Extreme Makeover: Home Edition

Background:

Television personality, entertainer and designer Eduardo Xol is famous among American television audiences thanks to his work as designer on ABC's “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” (from 2005-?). Prior to joining the show, Xol found fame as a star of music, television and videos in Latin America. Xol has written two books: “Home Sensce” (2007), which won the Best Self-Help Book at the 2008 International Latino Book Awards, and “Extreme Entertaining Made Simple” (2008).

An avid social activist, Xol finds time to give back to community by working with several charities such as The Alumi Media Group, a non-profit group he founded benefiting children in underserved communities by sharing with them alternative education theories through the media, the Lupus Foundation of America, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), The Trevor Project, Starkey Hearing Foundation, and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Xol currently lives in Los Angeles, despite having divided his time between the United States and Mexico for about two decades.

Gifted Youth

Childhood and Family:

Eduardo T. Xol was born on February 19, 1966. He was raised as the oldest son of Eduardo and Mirna Torres in East Los Angeles, California. He has two younger siblings, Monica Cayon and Ernesto Torres. A talented youth, 10 year old Eduardo became one of the youngest musicians to be scouted and chosen to perform with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. By age 13, at the ask of the National Conservatory of Music of Mexico, he also traveled on an exchange program to give a series of piano recitals. As a teen. Eduardo joined the Braand Theatre Company to perform at The Palm Beach Club in Cannes, France. He also joined the Mexican Dance Theatre of Los Angeles. He majored in theatre arts at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Home Sense

Career:

While studying at UCLA, Eduardo Xol started directing and producing several hit musical theatre and comedy revues that toured throughout the United States. He then moved to Latin America to accomplish his dreams of working on television and music. Using the stage name Edi Xol, he starred in worldwide syndicated telenovelas such as “Acapulco Cuerpo y Alma” (1995), “Sentimientos Ajenos” (1996) and “La Jaula de Oro” (1997).

During his time in Mexico, Xol also produced music and videos. His production company collaborated with music producer Benny Rietveld of Carlos Santana fame and Mexican superstars Luis Miguel and Pilar Montenegro. Xol also released his first solo album, “ La Pasión,” on BMG Latin. The album earned him a Premio Lo Nuestro nomination for Artist of the Year. However, he did not achieve international audience until he represented the United States at the International Music Festival at Viña Del Mar, Chile. It was not long before he appeared as one of Latin America's most eligible and gorgeous bachelors in publications such as “Elle,” “Harper's Bazaar” and “Somos.”

In 1998, Xol made his feature acting debut as Fink in the action/drama film “Bravo,” directed by Lorena David and written by Eric P. Sherman. The film starred Carlos Gallardo, Richard Livingston and Gustavo Ganem. It was also in the same year that he decided to make the United States his hoem base once again when he transferred his experience in musical composition and entertainment production into the world of lifestyle and design. He started assist his father in raising and pruning bonsai tress, a hobby through which he got a deep admiration for shape, texture and clean lines. His solid relation to his Mexican heritage provides him a passion of rich, spirited colors and rhythm in the garden.

Xol's popularity in the Unites States rose significantly when he joined the cast of the ABC hit reality series “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” as designer in 2005 during the show's second season. His compositions, especially in exterior design, have been on display for millions of people every week.

Since his success with “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” Xol has appeared on television shows like “Good Morning America” and “The Tony Danza Show” as well as on a number of newspaper and magazine articles. Besides, he has been chosen as a spokesperson for companies such as Ford and Sears as well as for DIRECTV mas! He also has written monthly column for “People en Español” and “AOL LATINO” as well as released books. His first book, “Home Sense,” published by Harper Collin imprint, RAYO, in April 2007 in both English and Spanish worldwide. The book won the Best Self-Help Book at the 2008 International Latino Book Awards. His next book, “Extreme Entertaining Made Simple,” was published by the Penguin Group in the fall of 2008, and focused on entertaining for the senses.

Awards:

• International Latino Book: Best Self-Help Book, “Home Sense,” 2008