Mike Vitar

Background

Michael Anthony Vitar, known as Mike Vitar, was born in Los Angeles, California, and is of Latin descent. He is the youngest child in the family, with two other siblings. His older brother, Pablo, who played the older version of Benny in “The Sandlot,” became a Los Angeles police sergeant in 1996. He had colon cancer and died on January 29, 2008. Vitar also has an older sister named Elizabeth. In 1997, he graduated from St. Francis High School in La Cañada, California.

In 1991, he made his film debut as Arturo in Peter Maris’ action thriller “Diplomatic Immunity.” He made his television debut as well, playing Anthony Gambuzza in the episode “Boys of Summer” of “Brooklyn Bridge,” a CBS family drama about a Jewish American family living in Brooklyn in the 1950s. He also co-starred in the 1993 neo-noir mystery film “Sunset Grill” alongside Peter Weller. Set in Los Angeles, the movie follows a police officer turned private investigator who attempts to solve a mystery involving illegal Mexican immigrants. “The Sandlot” (1993) came right after. Vitar portrayed the kind, generous, and talented Benjamin Franklin ‘Benny the Jet’ Rodriguez, leading a group of mostly young actors. The film earned positive critical reviews and grossed $33 million at the box office. The movie’s cult reputation is due to the timeless story of underdogs triumphing over overwhelming circumstances, combined with likable characters.

While Vitar did not appear in the original “Mighty Ducks” film in 1992, his performance in “The Sandlot” persuaded the directors of “D2: The Mighty Ducks” to cast him as Luis Mendoza, jersey #22. Despite its negative reviews, the film grossed $45.6 million at the box office. In 1996, he returned to the role in the third film of the trilogy, “D3: The Mighty Ducks.” These films have also become cult classics in the previous 21 years. Before finally retiring from acting in 1997, he had cameo appearances on ABC’s “NYPD Blue” (1996) and CBS’ “Chicago Hope” (1997). He had once worked at Gerber Ambulance in Torrance since 1996, and the experience served as his springboard into his current job as a firefighter. He then started working for the Los Angeles Fire Department in June 2002. He married Kym Allen in 2006, and the couple has three children, two sons and a daughter. The family currently lives in Los Angeles.