San Angelo Actor Does Super Bowl Budweiser Commercial

Menchaca explained the difference between living in New York and Hollywood for a working actor, “There are a lot more New York opportunities for Procedural shows like CSI than LA. Hollywood seems to offer more opportunities for movie opportunities. Fortunately, I get to do stuff that gets me excited whether it’s TV or film. I'm about to go do a film in Finland, it’s an Indi with a big budget.” 

His breakout role came with 'Generation Kill' in 2007, a show set in Africa. Subsequent projects, like 'Alone,' reinforced his standing in the industry. A testament to his journey, Menchaca expressed excitement about working with renowned actors Emma Thompson and Judy Greer in an upcoming Finnish thriller, “Yeah I am excited to work with them. I have a fairly big role, I mean it’s kind of the three of us in the film and it’s a thriller and also some dark comedy.”

How much of your success can be attributed to your ambition and to a plan you executed? How much of it feels like a higher power is in control or that luck was involved?

"It's all of those and everything combined. Simply being kind to people such as casting directors and industry people goes a long way. After Generation Kill, for example, it was tough cause I would go do small jobs and it was hard to get another job, and I would work at my buddy's chocolate factory. It wasn't until 2007 that I felt like I made it. "

When asked about making friends on the set of films and movies, Menchaca explained that one of the biggest perks to this career in this field is the people you get to meet and become friends with. Menchaca said, “Most jobs are like high school, you get thrown in with this group of people just like high school and you become good friends with the people that you work with.”

Despite the challenges, Menchaca acknowledges the role of luck in his career. He emphasizes kindness to industry professionals and cherishes the friendships formed on sets.

His father Rudy Menchaca, owner of The Carpet Shop in San Angelo, highlights Menchaca's dedication and achievements in a highly competitive field, "My son has been out there in New York and working at his career for over a decade now. He is doing what he loves and his wife is very talented and well-known herself." Marc’s father explained that the distance between Texas and New York has made it difficult to spend time with his son regularly but they have made time to visit one another within the past year. He said that Marc and his wife were able to come to San Angelo this past summer for a couple of weeks and that he has gone up to Brooklyn to see them as well. 

Menchaca's wife is Hollywood starlet Lena Headey who is best known for her break-out role as Cersei Lannister on the hit HBO show Game of Thrones. Menchaca and Headey were married in October of 2022 and are the parents of two pre-teens and what Menchaca calls his "bonus kids." The couple plans to work on future projects together both sharing the responsibilities of writing and directing although Menchaca admits that his wife is probably the better director. 

Living in Brooklyn for the past decade, Menchaca appreciates San Angelo's growth during visits, praising local initiatives. An advocate for mental health, he commends efforts by West Texas Counseling and Guidance for suicide prevention. Menchaca said, "I'm good friends with the owners and I just try to help them out as much as I can when I come down there."

Menchaca also has a pending project in the works that people will be able to watch during the Super Bowl this year. Menchaca will be the star of a Super Bowl III Budweiser commercial. Mechaca said over the phone during our interview, "A buddy approached me and asked me to this commercial with him. It's a great commercial with Clydesdales and a snowstorm and me getting this beer to its desired destination."

As Menchaca continues his Hollywood journey, his roots in San Angelo remain a significant part of his identity. Menchaca spoke fondly of San Angelo and discussed how his mind has expanded throughout his travels and experiences in the film industry. We invited Menchaca in for a San Angelo LIVE studio interview and gratefully accepted. We are hoping to have both Marc Menchaca and his amazing wife Lena Headey in our studio for an in-depth interview. For now, keep your eyes peeled to see our local hometown hero during the Super Bowl and on the big screen after he finishes filming the movie in Finland. We haven't seen anything yet. I told Menchaca that soon San Angelo will have a street named after him.