# Anthony Ruivivar
**Anthony Ruivivar** (Anthony Michael Ruivivar, born 1970) is an American actor from Honolulu, Hawaii, best known for playing FDNY paramedic Carlos Nieto on the NBC drama *Third Watch* from 1999 to 2005[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0749570/bio) • [2](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/anthony-ruivivar/). After that series, he became a frequent portrayer of police officers, detectives, and other law enforcement figures on American television, and he has also worked in film, voice animation, and New York theater[2](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/anthony-ruivivar/) • [3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/ruivivar-anthony-michael-1970).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1970, Honolulu, Hawaii[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0749570/bio) |
| Breakthrough role | Carlos Nieto, FDNY paramedic, *Third Watch* (NBC, 1999–2005, six seasons)[2](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/anthony-ruivivar/) |
| Education | B.F.A., Boston University[3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/ruivivar-anthony-michael-1970) |
| Family | Married actress Yvonne Jung in January 1998; three children, including Olympic gymnast Levi Jung-Ruivivar[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0749570/bio) • [4](https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2024/10/27/2395603/fil-am-hollywood-actor-anthony-ruivivar-open-showbiz-stints-philippines/amp/) |
| Notable later roles | Alex Longshadow in *Banshee*; the voice of Batman/Bruce Wayne in *Beware the Batman*; Alejo Salazar in *The Whole Truth*[5](https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/banshee/cast/1000560941/) • [6](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/anthony_ruivivar) • [7](https://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/television/2010/09/22/anthony-ruivivar-nothing-truth) |
| Films | *White Fang 2* (1994), *Race the Sun* (1996), *Starship Troopers* (1997), *Tropic Thunder* (2008), *The Adjustment Bureau* (2011)[3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/ruivivar-anthony-michael-1970) • [8](https://lumiere-a.akamaihd.net/v1/documents/t_h_anthony_ruivivar_d7bb94cb.pdf) |
| Writing | The play *Safe*, staged Off-Broadway in 2003 and published by Samuel French[7](https://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/television/2010/09/22/anthony-ruivivar-nothing-truth) |
## Background and family
Ruivivar was born and raised in Honolulu in what he describes as a big Filipino family[9](https://www.pep.ph/news/local/182630/anthony-ruivivar-filipino-american-actor-a734-20240831). His father, Tony Ruivivar, was a founding member of the Society of Seven, a Filipino showband formed in Hawaii in 1969 that also included Jun Polistico and Bert Nievera; US press described the group as "the most successful show band in Waikiki entertainment history"[9](https://www.pep.ph/news/local/182630/anthony-ruivivar-filipino-american-actor-a734-20240831) • [4](https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2024/10/27/2395603/fil-am-hollywood-actor-anthony-ruivivar-open-showbiz-stints-philippines/amp/). Tony Ruivivar died on July 3, 2020, at the age of 79[9](https://www.pep.ph/news/local/182630/anthony-ruivivar-filipino-american-actor-a734-20240831).
**Raised backstage.** Ruivivar has said his entry into entertainment came through his father's band: "I was raised backstage in the light booth or behind the scenes," and as a child he toured the United States with the group[4](https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2024/10/27/2395603/fil-am-hollywood-actor-anthony-ruivivar-open-showbiz-stints-philippines/amp/) • [10](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/anthony-ruivivar/bio/3030390649/). Growing up around the band also meant growing up with singer [Martin Nievera](https://www.edgepedia.org/martin-nievera), Bert Nievera's son, in Hawaii[9](https://www.pep.ph/news/local/182630/anthony-ruivivar-filipino-american-actor-a734-20240831).
His father is of Filipino, Chinese, and Spanish descent, and his mother is of German and Scottish descent[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0749570/bio). He married actress Yvonne Jung in January 1998; they met in college but did not date until after both had graduated[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0749570/bio) • [4](https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2024/10/27/2395603/fil-am-hollywood-actor-anthony-ruivivar-open-showbiz-stints-philippines/amp/). They have three children: sons Kainoa (born 2002) and Kale, and daughter Levi (born 2006)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0749570/bio). Levi Jung-Ruivivar became an Olympic artistic gymnast competing for the Philippines, and Ruivivar accompanied her in August 2024 when she signed with the talent agency Viva Artists Agency in Manila[4](https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2024/10/27/2395603/fil-am-hollywood-actor-anthony-ruivivar-open-showbiz-stints-philippines/amp/). At that appearance he said he would welcome acting projects in the Philippines[4](https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2024/10/27/2395603/fil-am-hollywood-actor-anthony-ruivivar-open-showbiz-stints-philippines/amp/).
## Training and early career
Ruivivar decided against a singing career, saying he "wasn't a great singer," and turned to straight drama instead[9](https://www.pep.ph/news/local/182630/anthony-ruivivar-filipino-american-actor-a734-20240831). He studied acting at a conservatory and earned a [Bachelor of Fine Arts](https://www.edgepedia.org/bachelor-of-fine-arts) from [Boston University](https://www.edgepedia.org/boston-university), commuting roughly 6,000 miles from Honolulu for school, then moved to New York to work in theater and film[9](https://www.pep.ph/news/local/182630/anthony-ruivivar-filipino-american-actor-a734-20240831) • [11](https://www.filmweb.pl/person/Anthony%2BRuivivar-4626/biography).
His early screen roles were small parts in films: Peter in *White Fang 2: Myth of the White Wolf* (1994), Eduardo Braz in *Race the Sun* (1996), and Shujumi in *Starship Troopers* (1997), along with an uncredited appearance in *In & Out* (1997)[3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/ruivivar-anthony-michael-1970). On television he had a recurring role as Enrique "Ricky" on *All My Children* in 1997 and guest-starred on *Law & Order* the same year[3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/ruivivar-anthony-michael-1970).
## Third Watch
Shortly after his marriage, Ruivivar landed the leading role of paramedic Carlos Nieto on *Third Watch* (NBC, 1999–2005), a drama from executive producer [John Wells](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-wells-filmmaker), the showrunner of *ER*, about the interacting shifts of police, firefighters, and paramedics in New York City[2](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/anthony-ruivivar/) • [4](https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2024/10/27/2395603/fil-am-hollywood-actor-anthony-ruivivar-open-showbiz-stints-philippines/amp/). The show ran six seasons, and Ruivivar has credited the role with kick-starting his career[2](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/anthony-ruivivar/) • [4](https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2024/10/27/2395603/fil-am-hollywood-actor-anthony-ruivivar-open-showbiz-stints-philippines/amp/).
The part had a personal dimension. Ruivivar wrote a play, *Safe*, in which Yvonne Jung appeared; producers of *Third Watch* saw her performance and wrote a role for her on the show, paramedic Holly Levine, Nieto's love interest, in seasons five and six[4](https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2024/10/27/2395603/fil-am-hollywood-actor-anthony-ruivivar-open-showbiz-stints-philippines/amp/). The characters married in the series, and the couple keeps both their real wedding photographs and the on-camera wedding photographs from the show[4](https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2024/10/27/2395603/fil-am-hollywood-actor-anthony-ruivivar-open-showbiz-stints-philippines/amp/). For the role, Ruivivar received an Image Award nomination and, in his own words, valued playing "an ethnically three-dimensional character you don't often see on TV"[12](https://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=4807).
## Typecasting and range after Third Watch
After *Third Watch*, Ruivivar became a recognizable television face, most often cast as a police officer, detective, or federal agent[2](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/anthony-ruivivar/). His guest and recurring credits in this vein include *Numb3rs*, *Criminal Minds*, *CSI: Crime Scene Investigation*, *NCIS: Los Angeles*, *The Good Wife*, *Blue Bloods*, and *Hawaii Five-0*, where he played Marco Reyes, the arch-enemy of Danny Williams[2](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/anthony-ruivivar/) • [13](https://thirdwatch.fandom.com/wiki/Anthony_Ruivivar).
Two series leads followed *Third Watch* and were short-lived: he co-starred as FBI agent Guillermo Borjes in the ABC thriller *Traveler* (2007) and as defense attorney Alejo Salazar in the [Jerry Bruckheimer](https://www.edgepedia.org/jerry-bruckheimer) courtroom drama *The Whole Truth* (ABC, 2010); both were canceled after a handful of episodes aired[2](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/anthony-ruivivar/). The Whole Truth role was a milestone of a different kind: Salazar was an openly gay, multiracial attorney, and Ruivivar told *[The Advocate](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-advocate-magazine)* he was proud to play a character whose sexuality and ethnicity were present without being the story's centerpiece[7](https://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/television/2010/09/22/anthony-ruivivar-nothing-truth). He also noted in that interview that roles available to gay actors and to ethnic minorities were, in his estimate, about 2 percent of the roles in a pilot season[7](https://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/television/2010/09/22/anthony-ruivivar-nothing-truth).
**Recurring and voice work.** Ruivivar played Indian tribal chief Alex Longshadow on the Cinemax action drama *[Banshee](https://www.edgepedia.org/banshee-tv-series)* (2013–2016) and Officer Hank Lucero on the Los Angeles cop drama *Southland* (2009–2013), whose episode "Chaos," centered on his character being taken hostage, drew particular attention[5](https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/banshee/cast/1000560941/) • [2](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/anthony-ruivivar/) • [14](https://www.mixcloud.com/medianiteradio2/live-interview-with-anthony-ruivivar-southland-banshee/). In voice acting, he was the voice of Batman and Bruce Wayne on [Cartoon Network](https://www.edgepedia.org/cartoon-network)'s *Beware the Batman* (2013) and voiced Nighthawk on [Disney XD](https://www.edgepedia.org/disney-xd)'s *Avengers Assemble*[6](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/anthony_ruivivar) • [15](https://www.sidewalkstv.com/interview-carra-patterson-anthony-ruivivar-and-brandon-jay-mclaren-turner-hooch/).
Later television work includes a major recurring role as Kevin Harris in Netflix's *[The Haunting](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-haunting-tv-series) of Hill House* (2018), Sheriff Miguel Acosta in MTV's *Scream* series (2015), Captain Stan Moreno in [The CW](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-cw)'s *Frequency* (2016), Chief James Mendez in the Disney+ series *[Turner & Hooch](https://www.edgepedia.org/turner-and-hooch-tv-series)* (2021), and Daniel Tennant in *NCIS: Hawai'i* (2021–2023)[8](https://lumiere-a.akamaihd.net/v1/documents/t_h_anthony_ruivivar_d7bb94cb.pdf) • [16](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/5985/anthony-ruivivar).
## Film and theater
Ruivivar's film credits beyond his early roles include *High Art* (1998), *Simply Irresistible* (1999), *Swimming* (2000), *Tropic Thunder* (2008), and *[The Adjustment Bureau](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-adjustment-bureau)* (2011), in which he appeared alongside [John Slattery](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-slattery) chasing [Matt Damon](https://www.edgepedia.org/matt-damon)'s character through the film's opening section[3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/ruivivar-anthony-michael-1970) • [8](https://lumiere-a.akamaihd.net/v1/documents/t_h_anthony_ruivivar_d7bb94cb.pdf) • [17](https://www.out.com/entertainment/television/2010/10/14/anthony-ruivivar-primetimes-most-powerful-gay).
Theater remained a base for him in New York, where he worked for a decade and was a member of the Imua! Theatre Company, the Circle East Theatre Company, and the Lab[3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/ruivivar-anthony-michael-1970) • [17](https://www.out.com/entertainment/television/2010/10/14/anthony-ruivivar-primetimes-most-powerful-gay). He played a gay grifter in Han Ong's *Watcher* at Cap 21 Theatre in 2001[3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/ruivivar-anthony-michael-1970) • [17](https://www.out.com/entertainment/television/2010/10/14/anthony-ruivivar-primetimes-most-powerful-gay). As a playwright he wrote *Safe*, about five people trapped in a bank vault after a robbery, written in New York after September 11, 2001, and inspired in part by the Stanford Prison Experiment; Samuel French published the play, and it has been staged in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Vancouver[7](https://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/television/2010/09/22/anthony-ruivivar-nothing-truth).
## References
1. [Anthony Ruivivar – Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0749570/bio)
2. [Anthony Ruivivar – Actor, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/anthony-ruivivar/)
3. [Ruivivar, Anthony Michael 1970– , Encyclopedia.com](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/ruivivar-anthony-michael-1970)
4. [Fil-Am Hollywood actor Anthony Ruivivar open to showbiz stints in Philippines, Philstar.com (October 27, 2024)](https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2024/10/27/2395603/fil-am-hollywood-actor-anthony-ruivivar-open-showbiz-stints-philippines/amp/)
5. [Banshee – Full Cast & Crew, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/banshee/cast/1000560941/)
6. [Anthony Ruivivar – Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/anthony_ruivivar)
7. [Anthony Ruivivar: Nothing But the Truth, Advocate.com (September 22, 2010)](https://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/television/2010/09/22/anthony-ruivivar-nothing-truth)
8. [Anthony Ruivivar biography, "Chief James Mendez" casting document](https://lumiere-a.akamaihd.net/v1/documents/t_h_anthony_ruivivar_d7bb94cb.pdf)
9. [Anthony Ruivivar: Filipino-American actor who conquered Hollywood, PEP.ph (August 31, 2024)](https://www.pep.ph/news/local/182630/anthony-ruivivar-filipino-american-actor-a734-20240831)
10. [Anthony Ruivivar Biography, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/anthony-ruivivar/bio/3030390649/)
11. [Anthony Ruivivar – Biography, Filmweb](https://www.filmweb.pl/person/Anthony%2BRuivivar-4626/biography)
12. [Anthony Ruivivar, TVSA](https://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=4807)
13. [Anthony Ruivivar, Third Watch Wiki](https://thirdwatch.fandom.com/wiki/Anthony_Ruivivar)
14. [LIVE Interview with Anthony Ruivivar (Southland, Banshee), Media Nite Radio on Mixcloud](https://www.mixcloud.com/medianiteradio2/live-interview-with-anthony-ruivivar-southland-banshee/)
15. [Interview: Carra Patterson, Anthony Ruivivar, and Brandon Jay McLaren (Turner & Hooch), Sidewalks Entertainment](https://www.sidewalkstv.com/interview-carra-patterson-anthony-ruivivar-and-brandon-jay-mclaren-turner-hooch/)
16. [Anthony Ruivivar, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/5985/anthony-ruivivar)
17. [Anthony Ruivivar: Primetime's Most Powerful Gay, Out.com (October 14, 2010)](https://www.out.com/entertainment/television/2010/10/14/anthony-ruivivar-primetimes-most-powerful-gay)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 1970s to 1990s › Surnames Ro to Sa*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 20, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 20, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license