Carlos Ponce
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Carlos Augusto Ponce, also known as "Carlos Ponce" (September 4, 1972) born in the Santurce district of San Juan, Ponce is an actor, singer, composer and TV personality. He currently stars in the Telemundo serial Dame Chocolate (Give Me Chocolate).
Contents |
[edit] Early years
His parents, Carlos Ponce, Sr. and Esther Freyre, emigrated from Cuba after the communist revolution and he was born in Santurce, Puerto Rico. After his birth, the family moved to Humacao where Ponce was raised. As a child, he would actively participate in his school's plays and at home he would often put on a show for the family where he would sing the latest tunes. "Carlitos", as he is known in Puerto Rico, started to appear in television commercials at the age of six. He attended high school in Humacao and was a member of the school's drama club.
In 1986, the Ponce family moved to Miami, Florida and Ponce continued to participate in his school's productions. He was named the best student actor of the southern region of the United States.
In 1990, Ponce participated in the South eastern Theater Conference and competed for the chance to win a scholarship. He won and enrolled in the New World of the Arts Conservatory school of the University of Miami. However, the Spanish language television station Univision offered Ponce the opportunity to host a show called "Hablando" (Talking). This was his first serious television debut and after his debut he gave up his university studies.
[edit] Acting career
After the show came to its end, Ponce went to Mexico to visit a friend. Whilst there he visited the Televisa television station. The talent director of the station met Ponce and was very impressed with him. He offered Ponce a role in the soap opera "Guadalupe". Later he also participated in another soap opera for Televisa entitled "Sentimientos Ajenos", in which he played the main character. Ponce also sang the theme song for the production. He received the "Actor Revelation of 1997 Award" by Eres magazine and named "Best Actor" by TV y Novelas magazine (both are Mexican entertainment publications).
In between productions, Ponce returned to Miami and Univision hired him as the host of a new show to be called "Control". He hosted the show for three years and won an "ACE Award" for his effort. He hosted the Miss Universe 2006 pageant in Los Angeles, along Shandi Finnessey, Nancy O'Dell and Carson Kressley.
In 2003, Ponce joined Entertainment Tonight as a correspondent. He also hosted An Entertainment Tonight Event — Celebrity Weddings Unveiled, a CBS primetime special. Ponce currently stars in the Telemundo serial Dame Chocolate (Give Me Chocolate).
[edit] Musical career
In 1998, Emilio Estefan signed Ponce to a record contract. His first album was entitled "Carlos Ponce" and included three of his own compositions. The album reached the #1 spot in the Latin Billboards for nine weeks in the Hispanic community of the United States. It also reached the #1 spot in Central America and South America. He was Awarded a Double Platinum Award for the sales which his album generated.
[edit] Awards
In 1999, Ponce received many awards, amongst them:
- "Best Pop Album" from Billboard magazine,
- "Artist Revelation" from Premios Lo Nuestro and
- "Pop Ballad Revelation of the Year" from Premios Tu Musica de Puerto Rico.
[edit] American television
During this period he also made his debut in American television with his participation in the TV series Beverly Hills, 90210 and 7th Heaven. He also made guest appearances in "Live with Regis and Kathie Lee" and in "Donny & Marie".
In 2000, Ponce recorded his second album titled "Todo lo que Soy" (Everything that I Am). The World Athletic Games held in Seville, Spain adopted the song "Amelia" from Ponce's second album as its official theme. That same year, he was contracted by the Walt Disney Studios to vocalize the song "Bella Notte" for the animated film "Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure". He also participated in ABC's melodrama "Once and Again".
After the tragedy of September 11, 2001, Ponce joined a group of 100 Latin American singers, who united to pay tribute to the victims by recording "Ultimo Adios" (Last Good-Bye). The proceeds of the recording was donated to the families of the victims.
In 2001 Ponce participated in Televisa production, Sin Pecado Concebido along with Mexican Actress Angelica Rivera. The telenovela was produced by Jose Alberto Castro and was the latest in which Ponce participated as the main protagonist.
In 2002, he recorded his third album, "Ponce" and that same year Ponce was contracted to host a reality show called "Protagonista de la Musica", which became one of the most popular Hispanic programs in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
In 2006, Ponce participated in the controversial recording of the Spanish-language version of the The Star-Spangled Banner, entitled "Nuestro Himno", alongside Wyclef Jean, Gloria Trevi and Olga Tanon.
[edit] "Chasing Papi"
In 2003, Ponce played himself in the movie "Chasing Papi" alongside fellow Puerto Ricans Roselyn Sanchez, Lisa Vidal, Barbara Bermudo and Walter Mercado. After this experience, he left for New Zealand, where he participated in the independent film Meet me in Miami, written and directed by Iren Koster.
[edit] Currently
In 2005, Ponce briefly appeared in the movie Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo as Rodrigo, a male gigolo.
In 2006, Ponce participated in the controversial recording of the Spanish-language version of the The Star-Spangled Banner, entitled "Nuestro Himno", alongside Wyclef Jean, Gloria Trevi and Olga Tanon.
He hosted the Miss Universe 2006 pageant in Los Angeles, along Shandi Finnessey, Nancy O'Dell and Carson Kressley. He also appears in the movie Just My Luck, alongside Lindsay Lohan, Chris Pine, Missi Pyle and the band McFly.
