An American Story

Auteur

From his breakout role as 'Fez' on the Emmy-nominated series That '70s Show to playing Nick Torres in the #1 TV drama NCIS on CBS, actor, producer, and activist Wilmer Valderrama has been making audiences laugh, listen and think for over two decades. On the big screen, he lent his voice to the Academy Award-winning Disney animated film Encanto, which became a cultural phenomenon. Behind the camera, in 2006, Wilmer established his production company, WV Entertainment, where he continues to develop and produce projects in the alternative and scripted spaces. Valderrama is active in several philanthropic agencies. He's the co-founder of Harness, a group dedicated to connecting communities through conversation to inspire action, serves on the board of Voto Latino and sits on the National Hispanic Media Coalition's (NHMC) Visionary Alliance which aims to foster opportunities for Latinx talent in the entertainment industry through the Series Scriptwriters program and the Latinx Stream Showcase. Wilmer is deeply involved with the military community, serving as a USO Global Ambassador and participating in various shows worldwide. Born in Miami and raised in Venezuela until the age of 13, Valderrama is fluent in Spanish and English. He and his family reside in Los Angeles.

Texte du rabat

The remarkable true story of a young immigrant from Venezuela who had a dream to change the world, a talent for entertaining, and a determined spirit to build a new life, taking as many as possible with him on the journey.

Résumé

A love letter to America from the pen of actor, producer, immigrant, and activist Wilmer Valderrama.

In this timely memoir, Valderrama looks back on his journey from a tiny pueblo in Venezuela to the big city of Los Angeles—how he discovered his calling as an actor and later as a USO Global Ambassador, found work in Hollywood as an unproven Latino actor, and used his determination and success to build a new life for himself, his family, and many others.

Raised by two hard working parents as they navigated their family through a rapidly changing country and the rise of Venezuela's controversial former leader Hugo Chavez, Valderrama delves into his family's flight from their home and the challenges of emigrating to the United States.

After being cast in a school theatre production, Valderrama knew he had found his calling and began thinking of ways to help support his struggling family. He would attempt the impossible: find work in Hollywood as an unproven Latino actor. Following countless auditions and frequent criticisms of his accent, he created the personality that would eventually land him the role as Fez on That 70s Show.

It catapulted him to stardom.

Over the coming years, he would create the smash show, Yo Mamma, voice the lead character in Disney's Encanto, and eventually join the cast of NCIS. But it was through service to others and his first USO trip where Valderrama found his further calling—entertaining and encouraging U.S. troops around the world.

The saga of a determined soul, An American Story: Everyone's Invited is an exploration of America through the eyes of a young immigrant from Venezuela who had a dream to change the world, a talent for entertaining, and the resolve to build a new life, taking as many as possible with him on the journey.

"This is my way of showing my love, my gratitude to the country that changed my whole life."