Taylor Zakhar Perez is an American actor born on December 24, 1991, in Chicago, and grew up in Chesterton, Indiana.
He is of Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, and Mexican descent.
Perez attended Chesterton High School, where he was a swimmer, and later earned a swimming scholarship to Fordham University, which he turned down to attend UCLA.
He started his career by performing in musicals in opera houses at an early age, and later moved to Los Angeles and began modeling.
Perez has guest-starred on several high-profile TV shows, including iCarly, Young & Hungry and Scandal.
He is best known for his roles as Marco Valentin Peña in The Kissing Booth 2 and Alex Claremont-Diaz in Red, White & Royal Blue.
Perez is reportedly single and has been linked to his co-star Joey King, although he has denied the rumors.
He is an adventurous person who enjoys surfing, riding motorcycles, paddleboarding, camping, and extreme hiking. He also loves to travel and read books written by famous CEOs.
Is Taylor Zakhar Perez straight?
Perez is a straight actor, however, he portrays a gay character in the newly released film, Red, White & Royal Blue.
His character in the movie has led to some speculation about his sexuality, but there is no evidence to suggest that he is gay.
In fact, Perez has been romantically linked to women in the past.
It is important to note that an actor’s sexual orientation does not necessarily have any bearing on the roles they play on screen.
Actors are professionals who are trained to portray a wide range of characters, regardless of their own personal experiences or identities.
In a recent interview with Newsweek, Perez discussed the pressure he felt to accurately portray the gay love story in Red, White & Royal Blue.
He acknowledged the responsibility he had to queer audiences and expressed his desire to do justice to the story.
Taylor Zakhar Perez and Joey King relationship
Perez and Joey King, stars of The Kissing Booth franchise, have had a close friendship that has sparked dating rumors among fans.
However, both Perez and King have consistently stated that they are not in a romantic relationship.
During the filming of the second movie in the franchise, Perez and King became close.
Their on-screen chemistry and off-screen friendship led fans to speculate about a romantic relationship.
After the release of The Kissing Booth 2, Perez and King went on vacation together, further fueling dating rumors.
However, in September 2020, Perez stated in an interview with GQ that he and King were not dating, noting that they were close friends and cared for each other deeply.
During the COVID-19 quarantine, Perez and King continued to spend time together as close friends; they lived near each other and relied on each other for support during that time.
While the dating rumors persisted, King was believed to be dating The Act producer Steven Piet.
Despite the ongoing speculation, Perez has consistently maintained that he and King are not dating. He has expressed his love and care for her but clarified that their relationship is platonic.