Karoll Iván Márquez Mendoza, (born c. 1984) is a Colombian actor and singer, known for his starring role in the

Caracol Televisión Caracol Televisión (known as Caracol and previously as Canal Caracol) is a Colombian free-to-air television network owned by Caracol Medios, a unit of Grupo Valorem. It is one of the leading private TV networks in Colombia, alongside Canal RCN ...

soap opera A soap opera, or ''soap'' for short, is a typically long-running radio or television serial, frequently characterized by melodrama, ensemble casts, and sentimentality. The term "soap opera" originated from radio dramas originally being sponsored ...

'' Oye bonita''. He is also known for his roles in ''Un sueño llamado salsa'' (2010) and ''Amor de Carnaval'' (2012).

Career

Márquez was born and raised in Cartagena, Colombia. When he was 12 years old he studied singing lessons under soprano Margarita Escallón. At age 17, Márquez moved to Bogotá, Colombia, where he made his music debut with the 2000 eponymously titled album ''Karoll Marquez'', and the single ''Embrujo''. Around this time he also had a brief stint acting in the TV show ''Conjunto Cerrado'' followed by a five-year contract in '' Padres e Hijos''. Throughout his career, Márquez has alternated between music, acting in TV and musical theater. In 2000 he starred in the popular TV musical series ''Oye Bonita'' (2000), dedicated to the music of Colombian singer

Diomedes Díaz Diomedes Díaz Maestre (26 May 1957 – 22 December 2013) was a Colombian vallenato singer, songwriter, and composer. His nickname, ''"El Cacique de la Junta"'' ("The Chieftain of La Junta"), was given to him by another vallenato singer, Rafael ...

. According to a report from Colprensa published in El Universal, the couple portrayed by Karoll Márquez and

Diana Hoyos Diana Hoyos (born Diana Patricia Hoyos Buenaventura; 22 April 1985) is a Colombian actress and singer, known for her starring role in the Caracol Televisión telenovela ''Oye bonita''. She is also known in her native country for other productions ...

in ''Oye bonita'' was "iconic within Colombian television". In the same year, he also did a cameo as himself in the telenovela

Yo soy Betty, la fea ''Yo soy Betty, la fea'' (English: I am Betty, the Ugly one), often referred to simply as ''Betty, la fea'', is a Colombian telenovela written by Fernando Gaitán which was broadcast from 25 October 1999 to 8 May 2001 by RCN. More than a dozen ...

. Márquez was cast as Nicolás for the TV serial '' Jennifer Lopez Presents: Como Ama una Mujer'' (2007), aired by

Univision Univision () is an American Spanish-language free-to-air television network owned by TelevisaUnivision. It is the United States' largest provider of Spanish-language content. The network's programming is aimed at the Latino public and includes ...

. In 2012, he starred in the TV show ''Amor de carnaval'' (2011), for which he earned a nomination for best villain in a TV show at the ''TV y Novelas Awards Colombia'' event of 2013. In 2013, a group of Colombian celebrities that included Márquez was invited to host as telephone operators in the fundraising event ''Teletón''. In 2014, Márquez played a secondary role in the TV show ''La playita''. He also conducted the Colombian TV show ''Un minuto para ganar''. In the same year, he collaborated with singer Marbelle to release the music single ''La confesión''. Director

Jorge Alí Triana Jorge Ali Triana Varon (born April 4, 1942 in Bogotá, Colombia) is a Colombian theatre director A theatre director or stage director is a professional in the theatre field who oversees and orchestrates the mounting of a theatre production s ...

chose Márquez, because of his experience in musicals, to act in Captain Pantoja and the Special Service (Spanish:''Pantaleón y las visitadoras'') a play based on the book by the same name from

Mario Vargas Llosa Jorge Mario Pedro Vargas Llosa, 1st Marquess of Vargas Llosa (born 28 March 1936), more commonly known as Mario Vargas Llosa (, ), is a Peruvian novelist, journalist, essayist and former politician, who also holds Spanish citizenship. Vargas Ll ...

. In 2020, Márquez acted in the online play ''Ella en Mí'' (2020) and in the plays ''Hombres a la plancha'' and ''Aguanilé''. In that same year he released the single ''Mentira (2020)'' along with singer Martina La Peligrosa, for the EP Album ''Dopamina'' (to be released). In 2021 Márquez was cast in a supporting role for the TV show ''Enfermeras''. In 2022, Márquez participated in the reality show ''Quién es la máscara?''. Some have criticized Marquez' musical career, pointing to his exaggerated facial mannerisms onstage.

Discography

*Karoll Marquez (2000) *La verdad (2004) *Cotidiano (2006) *Vida (2014) *Dopamina (date tba)

Personal life

Karoll is the oldest of three siblings, including brother Oscar and sister Nathalie. He is the son of Mariela Mendoza de Márquez.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Marquez, Karoll Year of birth uncertain Living people 1984 births 21st-century Colombian male actors Male actors from Bogotá Colombian male television actors 21st-century Colombian male singers Male soap opera actors People from Cartagena, Colombia