His sister is one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, thanks to her own storied career and enduring romance with Ryan Gosling.
But now Eva Mendes’ hunky younger brother Carlo Mendez is storming into the spotlight with a starring – and chilling – role on acclaimed Dexter reboot, Original Sin.
Carlo, 46, grabbed viewers’ attention when he made a sizzling first appearance as supervillain Hector Estrada in the Michael C. Hall led franchise.
Originally played by Nestor Serrano on Dexter’s original run, Mendez’s shirtless debut as the drug kingpin left fans wowed.
Carlo’s first scene showed the muscular cartel boss emerging from a pool after 100 laps as he met Dexter’s mother Laura Moser (Brittany Allen) for the first time in 1973.
The sinister portrayal has won Mendez plaudits, with fans saying: ‘Your performance and screen presence was fire’
Eva Mendes’ younger brother Carlo Mendez is storming into the spotlight with his turn on Dexter prequel, Original Sin
Carlo, 46, grabbed viewers’ attention when he made a sizzling first appearance as supervillain Hector Estrada in the Michael C. Hall led franchise . Originally played by Nestor Serrano on Dexter’s original run, Mendez’s shirtless debut as the drug kingpin left fans wowed
Carlo has won legions of fans with his stunning looks and stellar acting
‘I love it, I’m your number one fan, ‘Keeeeeeep killing it!!! and ‘your acting was on point!’
While Carlo has attracted a larger fanbase thanks to his role in the Showtime series, he has been a fulltime actor since his early 30s.
He was born in Los Angeles and raised in Miami with Eva and older brother Juan Carlos, who died from throat cancer in 2016 aged 53.
Carlo studied acting under renowned coach Ivanna Chubbock who has worked with actors including Halle Berry, Sylvester Stallone, Brad Pitt, Charlize Theron and his sister Eva.
He has previously said: ‘Acting, acting and more acting. I know I was born to do this.
‘Acting makes me feel empowered, in control, confident, a way to express myself and most importantly a way to have fun.’
His other screen credits include 90210, 911 and Parks and Recreation.
He had a recurring role on Emmy nominated show The Bay from 2013-2024 as Officer Benji Ramos.
Fans were left drooling over Mendez’s biggest role to date in Original Sin, which shows him playing a younger version of the drug dealer who killed Dexter’s mom (pictured R Nestor Serrano as Estrada in Dexter season seven in 2012)
Carlo posed up with brother-in-law Ryan Gosling at the 2024 SAG Awards
Reflecting on his fresh take on the iconic Dexter character, Carlo said: ‘A crazy killer. He’s very methodical. Knows exactly what he’s doing. Knows exactly what he wants — and knows exactly how he’s gonna get what he wants’
Estrada and his gang of drug dealers sparked Dexter’s Dark Passenger, when they murder Laura with a chainsaw in front of Dexter and his older brother Brian – with the murder depicted in Original Sin episode, Business and Pleasure
Away from acting Carlo regularly shares thirst traps
While Carlo has attracted a larger fanbase thanks to his role in the Showtime series, he has been a fulltime actor since his early 30s – pictured on set of The Bay
While Eva retired from acting in 2014, Carlo is looking to expand his own career with his darker role on Original Sin, which is a departure from his past comedic roles.
He hopes the role in the Dexter universe, which has become Showtime’s most streamed premiere with over 2.1 million global cross-platform viewers, will open the doors to more gritty roles.
‘Because nobody has seen me do this kind of character, hopefully this will give me more opportunities’ he told the Boston Herald this month, ‘Usually, I play a cop but I’m actually the funny guy. So as a dark character like this, nobody’s seen that.’
Announcing his role in a post to his fans he wrote: ‘Here it is, my role on @sho_dexter, playing Hector Estrada, this is a very interesting role cause it’s something I’ve never really played before, a scary cartel boss who always gets what he wants, but what’s even scarier is that I don’t know how to swim but i guess I pulled it off somehow. The show is really great so make sure to watch it. More to come
Carlo said he has never traded on his famous sister and last name, and is determined to make it on his own.
‘It’s a very tough industry. There’s a lot of competition. You just have to keep working hard. In having a famous sibling, most people don’t know unless they happen to find out we have the same last name.”
He added that while he maintains a close relationship with Eva, the pair ‘don’t talk when it comes to business’ as he’s ‘not trying to ask for any favors.’
‘I’m just trying to do as much as I can on my own and prove myself as much as I can’, he said.
Reflecting on his fresh take on the iconic Dexter character, Carlo said: ‘A crazy killer. He’s very methodical. Knows exactly what he’s doing. Knows exactly what he wants — and knows exactly how he’s gonna get what he wants.
‘I don’t really judge. I just go about how this guy wants what he wants. He doesn’t see himself as bad; he sees himself as a businessman. And it’s never, ever personal with him. It’s all just business.’
Dexter fans saw Carlo’s character Estrada sign Moser’s death warrant when he found out she is a police informant and having sex with police officer Harry Morgan, Dexter’s future adoptive father.
He has previously said: ‘Acting, acting and more acting. I know I was born to do this. ‘Acting makes me feel empowered, in control, confident, a way to express myself and most importantly a way to have fun’
Carlo said he has never traded on his famous sister and last name, and is determined to make it on his own. ‘It’s a very tough industry. There’s a lot of competition. You just have to keep working hard. In having a famous sibling, most people don’t know unless they happen to find out we have the same last name’ – Ryan and Eva seen in 2012’s The Place Beyond The Pines
The star is seen flashing his muscles in the gym on Instagram
Estrada and his gang of drug dealers sparked Dexter’s Dark Passenger, when they murder Laura with a chainsaw in front of Dexter and his older brother Brian – with the slaying depicted in Original Sin episode, Business and Pleasure.
Harrowing scenes saw Estrada cutting off the arm of an informant with a chainsaw, while a horrified Moser looked on, knowing she was next.
Carlo now takes on his first lead role in new thriller Demise in which he plays married landscaper Caleb Castillo, who is involved in a scandal with fashion star Fiona Hernandez.
He has remained close to Eva, proudly sharing a photo with her in 2022 captioned: ‘Throwback to an event my sis did 3 years ago already, one of the hardest working women in show biz, wow times flies, cheers to more good times in spite of all the craziness that’s going on. Grateful, humble and hungry, keep on keeping on.’
Carlo also joined brother-in-law Ryan at the 2024 SAG Awards where the Barbie star was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his hilarious portrayal of Ken.
He wrote: ‘had such an amazing time at the @sagawards that I forgot to take an actual photo cause I was just so amazed by everyone who was there. My first time going but not my last. Work hard and never give up on your dreams. Nothing is impossible if you believe in yourself.
In April 2024 he gushed over his sister and partner Gosling being ‘amazing parents’ to their daughters Esmeralda, 9, and Amada, 7.
He said: ‘They really talk to the girls. The way they ask them questions—I’ve seen it—they’re like, ‘What do you think of this? What do you think of that?’ They are awesome.’
Carlo showed off his gory make-up as he filmed another project
Carlo takes on his first lead role in new thriller Demise in which he plays married landscaper Caleb Castillo, who is involved in a scandal with fashion star Fiona Hernandez
Reflecting on his own family plans, Mendez said he realizes ‘that having kids is a lot’ and he is focused on his career first.
He said: ‘If it happens, it happens. But I’m not looking forward to it right now.
‘Robert De Niro and Al Pacino became dads at 80, so I got time. I have to make my career happen first, then I can have time.’
New episodes of Dexter: Original Sin premiere every Friday on Paramount +.
