By Stacy-Marie Luce
Cuban-American actor Danny Pino, also known as Detective Scotty Valens in “Cold Case” and Nick Amaro in the long running NBC legal drama “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” returned to his alma mater at FIU to discuss his path to success and diversity in acting with students.
Pino made a grand entrance in the room as he was praised by the audience. He was accompanied by his wife and parents, and welcomed by Juan Carlos Espinosa, Interim Dean and Fellow of the Honors College.
As a graduate of FIU Honors College, Pino answered many questions submitted by students, most of them from the Department of Theatre.
“You’re looking at Instagram and everybody’s living the life! Everybody is on vacation, having fun. But what you don’t see is the failure, the lows, the struggles. This is what we should seek more, especially as artists. Failure is what inspires true expression,” said Pino.
Pino talked about the life lessons he learned at FIU and made a brief trip down memory lane by cheering his favorite professors, such as Lesley-Ann Timlick or Phillip Church. He encouraged students to learn as much as they can from their professors and their college experience.
“It was always important for me to get it right. But thanks to the experience I had at FIU with the amazing teachers, I learned the value of failure; embrace failure,” he said.
Even though Pino is well-known for his acting career, it hasn’t always been easy for him. From FIU to a graduate acting program at New York University, Pino managed to network and work his way to Los Angeles, with the support of his wife, where he struggled to land roles.
“I auditioned for a show, and the casting directors told me I was just too pretty for the role. So I worked on it, came back in character, and I became Armadillo Quintero on ‘The Shield’,” said Pino.
Luckily, the casting director of “The Shield” was also the one for Cold Case and helped Pino move on to his next show.
“When you put everything into it and you are collaborative, people will remember that. Sometimes it would bring me to tears not to land roles, but perseverance is the key,” said Pino.
As part of FIU Diversity Week, the discussion also revolved around its name. The moderator, Shirlyon McWhorter, Director and Chair of Board of Equal Opportunity and Diversity Program, invited Pino to discuss the lack of diversity in Hollywood.
“I think it is a multifaceted problem. There needs to be more content written for actors who are minorities, whether it is racially, or how they identify sexually. There are huge gaps in what Hollywood represents as our society,” said Pino.
Far from only blaming the kingpins of Hollywood, Pino insists that everyone is responsible for a more diverse cinematographic scene.
“We, consumers, are responsible. We have to support the people we want to see, seek out content. Hollywood is not going to change on its own, take example on Black Panther. I want to support artists who I think have very powerful voices. Create what you want to see,” Pinosaid.
When McWhorter asked Pino how he manages to stay humble through the fame, he answers that he would not be able to do it without his family.
“My four brothers do not respond well to anything that isn’t real. Our parents raised us to love one another, and they keep me grounded,”said Pino.
Organized by FIU’s Equal Opportunity and Diversity Program, Diversity Week will continue through Sunday, April 8. Upcoming activities include a Women of Influence Breakfast, an Organic Garden, and the Miami Beach Pride Parade on Ocean Drive in South Beach.
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