Carlos PenaVega

This article is about the American actor and singer in the group Big Time Rush. For Latin American Idol winner, see Carlos Peña (singer).

Carlos Roberto PenaVega^[1] (né Pena Jr.; born August 15, 1989^[2]) is an American actor, singer-songwriter, dancer and director. He starred on the Nickelodeon series Big Time Rush as Carlos García, and is a member of the group Big Time Rush. He was also the host of the network's game show Webheads. He currently voices Bobby Santiago in The Loud House franchise.

Carlos PenaVega
PenaVega in 2010
Born	Carlos Roberto Pena Jr. (1989-08-15) August 15, 1989 (age 35) Columbia, Missouri, U.S.
Occupations	Actor singer musician director
Years active	2004–present
Spouse	Alexa PenaVega ​ (m. 2014)​
Children	3
Musical career
Genres	Latin pop
Instruments	Vocals ukulele guitar piano
Years active	2009–present
Labels	Columbia
Member of	Big Time Rush

Early life

PenaVega was born on August 15, 1989, in Columbia, Missouri.^[1] His father is of Spanish and Venezuelan descent, and his mother is Dominican.^[3] He was raised in Weston, Florida.^[2][4] He attended Sagemont Upper School where he was a cheerleader. He appeared in local productions of Grease and Man of La Mancha.^[5] He also had a role in a production of Titanic by the American Heritage School, which he attended before moving to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career.^[4][6] During his run in Titanic he fell in love with singing and dancing.^[4]

Career

2004–2013: Career beginning and Big Time Rush

PenaVega with Big Time Rush in 2010.

His first acting role was a guest star at the age of 15 on ER, followed later that year by guest-starring roles on Judging Amy, Summerland, and Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide.^[7][4][6][8] While still in high school, PenaVega appeared in television commercials for the Super Soaker brand recreational water gun, and his image even appeared on the toy's packaging. PenaVega was studying musical theater at the Boston Conservatory when his manager urged him to audition for Big Time Rush. Although he was reluctant to do so, he submitted an audition tape and won the role almost two years later.^[2] PenaVega moved to Hollywood in August 2009, The show had four seasons and was one of the most popular shows on Nickelodeon.

Big Time Rush is an American pop boy band that formed in 2009. The band consists of PenaVega, Kendall Schmidt, James Maslow, and Logan Henderson, all on vocals. PenaVega co-wrote the song "Oh Yeah" off of the group's first album, BTR. On the second album, he wrote "Invisible" along with Charley Greenberg, Cody Williams, Daniel Andrew Wayne and J.R. Rotem. As of 2011, the band has released two albums, BTR and Elevate. They later released their third album, 24/Seven. He co-wrote "Picture This" with bandmate, James Maslow. PenaVega wrote "Lost in Love" for his wife, Alexa PenaVega. He also wrote the song "Na Na Na" on 24/Seven. In addition, BTR embarked on the Summer Break Tour, in support of the album.

Awards and nominations

He and his partners of Big Time Rush were honored in 2010 in the category "One to Watch" at the Young Hollywood Awards.

2014–2017: Solo career

He released his first solo single in Spanish on February 4, 2014, titled "Electrico". The song charted in the top 10 of the Latin iTunes songs charts. He was presented for the first time at the first annual Nickelodeon Colombia Kids' Choice Awards given in Bogotá. PenaVega competed on the 21st season of Dancing with the Stars in Fall 2015. His wife was also a contestant that season.^[9] His professional partner was Witney Carson.^[10] PenaVega and Carson reached the finals but were eliminated on the week's performance night and ended the competition in fourth place. In 2017 he released the single Bésame featuring MAFFiO.

2017–present: Hallmark, BTR Reunion & Book, ANGELS + KINGS

In 2017 he starred alongside his wife in the Hallmark movie Enchanted Christmas and alongside Adelaide Kane in A Midnight Kiss. In 2018 he starred alongside his wife again in the Hallmark movie Love at Sea. He was a series regular in the one season CW series Life Sentence. In 2019 PenaVega and his wife starred in the Hallmark movie series Picture Perfect Mysteries.

In 2021 Big Time Rush announced they would be reuniting for shows in New York and Chicago. The band also made an appearance at several Jingle Ball concerts in December 2021. In 2022 they announced the Forever Tour that would take them around the U.S. and Mexico. His family has travelled on the tour with him.

Carlos and Alexa PenaVega released a book in 2022 called What If Love is the Point.

On October 4, 2024, Carlos announced via Instagram his new band (in addition to BTR) ANGELS + KINGS^[11] with friend Alex Marshall. The bands first song 'Lightning' came out on October 25, 2024.

Personal life

In 2012, PenaVega began dating American actress Alexa Vega after meeting her at a Bible study.^[12][13] She guest appeared in the series finale episode of Big Time Rush, where she played the on-screen new girlfriend of his character. The couple became engaged in August 2013, and were married on January 4, 2014, in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico,^[14] both taking PenaVega as their married name. They are both devout conservative Christians.^[15]

The couple shares a YouTube channel, La Vida PenaVega (formerly LexLovesLos).^[16] The couple have three children, two sons, one born in December 2016 and the other in June 2019, and a daughter born in May 2021.^{[17][18][19][20]} The couple announced in November 2023 that they were expecting their fourth child;^[21] in April 2024, Alexa gave birth to a stillborn daughter.^[22]

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2011	Little Birds	Louis
2012	Yak: The Giant King	Krudd	Voice role (English dub)
2014	Code Academy	Marcos
2015	Spare Parts	Oscar Vasquez
2017	Killing Hasselhoff	Pedro
2018	Sleep Away	Joaquin
2020	Mighty Oak	Pedro
2021	The Loud House Movie	Bobby Santiago	Voice role[23][24]
2024	The Casagrandes Movie	Bobby Santiago, Flat Arturo

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2004	ER	Arlo Escobar	Episode: "Shot in the Dark"
2004–2005	Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide	King Bee	Recurring role (season 1)
2005	Judging Amy	Diego Valdesera	Episode: "Diego Valdesera"
	Summerland	Student	Episode: "Sledgehammer"
2009–2013	Big Time Rush	Carlos Garcia	Main role (as Carlos Pena Jr.); director: "Big Time Tour Bus"
2011	Hand aufs Herz	Himself	Episode: "August 11, 2011"
	Nick News		Episode: "Lies We Tell In Middle School"
2012	Big Time Movie	Carlos Garcia	Television film
	How to Rock	Himself	Episode: "How to Rock an Election"
	Cupcake Wars	Guest judge	Episode: "Big Time Rush"
2012–2013	Figure It Out	Himself	Panelist
2013	Marvin Marvin		Episode: "Big Time Marvin"
2014–2015	Webheads		Host
2015	Dancing with the Stars		Contestant (season 21)
	The Thundermans	Tech Rider	Episode: "No Country for Old Mentors"
	The Penguins of Madagascar	Carlos the Beaver	Episode: "Tunnel of Love"
	Instant Mom	Roger	Episode: "Turning a Blind Eye"
2016	Grease: Live	Kenickie	Television special[25]
2016–present	The Loud House	Bobby Santiago	Recurring voice role
2017	Enchanted Christmas	Ricardo Archuleta	Television film (Hallmark)
2018	Love at Sea	Tony Rieves	Television film (Hallmark)[26]
	A Midnight Kiss	David Campos	Television film (Hallmark)
	Life Sentence	Diego	Main role[27]
2019	Picture Perfect Mysteries: Newlywed and Dead	Detective Sam Acosta	Television film (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries)
2019–2022	The Casagrandes	Bobby Santiago	Main voice role
2020	Blue's Clues & You!	Himself	Episode "Happy Birthday, Blue!"
	Picture Perfect Mysteries: Dead Over Diamonds	Detective Sam Acosta	Television film (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries)
	Picture Perfect Mysteries: Exit, Stage Death
2021	The Loud House Mega Music Countdown	Himself	Host
2022	Love in the Limelight	Nick Mendez	Television film (Hallmark)

Discography

Singles

List of singles, with selected chart positions

Title	Year	Peak chart positions	Album
		US Latin [28]
"Electrico"[29]	2014	17	Non-album single
"Bésame"[30] (featuring MAFFiO)	2017	—
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Other appearances

Title	Year	Other(s) artist(s)	Album
"Principio Y Fin"[31]	2015	Evan Craft	Principio Y Fin
"Summer Nights"	2016	Grease: Live cast	Grease: Live
"We Go Together"
"Greased Lightnin'"		Aaron Tveit

References

1. "Carlos PenaVega". TV Guide. Archived from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
2. Rentería, Melissa (November 26, 2009). "Plans Change as Pena Lands Co-Starring Role in Nickelodeon's 'Big Time Rush'". San Antonio Express-News. Texas. Archived from the original on July 2, 2019.
3. Hernandez, Lee (February 28, 2011). "Latina – Latino & Latin American News, Culture, Heritage, Food, Entertainment". Latina. Archived from the original on February 16, 2020. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
4. Jicha, Tom (November 28, 2009). "In A Rush". South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
5. Jicha, Tom (October 24, 2007). "Making More Menudo". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Archived from the original on January 16, 2014. Retrieved August 24, 2012.
6. Martin, Denise (November 22, 2009). "Child's play". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on October 19, 2017. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
7. Moore, Frazier (January 18, 2010). "An Inside Look at a Boy Band on Nick's New Comedy". The Press of Atlantic City. New Jersey. Associated Press. Archived from the original on July 3, 2019. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
8. Martin, Denise (November 26, 2009). "'Big Time Rush' is a little bit 'Entourage,' a little bit Monkees". Boston.com. Archived from the original on December 23, 2022. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
9. Aguilera, Leanne (August 27, 2015). "EXCLUSIVE! 'Dancing With the Stars': Married Couple Alexa and Carlos PenaVega to Compete on Season 21". ET Online. Archived from the original on August 27, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
10. "Dancing with the Stars Season 21 Cast Announcement". ABC. September 2, 2015. Archived from the original on October 16, 2015. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
11. "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
12. Eggenberger, Nicole (June 19, 2013). "Alexa Vega Engaged to Carlos Pena, Jr., Congratulated by Ex-Husband Sean Covel". Us Weekly. Archived from the original on September 14, 2013. Retrieved September 13, 2013.
13. Spero, Jesse. "Alexa Vega Dishes Engagement Details: How Did Carlos Pena Pop The Question?". Access Hollywood. NBC Universal. Archived from the original on October 4, 2013. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
14. "Alexa Vega Weds Big Time Rush's Carlos Pena Jr". The Hollywood Reporter. January 5, 2014. Archived from the original on March 16, 2016. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
15. Flynn, Caitlin (September 28, 2015). "How Did Carlos & Alexa PenaVega Meet? The 'Dancing With The Stars' Pair Is Too Adorable". Bustle. Archived from the original on November 19, 2016. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
16. "LexLovesLos". YouTube. Archived from the original on November 9, 2016. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
17. Juneau, Jen (December 9, 2016). "Carlos and Alexa PenaVega Welcome Son Ocean King — See His First Photo!". People. Archived from the original on February 25, 2018. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
18. Cardoza, Riley (July 2, 2019). "Alexa PenaVega Gives Birth to Baby Boy, Her Second Child With Husband Carlos PenaVega". Us Weekly. Archived from the original on July 2, 2019. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
19. Mauch, Ally (December 26, 2020). "Alexa and Carlos PenaVega Expecting Their Third Child: 'Can't Wait to Meet Baby This Summer'". People. Archived from the original on December 27, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
20. Ushe, Naledi (May 10, 2021). "Alexa and Carlos PenaVega Welcome Baby Daughter More Than a Month Early". People. Archived from the original on May 11, 2021. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
21. "Alexa and Carlos PenaVega Expecting Baby No. 4".
22. "Alexa and Carlos PenaVega Announce Stillbirth of Baby No. 4, Daughter Indy".
23. Milligan, Mercedes (July 26, 2021). "Trailer: 'The Loud House Movie' Unravels an Heir-Raising Adventure Aug. 20". Animation Magazine. Archived from the original on December 23, 2022. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
24. "Watch the Casagrandes Movie | Netflix Official Site". Netflix.
25. Hibberd, James (July 9, 2015). "Fox's Grease: Live casts Graceland star as Danny Zuko". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
26. "Carlos and Alexa PenaVega Talk About Their New Film, "Love at Sea"". Royal Caribbean. August 10, 2018. Archived from the original on January 1, 2019. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
27. Petski, Denise (March 13, 2017). "Carlos PenaVega Joins the CW Pilot 'Life Sentence'; Kimmy Shields In 'Insatiable'". Deadline. Archived from the original on November 26, 2017. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
28. "Billboard Hot Latin Songs – The week of February 22, 2014". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
29. "PenaVega – Electrico". iTunes. February 4, 2014. Archived from the original on December 16, 2018. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
30. "Carlos PenaVega – Bésame". iTunes. April 4, 2017. Archived from the original on December 16, 2018. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
31. "Carlos PenaVega – Principio Y Fin". iTunes. July 7, 2015. Archived from the original on December 16, 2018. Retrieved December 13, 2018.

Notes

External links

• Carlos PenaVega at IMDb 
• Carlos PenaVega at AllMusic
• Carlos PenaVega discography at Discogs