Honestly, if you were anywhere near a movie theater in 2009, you remember the "wolf pack." Specifically, you probably remember the guy who looked like he was about to punch a hole through the screen every time he appeared. That was Alex Meraz. He played Paul Lahote, the short-fused, aggressive, and somehow still lovable shapeshifter who basically lived to annoy Bella Swan.
But here is the thing: a lot of people think he just vanished after the Cullens and the Quileutes stopped fighting. That is completely wrong. Looking at Alex Meraz movies and tv shows today, the guy has actually built one of the most consistent, grit-heavy careers of any of the former teen idols from that era. He didn't stay in the "hunky werewolf" lane. He went dark. He went indie. And lately, he’s been popping up in some of the most prestige dramas on television.
From The New World to the Wolf Pack
Meraz didn't start with blockbusters. His debut was actually in Terrence Malick's The New World (2005). He played a Powhatan warrior, which is a far cry from the CGI wolves of Forks. It was a small role, but it set the tone. He is a member of the Purepecha (Tarasco) First Nation, and he’s always brought a level of authentic physicality to his work that most actors have to fake.
Then came The Twilight Saga: New Moon.
🔗 Read more: How Old Is Paul Heyman? The Real Story of Wrestling’s Greatest Mind
The story goes that his wife, Kim, was a fan of the books and basically told him he’d be perfect for the part. He wasn't even a fan! He actually had to watch a bootlegged copy of the first movie just to see what the fuss was about before he auditioned. He famously gained 20 pounds of muscle just to walk into the room, and he landed the role of Paul with a single, "naughty" improvised line: "Speak for yourself."
It worked. He became the "bad boy" of the franchise. He spent three movies (New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn) being the loose cannon of the pack. But while some of his co-stars struggled to shed their teen-star skin, Meraz leaned into his martial arts background.
The Gritty Pivot: Martial Arts and Action
If you want to see what he can actually do when he isn't limited by a PG-13 rating, you have to watch Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown. He plays Zack Gomes, an MMA fighter with a massive chip on his shoulder. Meraz is a legitimate martial artist—he’s studied karate and Capoeira for years—so he did his own stunts. It’s a visceral, sweaty performance that proved he could lead an action flick.
💡 You might also like: Howie Mandel Cupcake Picture: What Really Happened With That Viral Post
He kept that energy going with roles in:
- Bone Tomahawk (2015): A terrifying horror-western where he played an "Eagle Skulls" warrior. It’s a cult classic for a reason.
- Suicide Squad (2016): Blink and you’ll miss him, but he’s there as Gomez, part of the Seal Team A.
- Bright (2017): He reunited with David Ayer for this Netflix orc-cop movie, playing Serafin.
The TV Renaissance: Dark Winds and Beyond
The most interesting phase of Alex Meraz movies and tv shows is happening right now. He has moved away from being "the muscle" and into roles that require serious emotional heavy lifting.
If you haven't seen Dark Winds on AMC, you’re missing out. Meraz plays Ivan Muños, a Border Patrol agent, and he is fantastic. It’s a nuanced, tense performance in a show that finally gives Indigenous actors the kind of complex, contemporary material they deserve. This isn't a "period piece" where he's running around in a breechcloth; it’s a modern noir.
📖 Related: Austin & Ally Maddie Ziegler Episode: What Really Happened in Homework & Hidden Talents
He’s also been keeping busy with:
- The Walking Dead: He played Brandon Carver in Season 11. He brought that signature Paul Lahote "explosiveness" to the apocalypse, and it was a breath of fresh air for a show that was in its final stretch.
- Animal Kingdom: As Javi Cano, he was part of one of the show's most intense subplots involving the Cody family’s past.
- Landman (2024-2025): He recently joined this Taylor Sheridan powerhouse, proving he fits right into that rugged, "Yellowstone-adjacent" universe.
- American Sports Story (2024): He took on the role of Carlos "Charlie Boy" Ortiz in the Aaron Hernandez season, showing off his range in a true-crime setting.
Why He Still Matters
Meraz is 40 now. He’s not the 24-year-old kid shaking hands with screaming fans at the New Moon premiere. He’s a veteran. The reason his filmography is so deep—25+ credits and counting—is that he never stopped training. He started as a dancer (performing with companies like Dancing Earth), moved into MMA, and eventually became an actor who directors call when they need someone who looks like they can actually survive a fight.
Actionable Insight: How to Watch Him Now
If you want the "Best of Meraz" experience, skip the Twilight rewatch for a second. Start with Dark Winds for the acting chops, then hit Never Back Down 2 for the physical stuff. If you're into weird, atmospheric horror, Bone Tomahawk is the winner.
Keep an eye out for his upcoming projects like Subversion and Pig Village. He is clearly in a "prestige" era of his career, choosing roles in shows like Landman that prioritize grit over glitter.
To stay updated on his latest roles, follow the production schedules for AMC and Paramount+, as he has become a staple for their high-end dramas. If you’re a collector, his early indie work like Cry Now or City of Gardens offers a great look at his range before the big studio machines got a hold of him.