José Tenoch Huerta Mejía (Spanish: [teˈnotʃ ˈweɾta]; born 29 January 1981)[1] is a Mexican actor. He has appeared in a number of movies in Latin America and Spain, starring in both feature films, short films, and Narcos: Mexico, credited as Tenoch Huerta. He is featured in Mónica Maristain's book, 30 Actors Made in Mexico. He plays Namor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), starting with the film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022), in which he is credited as Tenoch Huerta Mejía.[2][3]
Tenoch Huerta | |
|---|---|
 Huerta in 2024 | |
| Born | José Tenoch Huerta Mejía 29 January 1981 Ecatepec, State of Mexico, Mexico |
| Other names | Tenoch Huerta Mejía |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 2006–present |
| Notable work | |
Early life
editHuerta was born in Ecatepec de Morelos, State of Mexico,[4] on 29 January 1981. His father, a film buff, enrolled him in an acting course with María Elena Saldaña, and Huerta's later studies were alongside Carlos Torres Torrija and Luis Felipe Tovar.[1]
Huerta is of Indigenous descent, with a Nahua maternal great-grandmother and a Purépecha paternal great-great-grandmother.[5] He does not self-identify as Indigenous;[6] however, he encourages people to learn more about their Indigenous heritage within and outside the community.[7]
Career
editHuerta made his acting career debut as a minor character in the film Asi del precipicio (2006). In 2009, he appeared in Cary Joji Fukunaga's film Sin nombre in the role of Li'l Mago, leader of the Tapachula faction of the notorious Mara Salvatrucha gang.
In 2015, he appeared as Carlos Mamani in the biographical disaster survival film The 33, Alejo in Camino. In 2018, he began portraying Rafael Caro Quintero in Netflix's Narcos: Mexico.
In 2021, he appeared as Juan in The Forever Purge, the fifth film of The Purge franchise, alongside his fellow Narcos: Mexico costar Alejandro Edda.[8]
In 2022, during a San Diego Comic-Con presentation for the Marvel Studios film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Huerta was revealed to have joined the cast to portray Namor.[9] In Mexico, most reactions were positive, with a minority of negative reactions characterized as expressions of racism and malinchismo.[10] Huerta himself spoke against racism in the film industry and stated that he was excited to play the character.[11][12]
In 2023, Tenoch Huerta was cast as Juan Preciado in the film adaptation of Pedro Páramo, directed by Rodrigo Prieto. Based on Juan Rulfo's novel, the film premiered worldwide at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 14, 2024.[13] It is was released on Netflix on November 6, 2024.[needs update]
Activism
editTenoch Huerta, recognized for his distinguished acting career, also holds an acclaimed role as an anti-racism activist, spurred by his personal encounters with racial prejudice and systemic discrimination.
Huerta formerly collaborated with Poder Prieto, a Mexican collective striving to alter societal perceptions of Brown individuals. His contributions were largely focused on advocating for the accurate and favorable representation of Brown people in various mediums. Furthermore, the collective aimed to redefine the term "Prieto," traditionally a racial slur, by infusing it with a positive context.
Huerta has persistently emphasized the significance of diverse and accurate representation of people of color in film and television, asserting that varied storytelling contributes to authentic cultural narratives.
In 2022, Huerta expanded his activism reach by authoring the book Orgullo Prieto (Black Pride).[14] The book delves into the racist constructs in Mexico and integrates personal narratives to provide a comprehensive understanding of the issue.
The same year, Huerta addressed UNESCO's Global Forum against Racism and Discrimination, amplifying his insights on activism and media representation on a global platform.[15] His engagement with UNESCO extended to 2023, where he connected with over 2000 students, underscoring the imperative of recognizing privilege, challenging prevailing systems, and the potential of collective action to effect change.[16]
Huerta was also a participant in a dialogue convened by the United Nations' Antiracism Working Group,[17] a discussion held to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. His involvement epitomizes his commitment to confronting racism, an issue now addressed with increased urgency by institutions like the United Nations, largely due to the global resonance of movements like Black Lives Matter.[18]
Controversy on social networks
editIn June 2023, Huerta was accused of abuse by musician and activist Maria Elena Ríos. Ríos accused him of being a sexual predator and that the Mexico-based activist organization Poder Prieto was deliberately protecting him.[19][20] Huerta has denied the allegations and cited them as the reason for leaving an upcoming Netflix project.[21][22] In 2024, almost a year after the accusations, no judicial complaints have been made.
In August 2024, the actor publicly addressed the allegations against him. Huerta expressed his pain and dismay over the claims, emphasizing that they had significantly impacted his mental health while maintaining his innocence.[23][24]
Following the allegations against him, the actor has received threats of extortion that he has legally reported.[25]
Awards
editHuerta won Best Actor at the Short Short Film Festival in Mexico City for his performance in Alonso Ruizpalacios' Café paraíso.[26] He has also received five nominations for the Ariel Award, winning Best Actor for his role in Días de Gracia in 2012. Huerta won NAACP Image Awards 2023 supporting role in a motion picture, for his role as Namor in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.[27]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Roles | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Así del precipicio | Window cleaner | |
| 2007 | Malamados, en la soledad todo esta permitido | Aarón | |
| Déficit | Adán | ||
| La zona | Mario | ||
| 2008 | Sleep Dealer | David Cruz | |
| Café paraíso | Gallo | Short film | |
| Road to Fame | Domingo | ||
| Nesio | El Araña | ||
| Soy mi madre | Ramón | ||
| Just Walking | David | ||
| 2009 | Sin nombre | Lil' Mago | |
| El horno | Boyfriend | Short film | |
| 2010 | Marea alta | Gerónimo | |
| Depositarios | Andrés | ||
| Chicogrande | Doctor Terán | ||
| ¿Cómo has estado? | Obsmar | Short film | |
| El Infierno | The Devil | ||
| Busco empleo | Ramn | Short film | |
| 2011 | Cristeros y Federales | Soldier | Short film |
| Días de gracia | Teacher / Lupe | ||
| 2012 | Vacaciones en el infierno | Carlos | |
| Cristiada | Uncredited | ||
| Get the Gringo | Carlos | ||
| Colosio: El asesinato | Jesús "Chuy" | ||
| De tierra | Julio | Short film | |
| La vida precoz y breve de Sabina Rivas | Juan | ||
| Penumbra | Ángel | Short film | |
| 2013 | La banqueta | Abel | Short film |
| Stand Clear of the Closing Doors | Ricardo Sr. | ||
| 2014 | Güeros | Sombra | |
| Mercy | Él | Short film | |
| Escobar: Paradise Lost | Roldano Brother | ||
| El más buscado | Charro Misterioso / Alfredo Ríos Galeana | ||
| 2015 | The 33 | Carlos Mamani | |
| Semana Santa | Chávez | ||
| Camino | Alejo | ||
| Spectre | Mexican Man in Lift | ||
| Las Aparicio | Juan | ||
| 2016 | La carga | Francisco Tenamaztle | |
| Vive por mí | Gavilán | ||
| 2017 | El silencio es bienvenido | Soldier 1 | |
| El autor | Enrique | ||
| Tigers Are Not Afraid | El Chino | ||
| Debris | Armando | Short film | |
| 2018 | Bel Canto | Comandante Benjamín | |
| 2020 | Son of Monarchs | Mendel | |
| Dark Forces | Franco | ||
| 2021 | The Forever Purge | Juan | |
| Madres | Beto | ||
| 2022 | Black Panther: Wakanda Forever | Namor | Credited as Tenoch Huerta Mejía |
| 2024 | Pedro Páramo | Juan Preciado |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Roles | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Capadocia | Toño | 2 episodes |
| 2010 | Los Minondo | Nacho | |
| 2011 | El Encanto del Águila | Emiliano Zapata | 5 episodes |
| 2012 | Cloroformo | El Búfalo | 13 episodes |
| 2016 | Hasta Que Te Conocí | Nereo | 3 episodes |
| 2015–2016 | Mozart in the Jungle | Manuel | 2 episodes |
| 2016–2017 | Blue Demon | Alejandro Muñoz / Blue Demon | 65 episodes |
| 2018 | Here on Earth | Adán Cruz | 8 episodes |
| 2018–2020 | Narcos: Mexico | Rafael Caro Quintero | 11 episodes |
| 2023 | The Chosen One | Lemuel | Miniserie (Netflix) |
| 2025 | Las Muertas | Delfino | Miniserie (Netflix) |
References
edit- ^ a b Mónica Maristain (13 April 2012). "Los Sueños de Tenoch Huerta". PlanetaEllas.com (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
- ^ "'Black Panther 2' First Trailer Unveils Marvel's Emotional Return to Wakanda and War With Namor". Vaitey. 24 July 2022. Archived from the original on 24 July 2022. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
- ^ "Namor the Sub-Mariner dives into the new Black Panther: Wakanda Forever trailer". AV Club. 24 July 2022. Archived from the original on 24 July 2022. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
- ^ Banda, Martín (10 November 2022). "De Ecatepec para el mundo: Tenoch Huerta, nuevo super héroe de Marvel". El Mañana (in Mexican Spanish). Archived from the original on 11 November 2022. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
- ^ Tenoch Huerta Mejía [@TenochHuerta] (8 June 2020). "Mi origen es Purépecha (tatarabuela paterna) y Nahua (bisabuela materna)" (Tweet) (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 19 July 2022 – via Twitter.
- ^ Tenoch Huerta Mejía [@TenochHuerta] (10 June 2020). "No soy indígena.
No todos los morenos "somos idénticos"" (Tweet) (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 28 October 2021 – via Twitter. - ^ Pulliam-Moore, Charles (31 October 2022). "Tenoch Huerta hopes Wakanda Forever helps Latin Americans embrace their roots". The Verge. Archived from the original on 12 November 2022. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
- ^ "How Tenoch Huerta Transformed into Namor—and Transformed the Character in the Process". menshealth.com. 17 October 2022. Archived from the original on 21 October 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
- ^ "Black Panther 2's Namor Actor Describes the 'Overwhelming' Experience Suiting up for the First Time". 26 July 2022. Archived from the original on 14 August 2022. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ "Tenoch Huerta como Namor despierta el malinchismo de los mexicanos". es-us.vida-estilo.yahoo.com (in Spanish). 28 July 2022. Archived from the original on 4 December 2022. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
- ^ Osborn, Catherine (10 June 2022). "A Disjointed Western Hemisphere Gathers". Foreign Policy. Archived from the original on 4 December 2022. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
- ^ Hiatt, Brian (22 November 2022). "Namor vs. Aquaman, A Viral Speedo Tweet, and Other Burning Topics with Tenoch Huerta". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 4 December 2022. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
- ^ Vestby, Ethan (9 September 2024). "TIFF Review: Pedro Páramo Marks a Lifeless Directorial Debut for Rodrigo Prieto". Retrieved 16 September 2024.
- ^ RODRIGUEZ-JIMENEZ, JORGE (13 September 2022). "Tenoch Huerta Releasing New Book Titled 'Orgullo Prieto' — & It Already Feels Like a Must-Read". remezcla. Archived from the original on 9 July 2023. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
- ^ LucíaIglesias, Kuntz. "Global Forum against Racism and Discrimination: UNESCO paves way for Post-COVID Recovery". UNESCO. Archived from the original on 25 March 2023. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
- ^ "Story Students meet with activists at UNESCO to lead the fight against racism". unesco. Archived from the original on 19 April 2023. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
- ^ Shotwell, Alyssa (28 March 2023). "'Black Panther's Tenoch Huerta Gets the Final Word on 'Forced Inclusion' Accusations at the United Nations". themarysue.com. Archived from the original on 9 July 2023. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
- ^ "We have to figure out how to dismantle the monster". United Nations Human Rights Organization. Archived from the original on 22 March 2023. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
- ^ Carras, Christi (11 June 2023). "'Black Panther' star Tenoch Huerta accused of sexual assault". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 12 June 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
- ^ Lund, Anthony (11 June 2023). "'MCU's Namor Star Tenoch Huerta Accused of Sexual Assault by Mexican Musician". Movieweb. Archived from the original on 11 June 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
- ^ Segarra, Edward (12 June 2023). "'Black Panther' actor Tenoch Huerta denies sexual assault allegation: 'Simply untrue'". USA Today. Archived from the original on 14 June 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
- ^ Guy, Zoe (21 June 2023). "Black Panther Breakout Tenoch Huerta Accused of Sexual Misconduct". Vulture. Archived from the original on 9 November 2023. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
- ^ Perea, Arturo (21 August 2024). "Tenoch Huerta habla por primera vez de las acusaciones de abuso sexual". Quién (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 September 2024.
- ^ González, Por Zurisaddai (21 August 2024). ""Lo difamó": Pati Chapoy, Pedro Sola y Daniel Bisogno arremeten contra María Elena Ríos por caso de Tenoch Huerta". infobae (in European Spanish). Retrieved 17 September 2024.
- ^ ""Te vamos a armar un desmadre si no ofreces nada", la extorsión contra el actor Tenoch Huerta". www.proceso.com.mx (in Spanish). Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ "Café paraíso Paradise Café". Secretaría de Cultura/Sistema de Información Cultural. Archived from the original on 9 June 2021. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
- ^ Blauvelt, Christian (26 February 2023). "'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,' Will Smith, Angela Bassett Win Big at 2023 NAACP Image Awards". IndieWire. Archived from the original on 26 February 2023. Retrieved 26 February 2023.