Biographie
Eloy Mendez is a seasoned actor and producer with extensive experience across film, television, theater, and commercial projects.
He made his acting debut in the critically acclaimed film Bread and Roses, directed by Ken Loach and featuring Adrien Brody, Elpidia Carrilo, and George Lopez. The film was distributed by Lionsgate and premiered at the 2000 Cannes International Film Festival, where it received a nomination for the Palme d'Or, the festival’s top honor.
That same year, Eloy landed the lead role in Medio Tiempo, which aired on Showtime for nearly a decade. His other film credits include Dishdogz, The Price of the American Dream, Primo, Bold Native, The Price of Happiness, and Road to Juarez. Among his recent productions are Stealing Las Vegas, which debuted at The Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood in 2012, and Dragon Day, which premiered at The Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival in 2013. Dragon Day became available on iTunes, video-on-demand, and Netflix on July 4, 2014. In 2013, Eloy made his Sundance Film Festival debut with C.O.G., based on the works of New York Times bestselling author David Sedaris. Distributed by Focus Features, C.O.G. received outstanding reviews nationwide and was named one of the Top Films of the Year by Variety, The Wrap, and other publications.
Eloy’s latest project, Lake Los Angeles, directed by award-winning filmmaker Mike Ott, is set to premiere at the Los Angeles Film Festival in summer 2014. He has also appeared in over 40 short films showcased at festivals worldwide.
Television and theater remain integral to Eloy’s career. He has guest-starred on numerous TV series, including ER, Monk, Sleeper Cell, General Hospital, Girlfriends, NCIS, The Shield, and The Last Ship. He was a member of the Latino Theater Company Laboratory for more than three years, where he co-wrote the ensemble play Melancholia. His stage work includes roles in productions such as Wicked, The Boys Next Door, and Closets.
In early 2014, Eloy founded Mighty Dog Entertainment, an independent production company currently producing the documentary Return to the Philippines. The film tells the story of Leon Cooper, a 94-year-old WWII veteran who served as a Higgins Boat Commander on six missions ferrying troops to battle. For nearly a decade, Cooper has worked to raise awareness about the 88,000 WWII MIAs who never returned home. Lou Diamond Phillips is attached as the film’s narrator.
While Eloy is recognized for his dedication to his craft, he is equally devoted to philanthropic work. His charitable efforts focus on homelessness, education, poverty, social justice, and human rights. He supports organizations such as Union Rescue Mission, the RFK Foundation, Izunome Association, as well as numerous orphanages and schools throughout Latin America.
