Kirk Acevedo was born on November 27, 1974 in Brooklyn, New York. Though his parents were also born natives of the Big Apple, he comes from a family line of mixed Chinese and Puerto Rican descent. He also has a brother named Richard, and the two of them were raised in the Bronx after their parents moved there. Ever since he was a young child, Kirk exhibited an aptitude in acting, and started out performing for his family in improvised presentations. He later studied at the LaGuardia High School of Performing Arts, becoming heavily involved with the drama club. Among the productions he has worked on are
24, Band of Brothers, and NYPD Blue.
Miguel Alvarez is portrayed by Kirk Acevedo in the HBO prison drama television series Oz. He is carrying on a sad family tradition, with both his grandfather and his father also imprisoned in Oz. Miguel himself landed in the slammer after he assaulted an old man who had accidentally scratched his car. His girlfriend was convicted of the same crime and is doing time in the Parker Women’s facility. Miguel grew up in a tough and poor Latino neighborhood, and had to learn early on to do whatever he had to in order to survive.
(Photo courtesy of HBO)