Raúl Castillo Biography: Age, Net Worth, Movies, Height, Wife, Parents, TV Shows, Instagram

Raúl Castillo Jr. is an American actor and playwright known for his breakout role as Richie in the HBO series Looking and his scene-stealing performance in the A24 film We the Animals. Raised in a Mexican-American family near the Texas-Mexico border, he brings authentic bicultural perspectives to both stage and screen.

Early Life and Education

Raúl Castillo Jr. was born on 30 August 1977 in McAllen, Texas, to Raúl H. Castillo Sr. and Adela “Adelita” Rodríguez de Castillo, both immigrants from Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico. He grew up with an older brother named Tony and an unnamed younger sister.

He attended Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School before graduating from McAllen High School, where he was heavily involved in the drama department. For higher education, he studied at Boston University College of Fine Arts, earning a Bachelor’s degree in theater with an emphasis on playwriting in 1999. He was raised in Roman Catholic traditions within a heavily bicultural Mexican-American community.

Career

Raúl Castillo began his career as a playwright in New York, writing and performing in off-off-Broadway productions while working day jobs. Early years involved small theater roles and guest spots on television shows like Law & Order. His first major breakthrough came with the stage play The Happiest Song Plays Last at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre, which led to casting agents noticing his raw, naturalistic style.

He landed the role of Richie in HBO’s Looking (2014–2016), a nuanced portrayal of a Mexican-American barber navigating queer life in San Francisco. That performance opened doors to film: We the Animals (2018), The Inspection (2022), and Cassandro (2023).

Castillo also co-starred in Netflix’s Army of the Dead and voiced characters in animated series. His influence extends beyond acting into authentic Latinx storytelling, often choosing projects that reflect borderland experiences. He continues to write and develop original stage work while maintaining a steady film and television career.

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @raulcastillo

Personal Life

Raúl Castillo, 48 years old and standing 1.75 m tall, married Alexis Forte on 24 July 2023 after dating since approximately 2013 and getting engaged in 2022. He has no children. Known for keeping his private life out of tabloids, he remains connected to his Texas roots and often speaks about how his parents’ immigration from Reynosa shaped his artistic perspective. He divides time between New York and Los Angeles.

Net Worth

Raúl Castillo has an estimated net worth of $2 million. His income derives primarily from television acting salaries (Looking, Army of the Dead), independent film roles, off-Broadway theater work, voice acting, and playwriting commissions, along with residuals from streaming platforms.