The Cuban-American heartthrob who went from soap operas to special ops — and never looked back.
Who Is David Fumero?
David Fumero, born December 29, 1972, in Havana, Cuba, is an American actor and former fashion model best known for his role as Cristian Vega on the long-running soap opera One Life to Live. Since then, Fumero has built a solid career in crime dramas, thrillers, and military-themed TV, often portraying complex characters with stoic intensity and quiet strength.
💥 Military Roots, On-Screen and Off
Before acting, Fumero served as a United States Marine, which gives his portrayals of law enforcement and military personnel a grounded, authentic edge. His experience has made him a go-to actor for roles involving tactical or high-stakes situations.
📺 Big Break: One Life to Live
Fumero portrayed Cristian Vega from 1998 to 2011 (with a brief exit in between), becoming a fan favorite on the ABC soap. His performance blended sensitivity and fire, earning him soap heartthrob status and a loyal fanbase.
💬 “Soap acting is a masterclass in stamina. It taught me how to work hard and stay grounded,” Fumero once said.
🔫 TV Roles That Turned Heads
After One Life to Live, Fumero transitioned into primetime, guest-starring in several crime and drama series, including:
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🕵️ NCIS: Los Angeles – Appeared as Miguel Salazar in Season 5, Episode 6 (“Big Brother”), a former Marine who becomes entangled in a cyber terrorism investigation.
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🚔 CSI: Miami – Guest-starred as an aggressive suspect with a mysterious past.
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🕶️ Power – Had a recurring role as Mike Sandoval, a corrupt FBI agent with a dangerous agenda (2015–2017).
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📡 L.A.’s Finest – Played Lt. Jason Calloway in the spinoff of Bad Boys.
In Power, Fumero shed his “good guy” image to play a duplicitous agent—proving he can walk the line between hero and villain with ease.
❤️ A Real-Life Love Story
David is married to his One Life to Live co-star Melissa Fumero (best known for playing Amy Santiago on Brooklyn Nine-Nine). The couple married in 2007 and have two children. They’re considered one of Hollywood’s most low-key, lasting love stories.
📺 Select Filmography (TV Highlights)
| Year | Series | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998–2011 | One Life to Live | Cristian Vega | Main role |
| 2013 | CSI: Miami | Armando Salazar | Guest role |
| 2013 | NCIS: Los Angeles | Miguel Salazar | Guest star |
| 2015–2017 | Power | Mike Sandoval | Recurring |
| 2019 | L.A.’s Finest | Lt. Jason Calloway | Guest |
| 2021 | Chicago P.D. | Undercover Officer | Guest |
| 2024 | The Rookie: Feds | DEA Agent Rios | Guest |
🎤 Fun Facts
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🎖️ Fluent in both English and Spanish, often playing bilingual roles.
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🎥 First appeared in music videos, including Mariah Carey’s “Honey”.
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🏋️♂️ Fitness-focused and known for doing his own stunts when possible.
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📸 Modeled for brands like Armani and Versace before acting.
🗨️ “I want to play characters who are real—flawed, proud, resilient. Whether that’s a Marine, a cop, or a criminal, I bring a part of myself to every role.” — David Fumero
