East L.A. actor Peter Mendoza brings Pío Pico to life

East Los Angeles -- As a kid growing up in East Los Angeles, Peter Mendoza thought of acting as a magical realm. “I was always enraptured by movies and ideas of a life bigger than what my experience was in East L.A.,” he says, pointing to action star Jean-Claude Van Damme as his favorite back then. “I was poor. All I had were hopes and dreams."

Mendoza followed those hopes and studied acting at East Los Angeles College. He has built a career as a working actor, performing on notable L.A. stages (Mark Taper Forum, etc.) and on television shows, including Perry Mason, NCIS and Snowfall.

Mendoza’s latest role is showing him how acting can spark dialogue and help reclaim history for his fellow Latinos. He’ll be portraying Pío Pico in a new play, California Story, at the Caminito Theater at Los Angeles City College. It opens next week. 

Pico, Alta California’s last governor under Mexican rule, was of Spanish, African, Native American and Italian heritage. He became wealthy and powerful, but at a cost.

The play is a conversation about race, identity and ambition. It reframes the drama of early California through Pico’s eyes, and ties together Manifest Destiny-era California with a dystopian, water-logged future.

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