Xavi de Guzman

Xavi de Guzman is a Canadian actor, writer, producer, and philanthropist whose career path spans sports, film, television, and charitable work. As a child, de Guzman developed athletic skills that led him to boxing and later to Muay Thai, where he secured and defended the lightweight title in Canada. He also represented Team Canada in the International Muay Thai Federation tournament in Thailand. His achievements in athletics led to his first on-camera role on the show "Rookie Blue," where he played a boxer, despite having no prior acting experience.

Following this introduction to acting, de Guzman sought guidance from high school friend and actor Alex Mallari Jr., and trained with acting coaches Earl Nanhu of EVN Studios, Stephen Park of Lonsdale Smith Studios, Second City, and Lewis Baumander of LB Studios. Since his debut on "Rookie Blue," de Guzman has appeared in numerous television and film productions, including The CW's "The 100" and ABC's "Take Two." His credits also include ABC and Netflix's "Designated Survivor," FXX's comedy series "Man Seeking Woman," and EPIX's "Get Shorty."

De Guzman joined the cast of "Maid" on Netflix, a series from John Wells Productions, LuckyChap Entertainment, and Warner Bros. Television, in a recurring role alongside Margaret Qualley and Nick Robinson. The series, inspired by Stephanie Land's bestselling memoir, centers on a single mother navigating poverty, homelessness, and bureaucracy. He has also appeared in the Jo Koy-led Filipino comedy film "Easter Sunday" and the Netflix original film "Operation Christmas Drop." Expanding his work behind the camera, de Guzman directed, wrote, and starred in the short film "Check Date" and the dark comedy short "Eat, Slay, Love."

Drawing from his experiences as a first-generation Filipino-Canadian, de Guzman authored the children's book "Peeled Fruit," which explores identity and diversity in the entertainment industry. The book is available through major retailers including Walmart, Amazon, Powell's, and Barnes & Noble. Off-screen, de Guzman founded The Play On Foundation, a charity focused on raising funds and awareness for neurological research, particularly brain aneurysm development and prevention. The foundation was inspired by the passing of his friend Nathan Noel from a brain aneurysm, with the goal of making aneurysm screening a routine part of medical exams. De Guzman also developed a motivational talk titled "You Can't Be Out of Shape to Chase Your Dreams," which addresses the pursuit of ambitions while maintaining physical, mental, and emotional health.