Roman Zaragoza

GROWING UP BETWEEN CULTURES

Roman Zaragoza was born in New York City to a multicultural family—his father is of Mexican heritage, while his mother is of Asian descent, specifically Japanese and Taiwanese. During his childhood, his family relocated to Los Angeles, where his parents continue to reside. This transition from the vibrant, multicultural environment of New York to the distinct social landscape of Los Angeles proved to be a pivotal experience in his upbringing. Reflecting on the move, Zaragoza noted the stark contrast: “There were definitely a lot more white students,” he recalled. “Most of my peers were mono-racial, and the cultural atmosphere was remarkably different. 

NAVIGATING NEW ENVIRONMENTS

This early experience of moving between cultures shaped Zaragoza’s perspective and continues to inform his work today. He often reflects on the unique challenges of being mixed-race, thoughtfully channeling his multifaceted background into his craft. He is widely recognized for his portrayal of Sasappis, the creative and insightful Lenape ghost on CBS’s Ghosts. “I’m an actor playing a character that is Native,” he noted. “I’m not playing a mixed character, but it’s been easier to show up in the Native community because there’s that direct representation and direct image I can promote and talk about.” At the same time, navigating his Asian heritage has presented its own set of complexities. As he shared, “a lot of Asian organizations don’t understand that I’m also Asian,” highlighting the difficulty of being fully seen within either community. In response, Zaragoza has become increasingly involved in Asian organizations and outreach, striving to make his Asian identity more visible and to build greater understanding and connection within those communities.

A MOTHER’S JOURNEY AND FAMILY PRIDE

Zaragoza’s reflections on identity are deeply rooted in his family’s story, especially his mother’s journey as an immigrant. “My mom moved to the U.S. when she was three, and she didn’t learn Japanese because she was supposed to be the light for her family,” he said. “She was one of two Asian kids in her class, but she didn’t let that dim her. She worked so hard and created a family that supported us and let our lights shine.” This sense of pride and responsibility extends to his advocacy beyond acting. As a producer on This Is Their Land, he explained, “We were able to bring in direct descendants—Debbie Riddle and Taylor Tupper,” and described the project as “a love letter to the descendants of their people. We’re not trying to make money or win awards. We want to make sure it’s told right.”

FACING CHALLENGES OF REPRESENTATION

The complexities of identity and representation are never far from Zaragoza’s mind. He spoke candidly about the difficulties of telling authentic stories from marginalized communities, acknowledging the inevitable scrutiny that comes with the territory. “It’s complicated, and it’s hard… there’s always going to be people who say, ‘this didn’t happen, that didn’t happen.’ But all you can do is remind yourself why you’re making it.” For him, this sense of purpose is deeply connected to questions of identity. When asked how he would celebrate the full spectrum of his heritage in a stage production, he didn’t hesitate: the theme, he said, would be identity. He went on to ask, “Who defines who we are? Is it that we are able to self-identify or are we identifying ourselves for others to understand us?” These questions reflect not only his personal journey, but also the ongoing negotiation between self-perception and external expectations that shapes the experience of anyone who straddles multiple cultures—on stage, and in life.

FINDING FREEDOM IN THEATER

Zaragoza’s exploration of identity extends into his theater work as well. He recounted the experience of playing Orlando in As You Like It as transformative. “It wasn’t about race—it was about love, fear, anger, family, and humor,” he said. “I self-identify as a hopeless romantic, and it was so nice to just be that on stage without having to talk about my cultural identity at all.” He described the freedom of playing a character who wasn’t tied to any racial identity, adding, “It made me think, ‘Is this what other actors get to do all the time? This is so freeing.’” Zaragoza also shared a story about performing Off the Rails at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, where he forgot a line and found himself burying his head into a scene partner’s lap. “Our stage manager definitely made fun of me… but it was pretty funny,” he said. These moments, both serious and lighthearted, illustrate the range of experiences that have shaped his artistic journey.

REDEFINING SUCCESS ON HIS OWN TERMS

Throughout his journey, Zaragoza has learned to see challenges as opportunities for growth. “The word incandescent—it’s about shining and being illuminated through heat,” he explained. “I’ve been through challenges that felt like they were holding me back, but they’ve let me shine brighter in the end.” One such challenge was not getting into his dream college. “I had this whole plan—five, ten years out—and it all fell apart,” he recounted. Rather than letting this setback define him, he used it as an opportunity to pursue film production, saying, “I didn’t want to wait for people to give me permission to do what I love… so I could write, direct, and produce my own projects. And then people started coming to me because I was doing my own thing.” Zaragoza spoke of how he grew up “very disconnected and disenfranchised from my homelands,” and expressed interest in a project exploring how others like him might reconnect. “I wanted to see how my life would change when I went to Asia… there are a lot of us who grew up without their countries of origin,” he said. For those still searching for their place, Zaragoza offered an encouragement: “Keep doing you. Be honest with yourself about what you want… and remember there are always doors—always another way in. Climb up the fire escape, go through the side porch. Just keep going.”

EMBRACING COMPLEXITY AS STRENGTH

For Zaragoza, identity is not a fixed destination, but a continual process of discovery. He acknowledges growing up “very disconnected and disenfranchised” from his homelands, and continues to explore the many layers of his background. With Japanese, Taiwanese, Akimel O’odham and Mexican heritage, he doesn’t claim full fluency in each tradition, but he honors what they offer. Across his work—whether portraying Sasappis, collaborating with descendants on film, or developing projects that support others navigating cultural disconnection—he brings a sense of care and curiosity. The word incandescent and its profound meaning resonates in how he faces challenges: not as barriers, but as moments that clarify. For Zaragoza, complexity isn’t something to overcome—it’s something to stand in, learn from, and carry forward.