Undergraduate degree ceremonies for the School of Architecture, the School of Communication, the School of Education and Human Development, the Phillip and Patricia Frost School of Music, the College of Arts and Sciences, and the Division of Continuing and International Education
A pivotal moment took place in Danny Ramírez’s life while he was a student at Oglethorpe University, where he played soccer. For much of his life, he envisioned a future on the pitch. Soccer was his passion, and he devoted countless hours to the sport throughout his high school and college days.
That trajectory changed when an injury sidelined him to start his college career. As he stood on the sideline with his crutches, a production assistant approached the team and asked whether anyone would be interested in working as an extra on a film being shot at a nearby soccer field, “The Reluctant Fundamentalist,” starring Riz Ahmed, a British Pakistani actor and rapper. Ramírez raised his hand.
Seeing Ahmed on the soccer field during filming sparked what Ramírez has described as his “aha moment.” It was seeing him in a leading role that began to reshape Ramírez’s understanding of what was possible for him in Hollywood.
“The universe is the best writer, the most efficient writer,” Ramírez has said when reflecting on his career. On that day, he knew the path written for him.
The very next day, Ramírez bought as many acting books as he could find. He took on roles as an extra to become comfortable on set and later transferred to New York University’s Polytechnic program, a move that got him to New York, before eventually enrolling at the Tisch School of the Arts, where he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in theater.
For his disciplined artistry, commitment to meaningful storytelling, and spirited representation that inspires others to follow his lead, Ramírez is receiving a Doctor of Arts, honoris causa.
Born in Chicago and raised in Miami, Ramírez is the son of parents from Colombia and Mexico. A graduate of Miami Coral Park Senior High School, he has always spoken with pride about his heritage and culture and how privileged he feels to represent the Hispanic communities through his work.
While growing up in Miami, he became an avid Miami Hurricanes fan and continues to follow the Canes play. He has often spoken about the athletics program’s tenacity and can-do spirit as sources of inspiration and has attended games and events over the years. In 2024 he threw the first pitch at Mark Light Field.
The fast-rising star began his acting career with television roles, appearing in series such as “The Gifted,” “Orange Is the New Black,” and “On My Block.” These early performances highlighted his natural charisma and vulnerability, helping him establish a presence on screen.
In 2022 Ramírez was introduced to a global audience with the release of “Top Gun: Maverick,” appearing alongside Tom Cruise, Miles Teller, and Glen Powell. He underwent months of intensive physical training for the role and overcame his fear of flying.
He achieved a defining role in the 2021 Disney+ series “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” portraying Joaquin Torres, a quick-witted Air Force captain. Acting opposite Anthony Mackie, Ramírez held his own within a franchise known for its larger-than-life characters. In 2025 he reprised the role in the feature film “Captain America: Brave New World,” also featuring Harrison Ford, further cementing his place in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Ramírez appeared in the second season of the hit HBO series “The Last of Us,” the dual-timeline drama “Look Both Ways,” the 20th Century Studios thriller “No Exit” for Hulu, and A24’s “Stars at Noon,” among others. He has also appeared in high-profile commercial campaigns and served as ambassador for Michael Kors, appearing in campaigns shot in Saint-Tropez for the luxury brand, expanding his influence across film, television, and popular culture.
Always eager to challenge himself creatively, Ramírez launched his own production company, Pinstripes, last year. He will make his feature directorial debut with “Baton,” a sports drama he wrote and will also star in, co-produced with Victoria Alonso and David Beckham.
Other upcoming projects include Todd Haynes’ romantic drama “De Noche,” opposite Pedro Pascal, and the Jean-Michel Basquiat biopic, “Samo Lives.”