Guzman On Fire

RYAN GUZMAN, the star of Fox’s 9-1-1, on difficult dancing, pushing past pain, and sharing the screen with Sylvester Stallone.

- Steve Mazzucchi

Growing up in Sacramento, CA, Ryan Guzman dreamed of Octagon glory, not Hollywood fame. But modeling led to acting, and suddenly the taekwondo black belt with no dancing experience was starring in Step Up Revolution. That’s perhaps fitting, because he’s been stepping up his whole career—most recently to play a hunky firefighter on Fox’s pulse-pounding drama 9-1-1. As the series returns, he grapples with our questions.

What excites you about your character, Eddie Diaz?

Playing a father. Working with Gavin [McHugh, who plays Eddie’s son with cerebral palsy] is one of the best things I’ve been able to do as an actor.

What can viewers look forward to next on 9-1-1?

You never really know what’s coming at you, whether we’re blowing people’s arms off or an earthquake destroys L.A. or whatnot. So I’m gonna guess some extreme EMT stuff, or we have to, I don’t know, sew a guy’s face together!