Meet Herbert Siguenza | Actor, Playwright and Visual Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Herbert Siguenza and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Herbert, any advice for those thinking about whether to keep going or to give up?
A true artist is someone who is constantly living and breathing as an artist. In other words, their art is their whole identity and perhaps the reason for living. An artist cannot give up because then they give up on life itself. That is your purpose for being so be it 24/7 ! There really is no alternative. The minute you stop working and do another job, you are fulfilling someone else’s dream, not yours. Is it hard to be an artist? Yes very much so! But if you manage to live off your calling, it’s the most rewarding feeling and success.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
The path of an actor or playwright is never smooth—especially for a Latino artist navigating an industry that was not built with us in mind. But that uncertainty is part of the process. Challenges, setbacks, and obstacles are not signs of failure; they are what give meaning to the triumphs when they arrive. The essential key is to keep working and creating, regardless of external circumstances. Momentum matters. Energy creates energy, and when you put your work into the world and make space for it, something always responds.
To be a successful artist requires relentlessness and total commitment. It means being an artist twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week—not as a burden, but as a way of living. I believe that one cannot treat art as a part-time calling while devoting their primary energy to work that pulls them away from their purpose.
The economic realities can be difficult, even unforgiving, but stopping the creative process is not an option. In his experience, continuing to invest in one’s own projects—especially during the hardest moments—is where real growth and opportunity emerge. Risk, when grounded in craft and preparation, ultimately pays off.
That level of dedication requires discipline and an unshakable belief in one’s voice, skill, and expertise. It also requires knowing when to pause. Rest between projects is not a luxury, but a necessity—for the body, the mind, and the soul.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I have been living in San Diego and I know Los Angeles very well. So here goes a wild weekend. My friends would arrive to LAX Friday and we would go have drinks somewhere in Silverlake or Los Feliz. Dinner somewhere in Old Pasadena. On Saturday get up really early and drive down to San Diego and enjoy the breweries and maybe the zoo. Stay overnight in the Gas Lamp district. Return to LA on Sunday and go to the Observatory in Griffith Park. A Mexican dinner. Monday coffee and they fly back on Monday.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to make a shoutout to my homies of Culture Clash. Ric Salinas and Richard Montoya have been my artistic collaborators for over 42 years. Together, we have opened doors for countless Latino playwrights and actors by pioneering the American Regional Theatre system. We had the first Chicano sketch TV show on the Fox Network in the early 90’s. We are still working and still relevant all the years later.

Instagram: # Hsiguenza

Facebook: Herbert Siguenza