Efren Ramirez is an upcoming rising star. A new face to filmgoers, Efren Ramirez is a bona fide scene-stealer in the quirky comedy Napoleon Dynamite (2004). Stuck between choosing between Napoleon Dynamite and the studio film The Alamo (2004), Efren was quick to choose Napoleon Dynamite which has grossed over $41 million at the box office to date.

Born in Los Angeles, by age 13 he began training at "The Theatre of Arts" where he thus performed at "The Hollywood Bowl", "The Complex Theatre", and "The Tiffany Theatre" on Sunset Blvd, while working on films such as, Touchstone's Kazaam (1996), and Paramount's Jury Duty (1995). He continued training at The Whole Theatre Comp. Performing improv at "The Whitefire Theatre", and "The Icehouse", in Pasadena. After finishing up a two year Meisner conservatory program, he has then starred in" Missing Pieces", (opposite the late James Coburn), "The Race" with Cliff Robertson, C.C.H. Pounder, and Paul Rodriguez, Dir, Tom Musca, and "Delivering Milo", with Albert Finney, Dir. By Nick Castle. Other films include, "Welcome to L.A.", Night Crew (2000), Swallow (2003), "Dance", and Rave (2000).

Ramirez's extensive T.V. shows include recurring on Disney's "Even Stevens" (2000), and Fox's "Boston Public" (2000), and has guest starred on "ER" (1994), "The District" (2000), and "Judging Amy" (1999).

Upcoming is the remake of Alfred Hitchcock's _Mr. and Mrs. Smith (2005)_ with Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. It is directed by Doug Liman and will be released June 2005. Next he will be starring opposite Burt Reynolds in "Fishes in a Barrel" and in production of "Cuba Libre". He currently studies at The Gloria Gifford Conservatory for Performing Arts.

Collectively his films have grossed over $80 million to date.

Credit: imdb.com