Nico Santos

Nico Santos – Life, Career, and Memorable Quotes

Nico Santos (born April 7, 1979) is a Filipino-American actor and comedian known for Superstore, Crazy Rich Asians, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, and his advocacy for LGBTQ+ and Asian representation. This full biography explores his journey, values, roles, and memorable statements.

Introduction

Nico Santos is a Filipino-American actor and comedian who has carved a distinctive path in Hollywood by blending humor, identity, and authenticity. Best known for playing Mateo Liwanag on NBC’s Superstore and Oliver T’sien in Crazy Rich Asians, he continues to expand into new genres, including his casting in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Beyond his roles, Santos has become a voice for queer Asian visibility, sharing his story with wit, vulnerability, and purpose.

Early Life, Heritage & Family

• Santos was born in Manila, Philippines, on April 7, 1979.

• At age 16, he moved with his family to the United States, settling in Gresham, Oregon.

• He and his brother attended Centennial High School in Gresham, where they were among very few Filipino students.

• During high school, he attended a summer seminar at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, where he discovered a passion for theater.

His family’s immigrant journey, including periods when his parents were undocumented, has shaped his perspective and advocacy.

Education & Early Struggles

• Santos initially enrolled at Southern Oregon University, studying acting.

• However, he pivoted into costume design due to discouraging feedback from an acting instructor.

• Eventually he dropped out of university when he came out as gay, and his family ceased financially supporting his schooling.

• Before acting full-time, he worked in costume/wrangling roles at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and later in retail (in San Francisco), performing stand-up at night.

These early years were marked by financial constraints, self-doubt, and the challenge of balancing survival work with creative ambition.

Entry into Acting & Breakthrough

Shift to Acting

• In 2012, Santos appeared on Chelsea Lately as a panelist, combining comedic chops with exposure.

• In 2014, he participated in the CBS Diversity Showcase. He entered initially as a writer, but substituted in as an actor, opening doors to more auditions.

• Those auditions led to his cast in Superstore, beginning in Fall 2015, playing Mateo Fernando Aquino Liwanag, a gay, undocumented Filipino sales associate.

Superstore & Sustained Recognition

• Superstore aired for six seasons (2015–2021). Santos was a main cast member across 113 episodes.

• His performance earned him nominations for Critics’ Choice Television Awards for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series (2018, 2019).

Film Work & Expanding Into New Projects

• Santos appeared as Oliver T’sien in Crazy Rich Asians (2018), a breakthrough film of cultural significance.

• He had smaller roles in Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 (2015) and The Clapper (2017).

• In 2023, he was cast in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 as Recorder Theel.

• More recently, he is starring in The Z-Suite, a Tubi sitcom, in which he blends his comedic voice with his Filipino identity.

He also performed in theater—e.g. the Off-Broadway play Happy Talk (2019) by Jesse Eisenberg.

Personality, Values & Identity

Advocacy & Representation

Santos is openly gay and has spoken extensively about the importance of queer Asian representation in media. He has said he prefers to take on queer roles rather than “playing it straight” to bring visibility to stories often marginalized.

He also embraces his Filipino heritage in his roles, asserting that identity is not just a box but a lens through which he brings "flavor" to characters.

Humor & Resilience

Santos is known for his wit, self-deprecating style, and ability to navigate vulnerability. In interviews, he often reflects on failure, risk, and embracing discomfort as part of growth.

His immigrant background, times of financial precarity, and career setbacks contribute to his perspective that success is never guaranteed and must be honored.

Personal Life

• He is married to Zeke Smith, a reality TV alum (Survivor).

• They met in 2018 at a Stonewall anniversary gala.

• Their wedding was held in November 2023.

In interviews, Santos has also shared personal losses—during the COVID-19 pandemic, his stepfather died and his mother contracted the virus but recovered.

Memorable Quotes by Nico Santos

Here are several quotes that capture his voice, perspective, and values:

• “Why not just do it with flavor?” — about bringing his Filipino identity into roles.

• On representation:

  “There’s no one way to be queer. There’s a wealth of stories and experiences to draw from from our community, and I feel like our art should reflect that.”

• On taking roles:

  In interviews he has spoken of rejecting roles that feel inauthentic and instead choosing ones that allow him to bring all of himself to the character. (paraphrased from his commentary in Them)

• On craft and identity:

  “When I first started reading [scripts], I would infuse my own experiences. I don’t want to simply be a silhouette in someone else’s story.” (adapted from his reflections in interviews)

These statements reflect a commitment to truth, inclusivity, and purpose in art.

Lessons from Nico Santos

1. Identity as strength, not limitation
   Santos shows that embracing one’s full self—cultural identity, sexuality—can enrich performance, not constrain it.

2. Persistence through uncertainty
   His path from retail jobs, costume work, stand-up, and auditions underscores that many working artists move through ambiguity for years before a break.

3. Selective choices matter
   He has prioritized roles that offer authenticity and representation, often rejecting easier options that might compromise values.

4. Humor as empathy
   Santos uses comedy not just to entertain, but to bridge gaps, humanize characters, and provoke reflection.

5. Visibility helps others
   By being open about his identity and choices, he paves the way for younger LGBTQ and Asian actors to see possibility.

Conclusion

Nico Santos is more than a supporting comic relief or side character—he is an evolving artist who brings heart, humor, and intention to each role. From his early days in the Philippines to the stages and screens of America, his journey is shaped by courage, visibility, and a refusal to shrink. As he explores new genres and deeper characters, his legacy may be defined not only by his roles, but by the doors he helps open for others.