Wade Dominguez was an American actor, model, singer, and dancer whose brief screen career included Dangerous Minds, City of Industry, Shadow of Doubt, and Taxman. He was best known for playing Emilio Ramírez in Dangerous Minds and died in Los Angeles in 1998 at age 32.
Background
Wade Robert Dominguez was born on May 10, 1966, in Santa Clara County, California. He attended Live Oak High School in Morgan Hill and graduated with the class of 1985. Morgan Hill, located in California's Santa Clara Valley, was the setting for his secondary education before he moved into entertainment work.
Dominguez later moved to Los Angeles, where he worked as a go-go dancer and clothing salesperson while pursuing modeling and acting. A modeling assignment in Italy led to a small role in an American soap opera, helping him begin the transition from modeling and dance to screen performance.
Education
Dominguez attended Live Oak High School in Morgan Hill and graduated in 1985. The school serves the Morgan Hill community in California's Santa Clara Valley and was part of the region's public secondary-education system during his student years.
After moving to Los Angeles, he studied acting in classes taught by Jeannie Berlin. Berlin's mother, writer and filmmaker Elaine May, saw Dominguez's work in class and recommended him for acting opportunities, contributing to his entry into professional film work.
Career
Dominguez began his entertainment career in modeling and dance, including assignments in Italy and work as a go-go dancer in Los Angeles. While in Italy, he obtained a small part in an American soap opera. He subsequently studied acting in Los Angeles and moved into feature-film roles.
His first credited feature-film appearance was in Erotique (1994), an anthology directed in part by Lizzie Borden, in which he played the Dream Sequence Lover in the segment "Let's Talk About Love." His best-known role followed in Dangerous Minds (1995), where he played Emilio Ramírez, a troubled student whose death is central to the film's dramatic story.
Dominguez next appeared as Jorge Montana in City of Industry (1997). In 1998 he played Bobby Medina in Shadow of Doubt and Joseph Romero, an NYPD beat cop, in Taxman. Taxman was released in the United States in 1999, after his death. He also received soundtrack credit as the performer of the songs "S.T.B." and "Release the Beast."
Dominguez died in Los Angeles on August 26, 1998, at age 32, from AIDS-related respiratory failure. His screen career therefore lasted only a few years, but his performance in Dangerous Minds remained his defining film role.
Achievements
Dominguez achieved his best-known screen success as Emilio Ramírez in Dangerous Minds (1995), a role that made him a recognizable supporting actor in a commercially successful American film.
(Drama directed by John N. Smith in which Dominguez played...)
1995
Connections
Dominguez had two brothers, Tom Dominguez and Vance Dominguez.
Brother:
Tom Dominguez
Brother:
Vance Dominguez
References
Wade Dominguez biography
Biographical reference documenting Dominguez's birth and death dates and places, birth name, acting work, and entertainment career.
Wade Dominguez filmography
Film reference documenting Dominguez's roles in Dangerous Minds, City of Industry, Shadow of Doubt, and The Taxman, as well as biographical details about his move to Los Angeles and acting training.
Wade Dominguez memorial and school record
Memorial reference identifying Dominguez as a Live Oak High School alumnus from the class of 1985 and recording his date of death.
