 Of Mexican descent, he grew up in East Los Angeles, a neighborhood that regularly saw gang activity, and has relatives in such street gangs as Maravilla and Barrio South Gate.He brings this reality to his roles, particularly as Julio Sanchez on "The Closer" and "Major Crimes", as well as a range of gang-affiliated characters.In an interview with "LADbible", Cruz stated he witnessed someone get shot in front of him when he was 12 years old, noting that "his brains came out the back of his head."