Paul Renteria

At age 7, Paul was first inspired to act, ride motorcycles & horses when he met Actor/Martial Artist Bruce Lee working out on a trampoline in the back yard of his neighbor, Martial Artist Bob Bremer & his brother Freddy on Elm Street in Alhambra CA (Bob a welder, who liked to wear a fedora, made a Steel hand for Halloween, which coincidentally & conceptually appeared in "Enter the Dragon", "Nightmare on Elm Street" & "Edward Scissorhands"). Bob's other friends included the late Motorcyclist Bill Laidlaw of the Laidlaw Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Family, who would bring over a different motorcycle every weekend and tell the kids to dream about growing up and exchanging their sting-ray bicycles for Harleys. Predominately a Chicano Neighborhood, this Elm Street attracted the 1960s avant-garde crowd of the San Gabriel Valley, which included many future celebrities & athletes. Another neighbor, Ben Rizzio had horses in a field back then and was friends with many Cowboys & Actors. The networking, camaraderie and visits by so many well-known people were a surreal experience absorbed by a young Paul.

At Emery Park Elementary School in Alhambra, Paul was Student Body President and a City Football All-Star and was usually picked to be in plays and presentations.

Later as a teenager, Paul rode his horse across the set of the Television show, "The Incredible Hulk" filming a rodeo scene at the Pico Rivera Sports Arena/Charro Lienzo in Pico Rivera, California and was encouraged by the producers & director to pursue acting utilizing his great horsemanship abilities. On set, Paul met the late Guest Star L.Q. Jones (S3, E6=Jake), who suggested to Paul that he get into acting by starting to do all the Theatre he could. LQ also shared stories of filming in Durango & Chihuahua, Mexico which also inspired Paul to travel and follow the paths of his Apache Ancestors & "Pancho Villa".

He was hired for a few days to help keep the locals safely away from Lou Ferrigno between takes; meanwhile, his parents persuaded him to return to his studies.

Though he didn't know it at the time, the business continued to pursue Paul. As a junior college engineering student he worked for a summer as a draftsman, unknowingly, for Robert Redford's then brother-in-law Gary Van Wagenen for Cooperative Education College Units.

As a Santa Fe Railroad Surveyor and Engineering Inspector, Paul was called upon to protect several Production Companies filming on or around railroad property & in between train movements and was again approached & advised by various producers and directors to consider Acting.

Paul's late girlfriend, Marjorie Volk Saccio ("La Mariquita"-RIP), a Nurse & Mariachi Violinist from San Diego, California who had studied in Santa Fe, New Mexico and had visited the set of "The Milagro Beanfield War" (Paul & Margie's favorite movie), also encouraged him to act.

Finally recognizing the message behind all of these "coincidences" and taking heed, Paul then in his early thirties started Acting. Paul's 1st film, "Por Vida" (USC), screened at the Sundance Film Festival; his 2nd film, "Pancho Villa" (LMU), was co directed helmed by, coincidentally, Robert Redford's & Gary Van Wagenen's nephew Matthew Van Wagenen, future Music Video Guru Dave Meyers, and David King.

Paul wrote to the CEO's of All The American Beer Companies about Chicanos being the largest group of beer drinkers that he had seen, yet were invisible in their advertising. Miller Lite responded by casting Paul in 8 "Men of the Square Table" Man Laws National Commercials, Directed by Peter Farelly. Paul also wrote to The Harley-Davidson Motor Company & Chevy, who cast him as well.

Though often assumed by many to be a street hoodlum while growing up, Paul was a straight "A" student, who only played that role when necessary, as he was too busy studying, riding horses & motorcycles and dreaming. Paul contributes to various Charities and participates in many Motorcycle Charity Events and Children's Toy Runs.

In 2013 & 2014, Paul took a sabbatical from Hollywood to travel to North Dakota, Montana, New Mexico & Texas on a great journey, researching and working on unique railroad construction projects as a Construction Project Engineer for the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway. Paul built up his railroad pension and has since retired after 36 years with the BNSF/Santa Fe Railroad (*2009 Employee of The Year Award*BNSF Triple Main Track Project, Cajon Pass~San Bernardino County CA). On October 16, 2014, Paul was sworn in as the first ever State of California Railroad Bridge Inspector & Investigator. Along with acting & horses, Paul has a lifelong passion for railroading, much like a cowboy riding fence and going back 100 years in time!

In 2024, Paul most recently appeared in film as District Attorney Murdock in "Those Who Inherit the Earth", 2024 Winner~Best Feature, Golden State Film Festival & 2024 Winner ~Best Thriller Feature~Indie Vegas Film Festival.

Paul continues to seek creative outlets by taking Imrov, Painting & Writing classes.