Edgar de Leon got his start as a theatre student at UC San Diego, and would spend most of his twenties doing TV guest spots and minor film roles until his breakout hit, Leviathan Rise (2007). He worked steadily and indiscriminately throughout his career, and often netting 2-3 credits per year in the last few years pre-outbreak. His reputation was of a charming actor with a handsome face, who did mostly big budget popcorn entertainment.
Highlights from his filmography:
The Monte Carlo Game (2002) ... Paschal Cara
A stylish casino heist thriller with an international cast. 26-year-old Edgar had a relatively small role as a croupier/inside man of the heist team, but was praised by critics for his scene-stealing charisma. This film was also when he first met actress Susanna Lovering, whom he'd start dating in 2007.
Dolls (2004) ... Ralph Morris
Remake of 1980s horror movie in which a group of travelers take shelter in an English mansion full of haunted dolls. Edgar's first starring film role of note, as an American businessman who protects a young girl after her parents are killed (by dolls). Mixed reviews but became a financial success by leaning into its ridiculous premise and serving up tons of gruesome murders-by-doll.
Show No Mercy (2005) ... Jesse Gallio
A limited release drama about a small town man who accuses his lifelong best friend of killing a hitchhiker. Edgar de Leon fans often point to this little-seen film as proof that he can "really act." The ambiguous ending hinged on his performance of the friend, who hides a dark side underneath his charm but might still be wrongfully accused.
Evil Exposure (2006) ... Mason
American adaptation of a Japanese video game, heavily criticized by fans for taking liberties with the original plot. A young woman searches for her missing boyfriend, armed only with a camera that can capture ghosts. Edgar played the boyfriend, under the thrall of a powerful ghost who believes him to be her dead lover. Arguably Edgar's worst movie.
Leviathan Rise (2007) ... Lorenzo Valdes
Giant robots battle alien monsters in this box-office smash. Edgar is a veteran pilot who becomes the mentor to the 20-year-old prodigy heroine. In the emotional high point of the movie, he's forcibly retired after a harrowing battle, due to accumulated brain damage from a decade of mech piloting. Edgar's most well-known role.
Dragoncrest (2008) ... Prince Diovo
Generic European fantasy setting, dragon-riding knights, and a courtly love triangle. A fairly bad movie featuring unconvincing CGI dragons and a scenery-chewing villain performance from Edgar as the hero's scheming half-brother, who badly burns the heir's face with dragon fire and usurps the kingdom from him.
Leviathan Rise: Echoes of the Abyss (2009) ... Lorenzo Valdes
Seen as either a cynical cash grab or a guilty pleasure favorite. Echoes shifts from the first movie's darker, serious tone to indulge in over-the-top mecha vs kaiju action, with all the giant robots getting cool new weapons. Two controversial points: Lorenzo Valdes' medical issues are totally retconned so he can pilot again, and the movie ends with a blatant sequel setup.
Leviathan Domination (2010) ... Lorenzo Valdes
Third installment and the worst-reviewed. Lorenzo, previously the fan favorite character, pulls too much focus with a confusing, distracting subplot in which his once-retconned brain damage results in vivid hallucinations. There were rumors of executive meddling by Edgar de Leon, who was supposed to either have a much smaller role or die in a heroic sacrifice. A fourth Leviathan movie was announced, but never started production.
The Omega Virus (2011) ... Dr. Frank Barlowe
Late summer sci-fi horror about an alien technovirus that spreads online and turns humans into zombie-like monsters. The movie's dubious attempt at social commentary in the Internet age were overshadowed by a rumored on-set affair between the two leads. Rebecca Westwood divorced her husband while promoting the film, and Edgar de Leon went to the stage in a twelve-week run as Hamlet.
Filmography
Highlights from his filmography: