If you are a fan of Disney Channel shows, you may have seen the talented actors Moises Arias and Mateo Arias on screen. Moises is best known for his role as Rico on Hannah Montana, while Mateo played Jerry on Kickin’ It. But did you know that these two are actually brothers in real life? Here is everything you need to know about the Arias siblings, their family background, their careers, and their latest projects.
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The Arias Family: From Colombia to New York
Moises and Mateo Arias were born in New York City to Colombian parents. Their father, César Arias, owns a small store, and their mother, Mónica Arias, is a housewife. According to Vulture, the brothers were raised bilingual and grew up watching Colombian telenovelas and listening to salsa music.
The Arias family moved from New York to Atlanta when Moises was six years old and Mateo was four. There, they enrolled in a performing arts school and started taking acting classes. They also developed a passion for filmmaking and music, and began making their own videos on YouTube under the username Moiswashere.
The Arias Brothers: From Disney Stars to Indie Darlings
Moises and Mateo Arias both started their acting careers by appearing in various Disney Channel shows and movies. Moises made his debut in 2005 as Randall in The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, and later landed the role of Rico, the mischievous surf shop owner on Hannah Montana. He also starred in the Disney Channel Original Movie Dadnapped, and participated in the Disney Channel Games.
Mateo followed his brother’s footsteps and joined the Disney family in 2008 as Andre in Cold Case. He then got his breakthrough role as Jerry, the martial arts expert on Kickin’ It. He also appeared in the Disney XD series Lab Rats, and designed the set for the short film Adictos.
After leaving Disney, the Arias brothers ventured into more independent and diverse projects. Moises starred in several critically acclaimed films, such as The Kings of Summer, Ender’s Game, The Stanford Prison Experiment, Monos, Five Feet Apart, The King of Staten Island, and Jockey. He also co-founded MSFTSrep, a youth collective and fashion brand with Jaden Smith, Willow Smith, and his brother Mateo.
Mateo also pursued his own artistic endeavors, such as writing and producing music under the name ¿Téo?, collaborating with artists like Jaden Smith and Willow Smith. He also appeared in films like Good Kids, Blast Beat, First Girl I Loved, and Pitch Perfect 3.
The Arias Brothers: Reuniting on Screen for Blast Beat
One of the most recent and exciting projects that Moises and Mateo Arias worked on together is Blast Beat, a film about a Colombian family that moves to Atlanta in 1999 to seek asylum. Moises plays Carly, a metalhead who dreams of becoming a NASA engineer, while Mateo plays Mateo (yes, they kept their real names), a rebellious artist who resents leaving his home country.
Blast Beat is written and directed by Esteban Arango and his co-writer Erick Castrillón, who are also Colombian brothers. The film is inspired by their own experiences as immigrants in the US, and explores themes such as family, identity, culture, and dreams. The film also stars Wilmer Valderrama as the father of the Arias brothers.
Blast Beat premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival to positive reviews, and was released on May 21, 2021. In an interview with Vulture, Moises and Mateo Arias shared how they related to their characters and how they brought their brotherly bond to the screen.
They also talked about how they wanted to portray a realistic and authentic Colombian American family that goes beyond stereotypes and clichés. They said that they were proud to represent their culture and heritage in a film that shows the diversity and complexity of the Latino community.
Is Mateo Arias Related to Moises Arias? The Answer is Yes!
So there you have it: Mateo Arias is indeed related to Moises Arias. They are not only brothers by blood, but also by passion and creativity. They have both achieved remarkable success in their respective fields, and have shown their versatility and talent as actors, filmmakers, musicians, and artists.
They have also proven that they are not afraid to take risks and challenge themselves with different roles and genres. They have both grown from being Disney stars to indie darlings, and have earned the respect and admiration of critics and fans alike.
But more than anything else, they have shown that they are loyal and supportive of each other, and that they share a strong and genuine bond as siblings. They are not only brothers, but also best friends and collaborators. They are the Arias brothers, and they are here to stay.
