Miles Gutierrez-Riley, 27, straight out of Long Beach, California, is slowly but steadily etching his name in the entertainment industry. Miles, who has a Black and Mexican background, made his acting debut in ‘The Wilds’ in 2022. He quickly followed that with a standout role as Sonny in ‘On the Come Up’ (2022).
Up next? He’s set to appear in ‘Agatha All Along.’ Ready to explore how he became who he is today? Let’s dive in.
He Was Raised By A Single Mom, Who Always Supported His Ambitions
Miles’ acting aspirations were nurtured from an early age by his single mom, Sonia Gutierrez. It all started when he was just four years old, watching ‘The Lion King’ on tour in San Francisco. Right after the show, he told her he wanted to be an actor—a dream she’s supported wholeheartedly ever since.
Their connection deepened during movie nights, a tradition where they discovered films that mirrored their own experiences. One instance is ‘Riding in Cars with Boys’. The young actor shared with Ladygunn how this story of a single mother and her son resonated deeply with them.
I was raised by a single mom and that movie is about a single mother. [It’s] heart wrenching, tender, tender, tender. (sic)
A graduate of Philosophy and Public Administration from Cal State Long Beach, Sonia has been her son’s biggest fan from day 1. It is evident on her Facebook page which is filled with enthusiastic updates about his career, celebrating milestones like his notable performance in Ithaca, where she boasted about his first official review. In the same post, she affectionately referred to him as her “gifted clown.” Aww!
The mother-son duo have also appeared in a handful of public events including the premiere of ‘On the Come Up‘ at the Princess of Wales Theatre on September 08, 2022.
Never Had Any Pressure To Come Out
Miles’ approach to coming out was refreshingly laid-back, rooted in the belief that it was a natural part of his personal journey, rather than a pressured public declaration. He described his experience with nonchalant simplicity:
I just was dating girls one day and then was dating boys the next. That’s how it happened for me.
For instance, back in 2015, he dated Maria Alexandra Lemire; they even attended prom together.
Now returning to his sexuality, he recognized that the process of coming out varies greatly from person to person, influenced by individual circumstances and environments. He embraced this diversity of experience, viewing his queer identity as something fluid and open-ended, without a strict set of rules to follow.
His philosophy towards living authentically encourages others to find and cherish aspects of their identities that might not neatly fit into conventional categories:
My advice is to continue finding the things within yourself that don’t feel like they fit into a box.
Despite his casual approach, Gutierrez was candid about the realities of being queer, acknowledging that it often requires a heightened sense of vigilance and awareness, even in seemingly progressive settings like big cities. He pointed out that the challenges weren’t always about overt danger but sometimes about subtler, unwelcoming vibes that demanded caution.
Playfully Mocks Straight People On Instagram
The actor isn’t shy about using humor to address societal norms, especially when it comes to straight relationships. On his Instagram, you might stumble across posts that, at first glance, seem to show him in a relationship with a girl.
However, these are purely satirical, teasing heteronormative expectations. As seen in one post, where he shared a photo of himself kissing a girl on the cheek with the caption, “straight people be like.”
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Given His Talents, We Can Only Imagine What’s Next For Him
Miles has been crafting stories since his days at Los Alamitos High School, where he started writing and directing. He really took things up a notch during college at Fordham University, where he graduated in 2020 with a BA in Theatre Performance.
At Fordham, he wasn’t just coasting. He acted in 10 shows, directed one, and involved himself in as many projects as possible. That hustle gave him a ton of hands-on experience and sharpened his skills for what was to come. He shared,
My heart really does lie in theater, and I also love making TV and movies. I want the flexibility and the reputation to have a name in all three of those.
It’s clear that Miles isn’t sticking to just one medium. He’s taken all the lessons and creativity from his time at Fordham and applied them to every avenue he’s interested in. And with his career still in its early stages, who knows what’s in store for him?
