Ektor

Early years and education

Héctor Rivera Alicea was born on February 11 in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. His parents are Iris Alicea and Héctor Rivera, Sr. He completed a Bachelor's degree in Image and Digital Design from the Escuela de Artes Plásticas y Diseño de Puerto Rico, graduating Magna Cum Laude. As for the acting, he has taken courses and independent workshops in Los Angeles and Puerto Rico. His mentors are: Idalia Perez Garay, Vicente Juarbe, Yamaris Latorre, Alex Taylor, Courtney Burr, Margie Haber, among others. On the other hand, as a singer, two of his main mentors are: Francisco "Vale" Rodríguez & Hilda Ramos.

Music career

Rivera adopted the stage name of Ektor as he started his musical career. In 1996, he participated in an underground rap album titled Reggae Mania with DJ Joel. After that, he was part of the tropical music group Magia. During that time, producer Edgardo Díaz encouraged him to audition for the reality show Objetivo Fama.

Ektor auditioned for the first season of the reality/talent show Objetivo Fama, which was held in 2004. He ended up as the second finalist of the competition, before winner Janina Irizarry and finalist Sheila Romero.

Despite not winning, Ektor still managed to get a record deal. In August 2005, he released his first album titled Un Paso del Amor. The album spawned a hit single titled "Te Voy a Amar" that was used in a soap opera from Univision.

Luny Tunes, a famous duo of producers, expressed interest in working with Ektor during an interview in Puerto Rican TV show Anda Pa'l Cara. This prompted each party to initiate conversations for a collaboration, as well as rumors of a second album produced by the duo. However, the album never materialized. Still, Ektor collaborated with them in the song "I Think I'm in Love", which also features Tainy. The song was included in the album Los Benjamins: La Continuación.

In 2012, Ektor was featured in the reality show Q'Viva! The Chosen, produced by Jennifer López and Marc Anthony. During the show, López praised Ektor's voice saying "Having so much talent, it makes me wonder why someone hasn't seen it before". The show, created by Simon Fuller, was the first show of its kind to be broadcast on both Univision and FOX simultaneously to over 30 million viewers nationwide, and was presented LIVE at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas before a public of over 10,000 people.

Ektor was part of the "Broadway and Beyond" concert cast, which opened the Walt Disney Theater in Dr. Phillips Center of Performing Arts in Orlando, Florida. The show was directed by Richard Jay-Alexander and included the participation of Sierra Boggess, Norm Lewis, Chris Mann, Deborah Voigt and Jane Monheit among others. All accompanied by the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra.

Acting career

His first role in theater was in the musical Fama (as Tyrone Jackson) produced by Sonia Valentín and Alba Nydia Díaz. After that, he has appeared as leading actor in adaptations of plays like Barrio arriba, barrio abajo, Rent (as Benjamin Coffin III), High School Musical (as Troy Bolton), Hairspray (as Seaweed Stubbs), Godspell (as Jesus), "and The Outsiders (as Dallas Winston) among others. In 2008, critic Ileana Cidoncha praised Ektor's "scenic presence" in the play Hairspray, where he interpreted the role of Seaweed Stubbs. In July 2016, Ektor made his Broadway debut as "Emilio Estefan" in the hit Broadway musical On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio & Gloria Estefan, at the Marquis Theatre in New York City.

Among his roles in films are: “Lucia, Ignacio y otras historias”, “Nene lindo”, "Tercera", "Pasión de mil amores", "Incógnita" (TV Series), and "Ill Viaggio". Ektor recently co-starred in "Stat Up" (as Eddie), a new drama for Crackle and Sony Pictures. As a Voice Over actor, Rivera recently joined the cast of the upcoming film "The Shallows" by Sony Pictures. Since 2014 he is part of a various promotional sketches in the Jimmy Kimmel Live Show for ABC in Hollywood, CA.

In 2011, Ektor was co-host of the show Yo Canto, alongside Daniela Droz. He has also hosted the educational show Aventura Científica, for Sistema TV.

Ektor has also been the face of marketing campaigns like Kellogg's Zucaritas (Frosted Flakes), Fruit of the Loom, Intel, JCPenney, MCDonalds, Sony, Coors Light, Heineken, among others.

Other ventures

Ektor has also dedicated himself to painting. He holds a bachelor's degree in Arts, with honors (Magna Cum Laude), on Imaging and Digital Design from the School of Plastic Arts of Puerto Rico. His first art exhibition was in 2005 and his paintings have traveled the world. One of his paintings (“Don Quijote”) made history at the “Miss World International 2010” competition held in Shanghai, China. The same was auctioned during the Charity Gala and it was designated as the piece of art with the highest collections. Art Collectors, politicians and artists such as Alejandro Fernández (international Mexican singer), Oliver Stone (director) and Benicio del Toro (actor) have acquired his paintings. To see more of Ektor Rivera’s art, access: www.EktorRiveraArt.com. He has presented several expositions of his work at museums in Puerto Rico. Some of his individual expositions are Persuasiones (2008), Iconos (2009), and Conexión (2012).

Personal life

Ektor married his girlfriend, Yara Lasanta, in December 2013 in a ceremony in Barranquitas, Puerto Rico.