– Michael Diaz, known by his comedic alias Juan Bago, started as an aspiring actor. He moved from Connecticut to Washington Heights, NY, to pursue acting and began making comedy sketches with a friend who hosted a public access show.
– Diaz wrote, produced, and starred in “The Story of Juan Bago” in 2006, which gained him popularity and recognition in the Latino community. He continues to use his alias for projects, such as the “Bago Briefs” web series and the “Translators” podcast.
– Diaz’s goal is to create more representation of Dominican shows on television and to create independent work that is inspiring to other artists.
Full Story
Comedian Juan Bago, born Michael Diaz in New Rochelle, NY, started off with aspirations of becoming an actor before transitioning to sketch comedy. His goal of becoming an actor led him back to Washington Heights, NY, where his parents met and many family members still lived. Diaz moved from Connecticut to Washington Heights and started taking acting classes and picking up some background work. He then connected with a friend who hosted a public access show. The two would shoot little sketches together, coming up with new concepts on a weekly basis.
When a friend of his connected Diaz with the founder of the New York Latino Film Festival in 2004, he wrote his first comedy feature. The feature sold out at the Latino Film Festival and created a name for Diaz in the independent filmmaker in comedy space. The birth of Juan Bago arrived shortly after, and Diaz premiered “The Story of Juan Bago” in 2006. Juan Bago became so attached to the Dominican American comedian that many often don’t realize that Juan Bago is not his real name.
These days, the Washington Heights resident continues to use his Juan Bago alias for projects. In December 2022, he launched “Bago Briefs” in collaboration with Latino Rebels and Futuro Media. “Bago Briefs” takes to the streets of Washington Heights to interview folks in the community — man on the street style. Diaz is hoping to expand this project to other communities in the future. He recently launched a podcast titled “Translators” with cohost Jaime Fernandez, where each guest shares their passion, path, and process.
Guests of the “Translators” podcast so far include fellow Dominican actors Julissa Calderón, Jaden Michael, Darlene Demorizi, and stand-up comedians Ian Lara and Gastor Almonte. Diaz’s goal is to get Dominican shows on television and create independent work that can inspire other artists. Diaz says that he wants to be a great inspiration for his son.
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