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‘NAPOLEON DYNAMITE’ ACTOR PLAYS NEW ROLE

Posted on April 26, 2009

SAN ANTONIO — Efren Ramirez is happy to credit his scene-stealing role as class president candidate Pedro in “Napoleon Dynamite” with launching his career.

“People love it. They go bananas when they recognize me,” says Ramirez, who stars in “Crank: High Voltage,” which opened on Friday.

“As an actor you always want to challenge yourself. You want to show the audience something different, and playing Pedro was that for me,” says Ramirez, 35, who underwent three months of kung fu and gymnastics training for “Crank: High Voltage.”

The sequel to 2006’s “Crank” chronicles the further adventures of British hit man Chev Chelios (Jason Statham). Ramirez, who played Chev’s street contact Kaylo in “Crank,” now has the role of Kaylo’s twin brother, Venus.

Playing a dark character out to avenge his twin’s death was both physically and mentally challenging, says Ramirez, who focuses on his DJ business Nocturnal Rampage when he’s not acting or writing. He co-authored the 2008 motivational book “Direct Your Own Life: How To Be A Star In Any Field You Choose” with filmmaker Chris Barrett.

“You know you’re onto something when you have to leave your comfort zone,” he says.

Ramirez, an East Los Angeles-raised Latino of Mexican and Salvadoran descent, started acting when his mother enrolled him in theater classes to keep him out of trouble.

After more than 10 years as an actor, including guest spots on “ER” and “Judging Amy,” Ramirez turned down a part in “The Alamo” to work on “Napoleon Dynamite.”

“The movie is something they love, so that’s a good thing,” he says of the role that inspired real-life versions of the “Vote for Pedro” T-shirts. “My life was completely changed because of that wonderful movie.”

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