Zak Santiago

Zak Santiago (born January 3, 1981) is a Canadian actor, dancer, DJ, and a permanent deacon in the Catholic Church. Known for his extensive work in television and film, he was ordained to the diaconate in 2024.

Early life: A call to the arts Zak Santiago, was born on January 3, 1981, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, to immigrant parents. He is one of six siblings and is fluent in English, Spanish and French.

In his formative years, Zak studied at The Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. His studies ranged from classical piano, ballet, flamenco, and boxing. By 1994, he began pursuing interests in both the performing arts and as a disc jockey. He attended his first acting class at Gastown Actors Studio in Vancouver, British Columbia.

In 1998, Zak ended his amateur boxing career to focus exclusively on dance. In 2000, he was accepted into the world-renowned Amor de Dios (Love of God) Academy in Madrid, Spain, where he studied under several legends of flamenco.

Adult life: A call to ministry

Santiago was raised as a Roman Catholic Christian and during his teenage years, lost interest in the Church. Due to several simultaneous tragic events in his life as a young adult, he returned to the Church. He has since been very devout and active within the Church.

In recent years, he has been heavily involved in prison ministry, in both prison chaplaincy and the Released Offenders Program. Per his Facebook page, Santiago graduated from the University of British Columbia, in July 2023 with a Master's Degree (MA) in Theological Studies and also received the Chancellor's Award. He has since received a post-graduate diploma in Pastoral Care. This education not only better prepared him for his prison ministry, but also for the next phase in his life. On June 1, 2024, he was ordained to the permanent diaconate of the Roman Catholic Church at Holy Rosary Cathedral in Vancouver. On Santiago's Facebook, Instagram and X pages, he posted the following along with a photo of himself in his clerics: "Visting Professional, Vancouver Coastal Health (VGH); Prison Ministry, BC Corrections Adult Custody Division; Parish Deacon, Holy Rosary Cathedral."

Santiago is deeply committed to prison ministry and is currently working towards a Master's Degree in Pastoral Studies.

Career Santiago has appeared in many television shows. He was in the episode "My Room" in season 1 of Dead Like Me, as an angry man who decided to kill the tattoo artist who had botched his tattoo. In 2004, he played Dominguez in the movie The Five People You Meet in Heaven, based on the 2003 book.

Roles in other series include Young Blades, Smallville, Robson Arms, Flight 93, Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency, Shut Eye, and The L Word.

In 2008, he appeared in the theatrical release movie The Eye, starring Jessica Alba.

Continuing on in television, in 2009, Santiago had a lead role in The Assistants which aired on The N and also played the Ten of Clubs in the Syfy miniseries Alice.

As of 2014, he has a recurring role as Ramón Rodríguez, the dance instructor, restaurant owner, DJ, and wedding officiant in the Signed, Sealed, Delivered series.

Alongside his acting career, Santiago also works as a DJ.

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and nominations In 2004 Santiago won a Leo award for Best Supporting Performance by a Male in a Dramatic Series for his performance as Ramirez in Human Cargo. in 2013 for Random Acts of Romance and 2018 for Christmas Princess.