We're rewatching Suburgatory (2011-2014), about a high school girl transplanted from cool Manhattan to the ritzy suburban town of Chatswin, Connecticut. I have yet to understand the opening lyrics: "Last night I had a dah dah dah dah," which the subtitles translate as "perfect nightmare." I don't like the low-key homophobia, with several "everybody thinks he's gay, har har" plotlines. But it's a nostalgic pleasure remembering those long-ago days before the homophobes took over. Plus there are lots of cute guys.
Today I'm researching Edward Padilla, who plays country club lackey Jauvier. He's not as swoonworthy as Joe Mande on Modern Family, but he's cute, and 5'6". Short is short.
Eddie was born in 1972, and grew up in San Diego, He received a B.A. in Theater from the University of Southern California, plus a Master of Public Health from the Keck School of Medicine. I couldn't find any photos from the 1990s except this one, which may be of another "Eddie Padilla."
His on-camera work begins with Mr. Jones (1993): Richard Gere, years after his iconic nude scene in American Gigolo, plays a mentally ill guy who starts a romance with his therapist. Eddie plays a bellboy.
His television work begins in Mexico with Tales from Beyond (2003) the Spanish version of the paranormal investigation show, and Te amaré en silencio (2003-04), a telenovela about a deaf girl. and the pilot Mi Vida Lorca (2004), which has nothing to do with the gay poet Federico Garcia Lorca.
Next he played a delivery driver on The King of Queens, a baby on The Drew Carey Show,a priest on Bones , Windfall, a priest on Dirt, and a judge on Southland.while pursuing a career in public health.
Eddie's IMDB page says that he's best known for Man On Fire (2004), with Denzel Washington as a CIA agent who vows revenge on those who committed "unspeakable acts." But he only worked as "Additional Crew." Maybe it's memorable because of Denzel.
That explains the other movies on the "best known for" list: Colombian Military Officer in Mr and Mrs Smith (2005), with Brad Pitt; Test Site Technician in Spider-Man 3 (2007), with Tobey Maguire; and Addiitonal Crew on Get the Gringo (2012), with Mel Gibson.
The gay ally Brad Pit, the heterosexist Tobey Maguire, and the frothing homophobe Mel Gibson. You're all over the map, dude.
I'd rather remember him for shows where he actually acted, such as Jauvier in Suburgatory (2011-2014), a priest on Jane the Virgin (2015), a priest on Will and Grace (2017), a preacher on I'm Dying Up Here (2018), a priest in Pecados Ajenos (2021).
Getting typecast, buddy?
The only queer content I can see is in Big Tony's Ballet (2020): In the 1950s, mobster Big Tony must deal with his 7-year old son's interest in ballet. God and God's Husband appear
And Quinceañera (2024): At the party celebrating her 15th birthday, a girl "confronts her feelings for a shy girl she met at dance practice." Edward plays a priest, of course.
More after the break