Meet Ricardo Burgos

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ricardo Burgos a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Ricardo, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?

Growing up in Panama taught me to stay grounded and push through. But honestly, starting acting at 57—that took something deeper. Life had already knocked me around, but I decided to reinvent myself anyway.

I just knew it wasn’t too late. That fire? It came from choosing to start again, not giving up on the dream, and showing up every damn day.

That’s where it comes from.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I’m Ricardo Burgos. I’m a 65-year-old actor originally from Panama, and I started acting at 57. Yeah—late bloomer, but I’ve learned it’s never too late to follow your passion. I’ve been in over 60 commercials, print ads, TV projects, and even some wild music videos. What I love most about this work is the constant reinvention—every role, every set, every crew brings a new energy.

The most exciting part? Honestly, just being able to live creatively every day. I get to tell stories, connect with people, and show that age doesn’t define opportunity.

I also launched a personal brand called **Beard and Hat Actor**—it started with a line of baseball caps, but it’s really about the mindset. It’s for anyone who’s dared to take a leap later in life, who’s rewriting their story on their own terms.

Right now, I’m expanding the brand with lifestyle content, a new website, and more creative collaborations. So if you’re someone who’s thinking of starting over—whether it’s acting, art, or anything else—I’m living proof that it’s possible.

You just have to start.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Honestly? The three things that really helped me were:

First, just having the guts to start late. I didn’t care that I was 57—I knew I had something to say, and I went for it.

Second, I kept showing up. Even when it felt like nothing was happening, I stayed consistent. That matters.

And third, I stayed curious. I watched, asked questions, kept learning.

If you’re just starting out, my advice? Don’t wait. Start now. Keep showing up. And never stop learning.

If you knew you only had a decade of life left, how would you spend that decade?

If I knew I only had ten years left?

I’d spend it doing more of what lights me up—acting, telling stories, and creating with people who inspire me. I’d take more risks, laugh louder, and say yes to things that scare me in a good way.

I’d travel as much as I could, spend time with the people I love, and make sure they know what they mean to me.

And I’d pour even more into helping others see that it’s *never* too late to start something new. Ten years? I’d live them like they were the best chapter yet.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Lynn Parks, Drazen, Amadou Cisse

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