Edgar Ramírez is a Venezuelan actor born on March 25, 1977. His parents, Filiberto Ramírez and Soday Arellano, worked as a military officer and an attorney, respectively. He has one sister named Nataly. Due to his father's military career, Ramírez spent much of his early life traveling to different countries, which contributed to his fluency in multiple languages—Spanish, English, Italian, French, and German.

Ramírez graduated in 1999 from Andrés Bello Catholic University in Caracas, majoring in mass communication. Initially drawn to international relations, he pursued journalism during his college years and became actively involved in creating media campaigns for radio, television, and movie theaters. In collaboration with friends, he co-produced a short film and managed its international promotion, an experience that brought him critical acclaim and ultimately steered him toward a professional acting career.

Acting Career Beginnings

Ramírez began his acting career by appearing in the Venezuelan telenovela Cosita Rica, which aired from September 2003 to August 2004 and comprised 270 episodes. His performance opened doors for more significant roles in international cinema.

In 2005, he appeared in Tony Scott’s thriller Domino, followed by roles in high-profile films including Vantage Point (2008), where he played a suspected terrorist, and Steven Soderbergh’s Che, in which he took on the role of Cuban revolutionary Ciro Redondo. That same year, he played the mysterious assassin Paz in the blockbuster The Bourne Ultimatum (2007).

Breakthrough with “Carlos”

Ramírez received critical acclaim for his portrayal of Ilich Ramírez Sánchez, also known as Carlos the Jackal, in the 2010 French-German miniseries Carlos. His performance earned him the César Award for Most Promising Actor and nominations for an Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. The series marked a turning point in his international acting career.