considers poker a game of skill rather than just luck.

Michael Peña

Peña is an extremely accomplished golfer who plays to a single-digit handicap. He spends much of his free time on the course and often participates in celebrity pro-am tournaments. In addition to golf, he is a talented musician who played drums in the rock band Nico Vega. He often brings his musical background into his film roles when the character allows for it.

Jaime Camil

Camil is a motorcycle enthusiast who owns and rides several high-end bikes. He prefers long-distance riding and often takes trips that span hundreds of miles to clear his head. The actor appreciates the freedom of the open road and the camaraderie found in the motorcycle community. He balances this rugged hobby with his polished image as a comedic actor.

Rodrigo Santoro

Santoro is a dedicated surfer who has been riding waves for most of his life. The Brazilian star makes it a priority to live near the ocean so he can surf as often as possible. He finds that the ocean provides a spiritual grounding that helps him navigate the stress of the entertainment industry. His skills are advanced enough that he can handle challenging breaks in different parts of the world.

Lin-Manuel Miranda

The creator of ‘Hamilton’ is a voracious reader and a collector of books. Miranda frequently scours bookstores for rare finds and history books that might inspire his next project. He bought the Drama Book Shop in New York City to save it from closing, turning his hobby into a preservation effort. His love for literature is the foundation of his career as a playwright and lyricist.

Clifton Collins Jr.

Collins Jr. is a foodie who took his passion to the next level by co-authoring a cookbook about prison ramen recipes. He collected stories and culinary hacks from inmates to create a unique look at prison culture through food. The actor is also a detail-oriented hobbyist who enjoys building model airplanes. This patience for small details is evident in the nuanced character roles he delivers on screen.

David Zayas

Before he was an actor, Zayas was a police officer, but his true passion lies in percussion. He plays the congas and timbales, embracing the salsa rhythms of his Puerto Rican heritage. Zayas often jams with friends and local musicians in New York City. He finds that drumming allows him to express an energy that is different from his acting work.

Jacob Vargas

Vargas started his career as a breakdancer before he ever delivered a line of dialogue. He continues to love dance and the hip-hop culture that he grew up with in Los Angeles. He is also a self-proclaimed people watcher who uses observation as a tool to build his characters. Vargas often sits in crowded places to study human behavior as a form of research and entertainment.

Amaury Nolasco

Nolasco is a golf fanatic who organizes his own charity golf tournament to support non-profit organizations. He plays regularly and credits the sport with teaching him patience and focus. The actor enjoys the social aspect of the game and uses it to connect with friends and colleagues. His tournament has become a major event that combines his love for the sport with philanthropy.

Tyler Hoechlin

Hoechlin was a standout baseball player in college and played for the Arizona State University team. He turned down the role of Emmett Cullen in ‘Twilight’ to focus on his baseball career before eventually returning to acting. He still plays in celebrity leagues and maintains his skills on the diamond. His athletic background helps him with the physical demands of playing action heroes like Superman.

Diego Boneta

Boneta is an equestrian who loves horseback riding and finds comfort in being around animals. He learned to ride at a young age and continues to practice whenever his schedule allows. The actor also enjoys singing, which was his entry point into the entertainment industry. His connection to horses provides a quiet escape from his busy life as a producer and actor.

Maluma

While primarily known as a singer, Maluma has acted in films and has a deep passion for breeding horses. He owns a ranch in Colombia where he raises Paso Fino horses, a breed known for its smooth gait. He is actively involved in their training and care, treating them like family members. This connection to the land and animals keeps him grounded despite his massive international fame.

Ryan Guzman

Guzman trains intensively in mixed martial arts (MMA) and has a background in welterweight fighting. He uses the training to maintain his physique and mental discipline for action roles. He often shares his workout routines which include boxing and grappling techniques. This fighting background gives his on-screen combat scenes a high level of authenticity.

Eugenio Derbez

The comedic superstar has a serious need for speed and is a Formula racing enthusiast. Derbez has participated in celebrity racing events and follows the professional circuit closely. He enjoys the technical precision involved in motorsport and the intense focus it requires. This high-octane hobby is a stark contrast to the family-friendly comedies he usually produces.

Share your thoughts on these actors and their surprising hobbies in the comments.