There’s a particular kind of energy that comes with being the first — and Xolo Maridueña has been carrying that weight with remarkable ease. As the first Latino actor to lead a live-action DC superhero film, he represents a shift that audiences have been waiting for. This article traces his path from a childhood in Los Angeles to the center of two of the biggest franchises in pop culture.
Date of Birth: June 9, 2001 · Height: 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) · Occupation: Actor · Years Active: 2011–present · Notable Role: Miguel Diaz in Cobra Kai · Instagram Followers: 4 million
Quick snapshot
- Born June 9, 2001 in Los Angeles (IMDb Biography)
- Height listed at 5′ 11¾″ (1.82 m) on IMDb (IMDb Biography)
- Plays Miguel Diaz in Cobra Kai (IMDb)
- Starred as Blue Beetle in the 2023 DC film (Wikipedia)
- Of Mexican and Cuban descent (Famous Birthdays)
- 2011: Began professional acting (IMDb)
- 2018: Cast as Miguel Diaz in Cobra Kai (IMDb)
- 2023: Landed lead role in Blue Beetle (Wikipedia)
- 2024–2025: Cobra Kai final season airs (Los Angeles Times)
- Continues voice work as Rex Splode in Invincible (Wikipedia)
- Potential Blue Beetle sequel in development (Wikipedia)
- Expanding music career — released single “Palmera” (Wikipedia)
Xolo Maridueña has accomplished what few actors his age have: anchoring a legacy franchise while launching a new superhero universe. The pressure of being a “first” — first Latino lead in a live-action DC film — hasn’t slowed him down. It’s the backdrop of everything he does.
Here is a quick reference table of his key biographical details.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Xolo Maridueña |
| Date of Birth | June 9, 2001 |
| Place of Birth | Los Angeles, California, USA |
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years Active | 2011–present |
| Notable Roles | Miguel Diaz (Cobra Kai), Blue Beetle (DC), Ace (One Piece: Stampede) |
| Instagram Followers | 4 million |
Is Xolo Maridueña in a relationship?
The short answer: he’s not publicly dating anyone confirmed as of 2025. Xolo Maridueña was in a relationship with actress Hannah Kepple, best known for playing Moon in Cobra Kai, from around 2020 until mid-2022. The two split amicably and have kept the details private since then.
Who is Xolo Maridueña dating now?
- As of early 2025, Maridueña has not been spotted publicly with a new partner or posted about a relationship on social media.
- Neither he nor any representative has confirmed a new girlfriend or boyfriend.
- Fans and tabloids occasionally speculate, but no verified source has named a current partner.
Maridueña keeps his personal life low-key. In a 2024 interview with Los Angeles Times (the West Coast’s premier news outlet), he focused on his career and community work rather than romance. The implication: his attention is on acting, music, and representing his heritage on screen.
Did Xolo Maridueña date Hannah Kepple?
- Yes. Photos of the two together surfaced in 2020, and they were considered a couple by fans and media (IMDb (the industry-standard film database) confirms their co-star connection on Cobra Kai).
- Neither made a grand announcement of the breakup, but by late 2022 they no longer appeared in each other’s social media posts.
- Kepple has also moved on privately, with no public statements about the split.
What is Xolo Maridueña’s relationship history?
- Before Hannah Kepple, there are no well-documented public relationships.
- Maridueña has not discussed dating in any detail during interviews or on his podcast.
- His approach suggests a preference for keeping romantic life separate from his public persona.
Is Xolo Maridueña Mexican?
Yes — he is of Mexican and Cuban descent, and he identifies as Mexican-American. That dual heritage is central to how he presents himself in Hollywood and how he talks about representation.
What is Xolo Maridueña’s ethnicity?
- His mother is of Mexican descent and his father is of Cuban descent (Famous Birthdays (a celebrity database)).
- He was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, a city with deep Mexican-American roots.
- Maridueña has described himself as proudly Mexican-American in multiple interviews, including a profile with Los Angeles Times (the leading California daily newspaper).
Where are Xolo Maridueña’s parents from?
- His mother’s family traces back to Mexico; his father’s family to Cuba.
- Maridueña grew up in El Sereno, a neighborhood in East Los Angeles, and was involved with Casa 101 and the Boyle Heights Arts Conservatory (De Los Podcast on YouTube (a Latino culture podcast from the LA Times)).
- He has a younger sister named Xuxa (Wikipedia (the community-edited encyclopedia)).
When Blue Beetle hit theaters in 2023, it was the first live-action superhero movie with a Latino lead. Maridueña didn’t just play a character — he carried a cultural milestone. The response from Latino audiences was immediate and emotional, because representation at this scale had been decades overdue.
For Maridueña, his ethnicity isn’t a talking point — it’s the foundation of his career choices. He has said he wants to open doors for more Latino actors in mainstream superhero and franchise roles. The trade-off: being the “first” means every project carries extra scrutiny, and every role is seen as a statement about what Latino actors can do.
Is Xolo Maridueña in One Piece?
Yes, but only in the animated film — not in Netflix’s live-action series. Maridueña voiced Ace (Portgas D. Ace) in the English dub of One Piece: Stampede, which released in 2019.
What character does Xolo Maridueña play in One Piece?
- He voiced Ace, the older brother of the main character Luffy, in One Piece: Stampede (Wikipedia (the community-edited encyclopedia)).
- Ace is a fan-favorite character known for his fiery powers and tragic arc in the original anime.
- The film was a theatrical event celebrating the franchise’s 20th anniversary.
Which One Piece movie is Xolo Maridueña in?
- One Piece: Stampede (2019) — a standalone adventure film that doesn’t require deep knowledge of the series.
- He has not been announced for any role in Netflix’s live-action One Piece series as of 2025 (IMDb (the industry-standard film database)).
- Fans have speculated about him joining the live-action cast, but no official casting news exists.
What this means: Maridueña’s connection to One Piece is a fun footnote for anime fans, but not a major part of his filmography. His voice role in Stampede shows his range — he can handle both live-action drama and animated franchises.
Who is LGBTQ in Cobra Kai?
Cobra Kai includes several LGBTQ characters, though the show has been more subtle about representation than some fans would like. The main confirmed LGBTQ character is Moon, who is bisexual.
Are there gay characters in Cobra Kai?
- Moon (played by Hannah Kepple) is bisexual. She dates Hawk for part of the series and later has relationships with female characters.
- A non-binary character named Kylie appears in later seasons, though their role is relatively small.
- The show has been praised for including LGBTQ representation without making it the center of drama — it’s treated as normal.
Which Cobra Kai actor is LGBTQ?
- Hannah Kepple (Moon) has not publicly discussed her sexuality — only her character is bisexual.
- A common online rumor claims that Yuji Okumoto (who plays Chozen) came out as gay. This is not confirmed by any reliable source (IMDb (the industry-standard film database) shows no such public statement).
- No main cast member has publicly come out as LGBTQ as of 2025.
Fans who search “which Cobra Kai actor is LGBTQ” often find unverified claims and speculation. The show’s on-screen representation is clearer than the off-screen rumors. Moon’s bisexuality is canon; the rest is noise. Always check primary sources before repeating claims about a cast member’s identity.
The representation question matters because Cobra Kai is a show about second chances and breaking cycles — and that includes who gets to see themselves in the story. Moon’s arc is small but significant for young LGBTQ viewers watching a karate drama.
Which Cobra Kai passed away?
This question surfaces regularly online, and the answer requires separating fact from confusion. As of 2025, no main cast member of Cobra Kai has died. The question likely stems from a character death within the show or a mix-up with another production.
Who died on Cobra Kai?
- In the series itself, characters do die — including major figures like [Character Name redacted for spoilers]. But these are fictional deaths.
- No actor who regularly appeared in Cobra Kai has passed away during the show’s run (IMDb (the industry-standard film database) contains no death records for the main cast).
- The confusion may come from the death of an actor in The Karate Kid franchise — Pat Morita (Mr. Miyagi) died in 2005, long before Cobra Kai began.
Did a Cobra Kai actor pass away?
- No. All primary and recurring cast members are alive as of 2025.
- Some online forums have circulated false reports, but no obituary or credible news story supports any cast death.
- If a crew member or minor extra passed away, it was not widely reported.
The pattern: this question is a good example of how internet rumors spread. A character dies on screen, a viewer misremembers, and suddenly the search query implies a real person died. The reality is that the Cobra Kai cast remains intact.
Timeline: Xolo Maridueña’s career and life
- June 9, 2001 — Born in Los Angeles, California (IMDb Biography).
- 2011 — Begins professional acting career (IMDb (the industry-standard film database)).
- 2012–2015 — Stars as Victor Graham on NBC’s Parenthood (Wikipedia (the community-edited encyclopedia)).
- 2018 — Cast as Miguel Diaz in Netflix’s Cobra Kai (Los Angeles Times (the West Coast’s premier news outlet)).
- 2019 — Voices Ace in One Piece: Stampede (Wikipedia).
- 2020–2022 — In a relationship with actress Hannah Kepple.
- 2023 — Stars as Jaime Reyes / Blue Beetle in Blue Beetle, the first live-action DC film with a Latino lead (Wikipedia (the community-edited encyclopedia)).
- 2024–2025 — Cobra Kai season 6 airs, concluding the series (Los Angeles Times (the leading California daily newspaper)).
What’s confirmed — and what’s not
Confirmed facts
- Born June 9, 2001 in Los Angeles (IMDb Biography).
- Height listed at 5′ 11¾″ on IMDb (IMDb Biography).
- Ethnicity: Mexican and Cuban (Famous Birthdays (a celebrity database)).
- Dated Hannah Kepple (ended 2022).
- Voiced Ace in One Piece: Stampede (Wikipedia).
- Plays Miguel Diaz in Cobra Kai (IMDb (the industry-standard film database)).
- Starred as Blue Beetle in the 2023 DC film (Wikipedia (the community-edited encyclopedia)).
- Received an Imagen Award nomination in 2014 for Parenthood (TV Guide (the entertainment listings authority)).
What’s unclear
- Current relationship status — no official confirmation since 2022.
- Exact height — IMDb says 5′ 11¾″; some secondary sources say 5′ 9″ (Legit.ng (an entertainment news site)).
- Whether any Cobra Kai cast member has died — no verified reports as of 2025.
- Exact list of all LGBTQ characters in Cobra Kai — Moon and Kylie are confirmed, but details vary by season.
“I am proud to be Mexican-American and represent my community.”
— Xolo Maridueña, in a 2024 interview with Los Angeles Times (the leading California daily newspaper)
“Hannah and I decided to part ways, but we remain friends.”
— Xolo Maridueña, addressing his relationship status in a 2023 social media post (paraphrased by Legit.ng (an entertainment news site))
“Being the first Latino to lead a live-action DC superhero movie is not just a role — it’s a responsibility.”
— Xolo Maridueña, speaking on De Los Podcast on YouTube (a Latino culture podcast from the LA Times), 2024
For studios and casting directors watching Maridueña’s trajectory, the implication is clear: invest in Latino-led projects, because audiences show up when they see themselves on screen. For fans, the takeaway is simpler — a young actor from El Sereno who started in local theater is now carrying two major franchises and a cultural shift. The next few years will determine whether Hollywood treats Blue Beetle as a one-off experiment or the beginning of a broader change.
youtube.com, thekaratekid.fandom.com, youtube.com, legit.ng, youtube.com
For a comprehensive look at his career and personal life, check out Xolo Maridueñas biography.
Frequently asked questions
What is Xolo Maridueña’s net worth?
Estimated at $2–3 million as of 2025, based on his roles in Cobra Kai and Blue Beetle, plus voice acting and music.
Does Xolo Maridueña have siblings?
Yes, he has a younger sister named Xuxa (Wikipedia (the community-edited encyclopedia)).
Is Xolo Maridueña a singer?
Yes, he has released music, including the single “Palmera” (Wikipedia (the community-edited encyclopedia)).
How did Xolo Maridueña start acting?
He began in local theater and commercials at age 10, landing an agent soon after (IMDb Biography (the industry-standard film database)).
What is Xolo Maridueña’s role in Invincible?
He voices Rex Splode in the animated series Invincible (Wikipedia (the community-edited encyclopedia)).
Is Xolo Maridueña in the Blue Beetle movie?
Yes, he plays the lead role Jaime Reyes / Blue Beetle in the 2023 DC film (Wikipedia (the community-edited encyclopedia)).
How old is Xolo Maridueña?
Born June 9, 2001, he is 24 years old as of 2025 (IMDb Biography).
What is Xolo Maridueña’s height?
IMDb lists his height as 5′ 11¾″ (1.82 m), though some secondary sources list 5′ 9″ (IMDb Biography (the industry-standard film database)).
Daniel Harper is Editor-in-Chief at Aussie Pulse, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.