Carlo Albán (born October 3, 1979) is an Ecuadorian actor, best known as "Carlo" from Sesame Street (1993–98). He played the role of Luis "McGrady" Gallego on Prison Break (2007–08). He has since gone on to perform in a variety of mediums, including plays and television shows.
Early life Albán arrived in the U.S. at the age of 7 with his family on a travel visa. However, his family intended to stay in the United States despite the potential consequences, living on an expired visa with the risk of deportation always prevalent. When he was 12 he got his first role in Oliver! as the title character. He then went on to other roles in New York until he was cast on Sesame Street.
Raised in Sayreville, New Jersey, Albán graduated from Sayreville War Memorial High School in 1996; he was inducted into the school's hall of fame in 2019.Sockol, Matthew. "Sayreville Hall of Fame ceremony is April 27", CentralJersey.com, March 19, 2019. Accessed April 8, 2021. "Alban is from the Class of 1996 and has had a career in the arts for over 25 years. As a teenager, he portrayed the character Carlo on Sesame Street and has appeared on several other television series, including as a member of the cast of Prison Break." He attended Rutgers University, majoring in visual arts.
Sesame Street Albán was on Sesame Street from 1993 to 1998, during which time he was undocumented. In response to lacking proper documentation, he said, "what better place to hide than in the spotlight where no one would suspect you?" Albán wrote an autobiographical solo play Intríngulis, in which he relates his experience growing up as an undocumented immigrant.
Career Film & Television
He has had recurring roles in Strangers with Candy, Thicker Than Blood, and The Tavern. He has guest starred on Law & Order, The Jury, Touched by an Angel, the HBO prison-themed series Oz, Deadline, Law & Order: Criminal Intent and in Prison Break as Luis "McGrady" Gallego. He played "Birdman" in the film Whip It.
Theater
Albán has made appearances on the stage, including multiple Off-Broadway shows and on Broadway in Sweat. He originated the role of Oscar in the world premiere production of Sweat at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in 2015.
Sweat Alban starred in Sweat, the Pulitzer Prize Winner for Drama 2017. Sweat ran on Broadway through June 2017 and tackles the issues that a group of friends and coworkers must deal with as their jobs are threatened.
Filmography ProductionDateRoleBlack Bird2022Chris DrysdaleMile 222018William DouglasThe Night Of (TV Mini-Series)2016H.O.M.E.2016MannySleeping with Other People2015Microcenter EmployeePalladium (Short)2014Stefon AlexanderThe Bravest, the Boldest (Short)2014Chaplain Lieutenant TorresGirls (TV Series)2014The Sonnet Project (TV Series)2013Cannonball Beautiful (Short)2011BearMargaret2011RodrigoThe Big Deal (Short)2011AuggieHector is Gonna Kill Nate (Short)2010HectorWhip It2009BirdmanFringe (TV Series)2008FBI Tech AgentGlow Ropes: The Rise and Fall of a Bar Mitzvah Emcee2008BarryPrison Break (TV Series)2007-2008McGradyThe Tape Recorder (Short)2007ManLife Support (TV Movie)2007AndreDentist Visit (Short)2007JuanLive Free or Die2006Todd ThomasLaw & Order: Criminal Intent (TV Series)2005James RaphaelStrangers with Candy2005MegawattiThe Jury (TV Series)2004Douglas Santago21 Grams2003LucioSnipes2001BugsyDeadline (TV Series)2000MannyCenter Stage2000Eva's FriendLaw & Order (TV Series)1996-2000Ramon Soriano / DamienTouched by an Angel (TV Series)1999Tino MoranteThe Tavern1999TommyOz (TV Series)1999Luis RicardoHi-Life1998RickyThicker Than Blood (TV Movie)1998Lee CortezSesame Street (TV Series)1993-1998CarloHurricane Streets1997BennyImagine That! (Video short)1996CarloSesame Street: Cookie Monster's Best Bites (Video)1995
Performances Regional Theatre Productions TitleVenueSweatOSF, Public Theater, BroadwayA ParallelogramCenter Theatre GroupLydiaDenver, Yale, Center Theatre GroupHurricaneAsolo Repertory TheatreAll About UsWestportDreamlandiaDallas Theatre CenterNight of the IguanaGuthrie Theater
New York Productions TitleVenueTamburlaine Parts I & IITheatre for a New AudienceIntríngulisSolo show - writer/performerA Small Melodramatic StoryLabyrinth Theater CompanyReferences to Salvador Dali Make Me HotThe Public Theater, NYSFA Summer DayRattlestick Playwrights TheaterAlice in Slasherland, Living Dead in DenmarkVampire CowboysFlipzoidsMa-Yi
Awards and nominations For television, Alban has been nominated for two Young Artist Awards for his work in Touched by an Angel and Thicker Than Blood. He also received a nomination for an ALMA award for his work in Thicker Than Blood, and Thicker Than Blood received an ALMA award for Outstanding Made-For-Television Movie or Mini-Series. He has also received the New Dramatists' Charles Bowden Award, and a 2017 Theatre World Award for an outstanding Broadway debut for Sweat.
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