Kirk Acevedo (born November 27, 1974 in Brooklyn, New York) is an actor of Puerto Rican and Chinese descent who is best known for his performances as Miguel Alvarez in Oz and District Attorney Investigator Hector Salazar in Law & Order: Trial by Jury. Kirk Acevedo Kirk's parents immigrated from Puerto Rico and settled in Brooklyn, where Acevedo was born.
Later they moved to the Bronx where Kirk was raised and went to school. Since childhood, he showed an interest in acting when he would perform before his family in improvised shows. Acevedo, also participated in his high school's drama club. After graduating form high school, he enrolled in the SUNY Purchase School of Acting (Purchase College). In the 1990's Acevedo earned his "BFA" (Bachelors Degree in Fine Arts) and soon auditioned for "Oz". Some of his classmates landed parts in the series and this motivated him to try out for a part.
He landed the role of "Miguel Alvarez" a prisoner in "Oz" (which is the name of the prison). "Miguel" is a half crazed gang leader serving time and is involved in many of the situations presented. Acevedo participated in the following episodes: 1-26; 34-36 and 41-56. He was nominated for the 1997, 1998, 2000 and 2001 Alma Award for his role in "Oz". Among the other series that Acevedo has participated in are, "Law & Order: Trial by Jury" (2005) as Det. Hector Salazar; HBO's "Band of Brothers", directed by Steven Spielberg, as SSgt. Joseph Toye and in "NYPD Blues".
Some of the movies/mini series that he's been in are: "Bait" (2000); "Boiler Room" (2000); "Dinner Rush" (2000); "Arresting Gena" (1997) and "Kirk and Kerry" (1997). In 1999, Kirk won an ALMA Award for his role in "A Thin Red Line". He was nominated in 1997 for the "Drama Desk Award" for "Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play", in the "Tooth of Crime". He co-founded the theater company, The Rowschach Group, with Shea Wigham.