Raúl Castillo (actor)
An actor and playwright who brings a raw, grounded authenticity to his roles, breaking ground as Richie on HBO's 'Looking' and in independent film.
Born 1977 (age 49)·American actor and playwright·Birthday: August 30·Generation X
Biography
Raúl Castillo didn't follow a traditional path to acting; he built his own. A Texas native with roots in theater, he co-founded the award-winning collective The Rude Mechanicals and honed his craft writing and performing plays. This foundation in character-driven storytelling translated seamlessly to the screen. He first gained wider attention in the indie film 'Amexicano,' but it was his role as Richie, the thoughtful and complex love interest on HBO's 'Looking,' that made him a standout. Castillo brought a rare, unvarnished sincerity to the part, capturing the nuances of a modern romance with profound subtlety. His performance in the film adaptation of 'We the Animals' earned him an Independent Spirit Award nomination, showcasing his ability to convey deep emotional currents with minimal dialogue. Whether on stage or screen, Castillo operates with a playwright's insight into human motivation, making every character feel intimately real.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Raúl was born in 1977, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Raúl Was Born
The biggest hits of 1977
#1 Movie
Star Wars
Best Picture
Annie Hall
#1 TV Show
Happy Days
Raúl's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1977Born
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1982Started school
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1990Became a teenager
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Could drive
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1995Could vote
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Turned 21
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2007Turned 30
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 40
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 49 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Received an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Supporting Male for his role in 'We the Animals' (2018).
- Played the series regular role of Richie Donado Ventura on HBO's groundbreaking series 'Looking' (2014-2016).
- Co-founded the Obie Award-winning theater company, The Rude Mechanicals, in Austin, Texas.
- Wrote and starred in the play 'Knives and Other Sharp Objects,' which premiered at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Did You Know?
He is a graduate of Boston University's College of Fine Arts.
His father was a long-haul truck driver, and Castillo often traveled with him as a child.
He is also a musician and has performed with his band.
He made his Broadway debut in 2022 in the play 'Cost of Living'.
“I'm always interested in characters that are in some sort of transition, that are searching for something.”
