Photographer Amber McKee
Stylist Leo Plass
Grooming Kay Wamser
Interview Amber McKee
Words Abigail Winterford
Puerto Rican born New Yorker, Eddie Ramos is a youthful and ambitious actor, ready for whatever comes his way. Currently based in Los Angeles, he graces TV screens in series such as 'Teen Wolf' and 'Incorporated’. Positivity and youth are attributes that make up the wholeness of Eddie. Leaving 'love as just being love’, thinking experiences are the things that people need in their lives, and believing that if you want something; you, and only you, can make It a reality. Eddie dares you to revel in life’s simplicities.
Photographer Amber McKee captures Eddie in an intimate setting, allowing him to simply be himself; ‘himself' defining as a kid seeking the adventure within everything. His personality radiates like fluorescent rays peeking through the dark grey clouds that is today’s society, and his playful attitude partnered with a cheeky grin can bring a smile to anyone that crosses his path. He's willing to come clean, drop all acting facades and masks he dons every day for work, magnetising us all. Stylist Leo Plass drapes Eddie’s body in gentle clothing with subtle tones, clashing occasionally with vibrant prints and sporty garments, making him feel at ease within his surroundings and within himself.
For Eddie, the world is well within his tightly fisted grasp. He grabs life by the reins and steers his own path going whatever direction he sees fit. Whether he’s in the towering concrete jungle of New York, or under the smooth rustlings of the everlasting green palm trees of Los Angeles, Eddie finds a home wherever he goes, championing himself a recognised ‘chameleon'. Eddie is that passionate boy; thriving, knocking down the doors that are in his way. Driven by a deep care for what he does, he gives all and it shows.
Tell me a bit about yourself.
I have lived along Queens Boulevard all my life. It’s one of the most ethnically diverse boroughs in New York. My friends from school were from everywhere, completely colorful, and I learned how to interact with people from all over the world. I am a chameleon in a sense, I can blend with different ethnicities and eat different foods, I love it. It was a blessing growing up in Queens.
Give me a Queens accent.
I gotta kinda just lick my lips, like LL Cool J, gotta just let everything hang. You talk like; "you want some pizza, we can go with our boys". It’s always about boys. You say “mad,” and “dope”. The words change, and I speak very fast. When I am on the phone with my mum, my girlfriend can’t even understand me. I worked really really hard in voice class.
Tell me your favorite thing about yourself.
I stay as positive as possible. I will not let someone else affect my positivity, and I am not complacent.
What is your favorite thing about Eddie?
Eddie's girlfriend: His upper lip. It curls up when he smiles, and I love how down to earth he is. His sense of adventure is like a little kid. He wants to explore the world.
When was your first kiss?
Oh man, I am going to be completely honest. My first kiss was in Pre-K, I was kissing girls since I was a baby. It was this girl named Corey and I was wearing a rain jacket. I had crazy curly hair when I was a kid. Corey tucked my curls under my rain jacket and we kissed right there. It was super romantic.
What's it like being a twenty five - a young man today?
I am right on the cusp in-between being thirty and twenty one. The in-between is about exploring aspects of my maturity, but I am still a boy. I've also started dropping stuff, I've became really clumsy.
What was your first memory of wanting to become an actor?
I was nine years old, I stared in an off broadway play. I opened the play with a monologue and one night I blanked, it was the scariest thing. It’s scary as an adult to forget my lines, but I was nine years old. I remember I never wanted to that again, but I felt a rush. It was an awesome feeling. Then later that night in the same performance I dropped my hat during a scene and picked it back up in another scene. At nine years old I figured out how to improv, it was the feeling of being super comfortable on stage. That’s when I knew I really wanted to become an actor.
When did you want to start pursing acting as a career?
I auditioned for fifteen schools and ended up at Syracuse university. I studied acting and have a minor in political science. I was heavily into politics.
Did you have a fall back in case the acting thing didn't work out?
You know what they say, if you have a plan B your plan A isn't strong enough? My mum is the strong enough person. She was like; "no, you are going to do this acting thing". My family was super supportive. After I graduated I finished up some shifts at Trader Joes and moved straight to LA.
You're in LA, what did you do first?
I moved to North Hollywood. I walked out of my weird looking building, because I am used to New York City, and I am like; "where the hell am I? Why am not walking up twelve flights right now?" The first thing you notice is the architecture. It’s flat, adobe, two story. Palm trees? I grew up watching 'Entourage'. That was my idea of LA. I thought I was going to be living on the beach, but no, I am living next to the LA river, which is not even a river. It was very different from New York.
What was your first gig?
The first thing I officially got was 'Parenthood'. I was a co-star, no lines. From there I gradually climbed the ladder. You know, you just hope that you're going to be that kid, and you/re in the next big movie. Even with my current show 'Incorporated' it’s been co-star no lines, co-star two lines, then guest star. Now I am a series regular. You learn differently that way.
Do you feel like you're flying by the seat of your pants?
I find that there are no rules to this. Everyones journey is different.
When you got your first reasonably sized pay check, what did you buy? I am sure they all look very different.
That's an understatement. The first thing I bought was probably a TV, I didn't have a TV for a while. I mean, how am I going to watch my Netflix? But I don't buy too many things, I get that from my dad. When I lived by myself in a one bedroom I had my 40” TV and I was just in heaven.
What's your dream role?
I really want to be in an ensemble, like a war movie. It would be awesome to tell a story of some of those soldiers. Those guys are going through things that we can't even fathom in our daily lives. I have so much respect for them, I would love to do something like an homage.
Who were your TV inspirations growing up?
I grew up in the 90’s, it was an awesome time to be a kid. Kids were celebrated. There were shows in Nickelodeon that were kid focused. I mean....Amanda Bynes! Amanda Bynes was huge to me. I thought, I want to do that. I want to be a kid that can play another kid.
Do you feel like you are doing that with 'Incorporated'?
Playing Theo has been so rewarding. He is seventeen, and I have to thank my family for my youthful looks, as I am twenty five. The coolest thing about playing seventeen is being able to sit and reminisce about what it was like to be seventeen. Everything back then was a lot more off the cuff. I was cocky, naive and confident. As adults we learn to block certain things, but there is a freedom to youth. Theo has given me the opportunity to explore that again.
How did you feel about playing a gay character?
Love is love. What is so cool about Theo is that it’s 2074, and it’s not a thing. When I approach playing the character, I don't even consider it. It’s not a thing for Theo and I want to be as honest to the character as possible.
What’s the last gift you gave someone?
I took my three younger bothers to see the blue man group in New York City. I have been giving people experiences this year instead of things.
What's the best advice anyone has ever given you?
If you want something done right you have to do it yourself, that comes from my grandfather. The advice I would give someone is to always seek resistance, knock that door down and then seek more resistance. That’s the only way you are going to get better and better as a human being. You're making the gains when it's hard.
Who are your heroes?
I have been moved so much by Barack Obama. Politics has really taken a turn. He carries himself with elegance and grace, he is humble and down to earth. I am sad to see him go, as he is such a good role model for young people. Also, my favorite actor is Leonardo DiCaprio, he is phenomenal. He is physical, he is emotional, and he is not afraid to show that. He is the man, I’ll say that. And Alejandro González Iñárritu. It’s awesome there is a Mexican director just killing the game. And my mum.
"Incorporated" is available to watch on SyFy now.
Above: Shorts by 3.1 PHILLIP LIM
Above left: Jumper by NORDSTROM, Shorts by NEIL BARRETT, Socks by TOPMAN, Shoes by ZARA
Above right: T-Shirt by ALEXANDER WANG, Trousers by CRAIG GREEN X BJORN BORG
Above: Jumper by ALL SAINTS
Above right: Shirt by DIMA LEU, Hat Eddie's own
Above: Trousers by STEPHAN SCHNEIDER, Shoes by VINCE, Bag by URI MINKOFF, Hat stylist's own
Above left: Shorts by 3.1 PHILLIP LIM
Above right: Trousers Eddie's own
