Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos’ youngest son, Joaquin, is gearing up for a major milestone in his life.
The 21-year-old has been studying at the University of Michigan for the past three years and is currently in his final semester.
As he prepares to graduate, he has made a significant decision about his future—one that represents a shift from his original path.
Joaquin has been a dedicated wrestler throughout his time at the University of Michigan.
His proud parents have frequently shared updates about his achievements on Live with Kelly and Mark, but now, Joaquin himself is opening up about what lies ahead.
In a recent interview with the University of Michigan Athletics, he discussed his evolving aspirations and the big career change he has decided to make.
A Shift from Wrestling to Acting
Originally, Joaquin’s future plans revolved around wrestling, a sport he has been passionate about for years. However, his exposure to acting has gradually steered him toward a different path. He revealed that his interest in theater was initially secondary to wrestling. His middle school wrestling coach, Jeff Marsh, who also attended the University of Michigan, played a key role in influencing his decision to join the school’s wrestling program.
Despite this strong foundation in athletics, Joaquin began to explore acting more seriously as he took on auditions, both as part of his coursework and alongside his older brother, Michael. One pivotal moment came when he auditioned on Michael’s behalf, which turned out to be an eye-opening experience. Reflecting on this, Joaquin shared, “I should actually look into doing this. That was the light bulb moment.”
Now, with graduation approaching, Joaquin is fully embracing his passion for theater. He is set to star in A Few Good Men, which will be performed at the Power Center in Ann Arbor on February 20. Speaking about the production, he expressed his enthusiasm, saying, “I think it’s a really good play. I’m a big music guy and the soundtrack of the play is cinematic. Just based off of the rehearsal process so far, I think this will have the most personal impact on me.”
Following in His Family’s Footsteps
Joaquin’s decision to pursue acting means he will be following in the footsteps of his famous parents as well as his older brother. His father, Mark Consuelos, is well known for his role on All My Children, where he met Kelly Ripa, who was also a leading actress on the show. Meanwhile, Joaquin’s older brother, Michael, has already established himself in the industry, having portrayed a younger version of their father’s character, Hiram Lodge, in Riverdale.
His older sister, Lola, has also taken a creative path, focusing on music. The 23-year-old singer splits her time between New York City and London as she works on her music career. Unlike his siblings, who attended New York University (NYU), Joaquin was the first to study away from their home city, choosing the University of Michigan for its strong wrestling and academic programs.
Wrestling’s Lasting Influence
Despite shifting his career focus, Joaquin emphasized that wrestling will always be a part of his life. He reflected on how the sport has shaped him, stating, “Wrestling will always be in my life because of the team… I’ll always be brothers for life with the team and with the coaches. I think that being in it has given me a big mental edge. I’ll take the lessons that I learned and know that when things get hard, I’ll definitely remember getting through the tough times in wrestling.”
His years in wrestling have undoubtedly instilled discipline and resilience—qualities that will serve him well as he embarks on a career in acting.
A Bright Future Ahead
With graduation on the horizon and his sights set on a new career, Joaquin is stepping into a future filled with exciting possibilities. As he transitions from the wrestling mat to the stage, his parents and siblings continue to support him, just as they have throughout his journey.
As Joaquin prepares to take on this next chapter, fans of the Ripa-Consuelos family will be eager to see where his talents take him. Whether it’s on stage or screen, it’s clear that he’s ready to make his mark in the world of entertainment.
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