The four student actors
Carlos PenaVega, José Julián, David Del Rio and Oscar Gutierrez portray the Carl Hayden robotics team. These are the credits for Spare Parts (2015), the film starring George Lopez.
| Actor | Character | Real person |
|---|---|---|
| Carlos PenaVega | Oscar Vazquez | Oscar Vazquez |
| José Julián | Lorenzo Santillan | Lorenzo Santillan |
| David Del Rio | Cristian Arcega | Cristian Arcega |
| Oscar Gutierrez | Luis Aranda | Luis Aranda |
Oscar Gutierrez is also listed as Oscar Javier Gutierrez II in the IMDb credits. José Julián plays Lorenzo; J.R. Villarreal plays Hector.
Carlos PenaVega as Oscar Vazquez
PenaVega plays Oscar, one of the four students. The real Oscar’s later milestones include an ASU degree and Army service; those belong to his life beyond the film. Read the dated Oscar Vazquez follow-up.
José Julián as Lorenzo Santillan
José Julián portrays Lorenzo. To hear from the real team member, the school and mentors guide links to an interview with Lorenzo and Cristian. Lorenzo’s follow-up also includes a documented 2024 screening appearance.
David Del Rio as Cristian Arcega
Del Rio plays Cristian. Separate the performance from the historical student with our account of Cristian’s contribution to the robot and published follow-up reporting.
Oscar Gutierrez as Luis Aranda
Gutierrez portrays Luis, not Oscar Vazquez. The shared first name can make a cast search confusing: Carlos PenaVega is the actor playing Oscar. Meet the real Luis Aranda.
The teachers, families & supporting cast
| Actor | Character | Role in the story |
|---|---|---|
| George Lopez | Fredi Cameron | The team’s teacher |
| Marisa Tomei | Gwen Kolinsky | A fellow teacher |
| Jamie Lee Curtis | Karen Lowry | The school principal |
| Esai Morales | Mr. Santillan | Lorenzo’s father |
| Alexa PenaVega | Karla | Oscar’s girlfriend |
| Alessandra Rosaldo | Mrs. Vazquez | Oscar’s mother |
| J.R. Villarreal | Hector | Supporting character |
Who does George Lopez play in Spare Parts?
George Lopez plays Fredi Cameron, the teacher. In the real story, the students were mentored by Fredi Lajvardi and Allan Cameron. Lajvardi explained in a 2014 Arizona PBS interview that the film combines them into one character. Meet the real Carl Hayden teachers.
Who do Marisa Tomei and Jamie Lee Curtis play?
Marisa Tomei plays Gwen Kolinsky, a fellow teacher, while Jamie Lee Curtis plays principal Karen Lowry. These are film character names. Use the film-versus-fact guide when comparing the drama with the historical school staff.
Who are the real people behind the film?
The four students’ names are Oscar Vazquez, Cristian Arcega, Lorenzo Santillan and Luis Aranda. They attended Carl Hayden Community High School in Phoenix. Start with the true story of their 2004 robotics win, then explore dated follow-up reporting on the team.
Watch the performances
Looking for the film rather than a cast list? Our Spare Parts viewing guide links directly to the 2015 film’s provider listings.
Credit references
- Apple TV: Spare Parts — cast and crew.
- IMDb: full cast and crew — detailed credit names, including Hector.
- ASU News: the real teachers and team.