@marcellohdz is the young king of comedy.
The CULT100 cover star is relentlessly affable, cheekily charming, and, as the first cast member to introduce Spanish-language sketches, a breath of fresh air on a 50-year-old program that has changed little during its reign over American comedy. At 28, the show’s first Gen Z cast member is fluent in the digital-first tone without pandering to it and offers a long-overdue perspective on American culture—even if, ironically, this means he’s already outgrowing the platform that made him a star.
His first stand-up special for Netflix, last January’s ‘American Boy,’ gives a look at what Hernández might be capable of outside the constraints of a sketch. He recalls life in Miami, where he grew up with his oft-joked-about overprotective Cuban mother before turning tail to try his hand at comedy in New York clubs. The special overflows with an exuberance that’s become Hernández’s trademark. Now that the special has thoroughly seeded the Internet, he hopped on the phone for a post-mortem with his mentor, the peerless
@iamjamiefoxx , for some friendly advice on how to ride the wave of a cresting career.
Link in bio to read their conversation, and order your copy of the 2026 CULT100 issue before the full list drops on April 23.
1/ Marcello wears a full look by
@thombrowne .
3/ Shirt and shorts by
@bode with shoes and socks by
@thombrowne .
Editor-in-Chief:
@sarahgharrelson
Photography:
@jeremy_liebman
Styling:
@daniandemmastyle
Grooming:
@evydrew
Location: Nine Orchard
Casting:
@specialprojectsmedia
// The 100 individuals on CULTURED’s third annual CULT100 list span disciplines and generations. Some are household names, others operate behind the scenes. All of them are choosing risk over reward, curiosity over cynicism, and are shaping culture in real time. Each offers something that the algorithm never will. //
