In 2016, I sat down with Mark Consuelos at ABC’s studios in New York, right after he finished guest co-hosting “Live with Kelly.” At the time, he was promoting FOX’s baseball drama “Pitch,” where he played Oscar Arguella, general manager of the San Diego Padres.
Seven years later, Consuelos would become the permanent co-host of what’s now called “Live with Kelly and Mark.”
But back then, he was still building his resume of accomplished Latino characters, and he had a lot to say about identity, stereotypes, and what roles he’d never take.
On Co-Hosting with Kelly Ripa
Even in 2016, the chemistry between Consuelos and his wife was obvious.
When I asked what it felt like sitting in morning television’s most coveted seat, he admitted to some nerves.
“I get a little claustrophobic, so I do start to see the walls come in just a few times,” he said. “But she’s amazing, my wife. She won’t let you fail. She makes you look good.”
He described their on-air dynamic as an “amplified version” of conversations they have as a married couple.
One memorable segment had them debating what age a hypothetical future spouse should be if something happened to one of them.
“We had that conversation on live TV and it was hilarious because I think a lot of married couples have had that silly conversation at a dinner party.”
His Multicultural Background
Consuelos was born in Spain to a Mexican father and Italian mother.
His father, a U.S. citizen, was working for the Department of Defense with Special Operations Command when he met his mother in Italy.
The family later moved to Spain, where Mark was born, before settling in the American Midwest.
“Italian is my first language,” he revealed. “I lived in Italy for the first five years of my life.”
When I asked whether he feels more Hispanic or American, his answer was immediate.
“I feel American, absolutely American. I’m very proud of my Hispanic heritage. I’m very proud of my Italian heritage. But my dad really acclimated us to the American life right away. ‘You’re Americans. This is what you’re going to do.'”
That upbringing has become a professional advantage.
Without a discernible accent, Consuelos moves fluidly between American and Hispanic roles without conforming to Hollywood’s cultural expectations.
On Refusing Stereotypical Roles
Throughout his career, Consuelos has built a resume of accomplished characters.
A senator in Amazon’s “Alpha House.” A lawyer in USA’s “Queen of the South.” A general manager in “Pitch.”
“I never thought of it that way,” he said when I pointed out the pattern. “It’s been really gratifying.”
But he was clear about where he draws the line.
“I’m not going to wake up and go play a gang member because I just don’t have that vibe anyway,” he said.
“But listen, if you gave me enough time and I shaved my head and put some tattoos on my neck, I could do that too.”
“But I’m really proud of the opportunities that have been given to me, and I’ve had to fight for them.”
On “Pitch” and Latino Representation
The FOX drama Pitch told the story of the first female pitcher in Major League Baseball, played by Kylie Bunbury.
Consuelos played the Padres’ general manager, a character who grew up poor in Mexico and worked his way to the top of professional baseball.
“What I do like about it is that you learn about Oscar, that he’s accomplished, that he has overcome adversity, that he has a little bit of a chip on his shoulder because of it,” Consuelos explained.
“He’s a baller. He makes no excuses.”
As a father to a 15-year-old daughter at the time, Consuelos said the show’s themes of empowerment and gender equality made him especially proud.
“This one, just as a father of a 15-year-old daughter, I’m really proud of.”
Album you’d recommend to everyone: “Whatever my daughter’s first album is going to be. She’s a singer. That’s the one I’ll recommend.”
Historical Note: This interview took place in September 2016, seven years before Consuelos became the permanent co-host of “Live with Kelly and Mark” in April 2023. “Pitch” was canceled after one season.
