American actor Mark Indelicato was born on July 16, 1994 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Of Puerto Rican and Italian ancestry, he underwent training in acting at The Actors Center in Philadelphia. He also underwent vocal training at the Dupree School of Music in Linwood, New Jersey. He started his career as a stage child actor, first performing on productions staged by the Walnut Street Theater in Philadelphia when he was eight years old. His performances in productions such as La Vie En Bleu and A Christmas Carol led to a role in the stage reading of Fame Forever, which was held in New York.
Indelicato began his screen career in 2003, when he played a minor role in the comedy short Disposal. His following screen appearances revolved on television, with guest roles in the drama Hack, the late night comedy Chapelle’s Show, and the teen comedy The Suite Life of Zack and Cody. Indelicato became known to viewers, however, in 2006, when he snagged a regular role in ABC’s surprise hit Ugly Betty.
The series sees him portray the role of Justin Suarez, the daughter of Hilda Suarez (Ana Ortiz) and nephew of lead character Betty Suarez (America Ferrera). Fashion-conscious, he encourages Betty to pursue her dreams, which led to her working as an assistant at MODE magazine. He is also known to exhibit model-like behavior: at some point, he comments on his own body and is very conscious about what he eats.
The character, which attracted particular praise from critics, was also subject to speculation as to whether the character is gay. There has been no word from the show’s top brass, but if it is true, then Indelicato’s character would be one of the youngest gay characters on prime time television. The program’s creator, Silvio Horta, said that the character will be undergoing a journey of self-discovery as the show proceeds. Indelicato, on the other hand, is grateful for the role, saying that it helps him reach out to kids who are also misunderstood.