David Barrera

David Joel Barrera (born December 28, 1968) is an American actor renowned for his versatility on both television and film. From his early days growing up in San Juan, Texas, where he joined the high school theater club, Barrera displayed a passion for performance that would shape his future career. He earned a BFA from Southern Methodist University before honing his craft in the graduate acting program at the University of California, San Diego, where he was honored with the Princess Grace Award in acting. Since his professional debut in 1990, Barrera has built a robust résumé that includes recurring roles and memorable guest appearances across a spectrum of popular series such as Grimm, Heroes, CSI: Miami, Boston Legal, Medium, Nip/Tuck, NYPD Blue, Murder One, Without a Trace, The West Wing, The Big Bang Theory, and 24, the latter earning him an ALMA Award nomination. His portrayal of Gunnery Sgt. Ray “Casey Kasem” Griego in the critically acclaimed HBO miniseries Generation Kill highlighted his ability to convey complex, gritty characters with authenticity. In addition to television, Barrera’s film work includes roles in Evan Almighty, Infinity, No Way Back, and The United States of Leland, where he played the First Officer. He also ventured into voice work for video games, expanding his artistic reach. Beyond acting, Barrera contributes to the next generation of performers as an adjunct faculty member teaching acting at Azusa Pacific University. His personal life reflects stability; he married fellow actress Maria Canals in 1999, and together they have two daughters, Bridget and Madeleine, balancing a thriving career with family commitments.