Benito Martinez as Councilman David Aceveda | The Shield on FX

Aceveda is ambitious, professional, and proud of his heritage, but the similarities between the character and the actor who portrays him end there. Benito Martinez, an Albuquerque native, always had his sights set on a life as a performer. He began as a musician in his father’s mariachi at the age of nine, and at age 10 he made his acting debut when he was introduced to the life of the theater by his mother, who happened to be a co-founder of La Compania, a bilingual, repertory Theater Company. Ah, yes, nepotism... Since then, theater has really been Martinez’s mainstay and passion. At 16, Martinez moved with his sisters and mother to Los Angeles and graduated from Hollywood High Performing Arts Magnet. Later, he attended the prestigious London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts (LAMDA) and in his third year there became a member of the academy’s award-winning touring troupe. Martinez’s most cherished stage memories include performances in London, throughout Europe and at the Moscow School of Arts in Moscow, Russia.

Martinez has worked with many theater companies and performed throughout the U.S. including at New York’s Joseph Papp’s Public Theater, Los Angeles’ A.S.K./ Skirball Theater Projects and the World Shakespeare Theater Festival, Los Angeles. He was also a core member of both the Educational Theater Company and Will & Company for which he performed on stage, directed and wrote. Some of his favorite roles include the title character in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, “Mario” in Burning Patience, “Bottom” in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, “Eli” in Octavio Solis’ La Posada Magica and “Solyony” in Three Sisters.

Among Martinez’s notable film credits are Million Dollar Baby, Saw, End Game, Kill Your Darlings, Outbreak, New Suit and My Family/Mi Familia.

Martinez’s television credits are numerous and include guest starring roles in Standoff, Bones, Numb3rs, Monk, NYPD Blue, Touched By An Angel, The X Files, American Family and Once and Again as well as various characters in animation features and programs where he enjoys the opportunity to cut loose in comedic roles.