There’s a moment — blink-and-you’ll-miss-it real, raw, and so unexpectedly vulnerable — when Ruben, the sharp-tongued tire-shop loyalist played by Jessie Prez, lets the armor slip. It comes in the second season of Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage, the newest chapter in The Big Bang Theory universe, which premiered this fall to the delight of fans who have followed the Cooper family story from Pasadena to Texas and everywhere in between.

But for Prez — who didn’t walk into this franchise as a legacy character or with built-in fan allegiance — the surprise has been how loudly audiences have embraced Ruben.

“He’s funny and bold, but there’s a lot of heart there,” Prez says. “This season, you get to see why Ruben cares so much — the pride, the fear, the loyalty. It’s all driving something deeper.”

For an actor who built his discipline and instincts in Chicago’s storefront theater scene, that balance — humor with emotional gravity — is the sweet spot.

“I learned to love the work because the work mattered,” he reflects. “Those spaces teach you to show up for the story, not the applause. That mindset stays with you.”

From Workplace Skeptic to Business Partner — and Absolutely Unhinged Rivalries

If season one introduced Ruben as the guy side-eyeing Georgie’s every move, season two gleefully tosses them into the deep end as business partners — which is as chaotic as it sounds.

Prez has a term for their dynamic: beautifully dysfunctional.

“They’re figuring out how to run a business, raise a family, keep the lights on — and neither of them knows what they’re doing half the time,” he laughs. “They drive each other insane, but the brotherhood is real. It’s messy, but it works… kind of.”

And then there’s the feud — the one turning a simple tire business into a comedic battleground.

“The rivalry gets ludicrous in all the right ways,” Prez hints. “Ruben’s pride and loyalty are tested, and you see a vulnerable side of him. He’s fighting for more than a business — he’s fighting for a purpose.”

The Unexpected Tango: Finding Buddy-Comedy Rhythm with Montana Jordan

The chemistry between Montana Jordan and Jessie Prez is one of the season’s standout pleasures — unforced, fast-talking, and rhythmically aligned in the tradition of great buddy comedies.

“Montana and I found that rhythm fast,” Prez says. “He throws something my way, I toss it back, and we just run with it. It’s a tango — which is funny because the show’s title sequence literally is a tango. But as a comedy partner, Montana’s great to dance with.”

You can feel that rhythm in the line delivery, in the comedic panic, in the silent looks that say louder than dialogue: Are we really doing this? Yes. Unfortunately, we are.

The Heart of the Show — and the Heart of Ruben

What Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage does well — and what keeps it deeply connected to the fans who have watched this universe evolve for nearly two decades — is that it doesn’t ask viewers to choose between heartfelt and hilarious.

“It never chooses one or the other,” Prez says. “The characters feel real, the stakes feel human, and the comedy comes from honesty. That’s what gives it its staying power.”

Which is why showing Ruben’s softer edges matters.

“I wanted people to understand where that skepticism comes from,” Prez admits. “It comes from pride, fear, wanting to be taken seriously. When responsibility hits, that’s when you start to see the heart.”

That nuance — delivered with humor — is what makes Ruben a standout.

From Steppenwolf Stages to Streaming Screens

Before the franchise expansion, before the rivalries and tire-shop tango, there was Chicago.

Prez speaks about it with both nostalgia and reverence.

“You work because you love it,” he says simply. “You learn discipline, collaboration, how to tell the truth in the moment. That stays with you.”

It stayed with him through roles on Shameless, Abbott Elementary, The Rookie: Feds, and most recently as real-life drug lord Sal Magluta in Netflix’s hit limited series Griselda.

And now — through comedy — it’s allowed him to take a character that could’ve been a punchline and give him staying power.

Looking Forward — and Maybe Playing Pickleball

As for what’s next, Prez isn’t putting limits on genre or format.

“I want to keep taking on roles that feel real and push me to grow,” he says. “Maybe something dramatic or gritty — maybe film, maybe limited series. I’m excited by anything that challenges me.”

But in the meantime?

“Well,” he grins, “if I’m not acting, I’m either deep into video games or on a pickleball court. I’m competitive. Whether it’s my PS5 or a paddle — I’m locked in.”

Jessie Prez may have joined the Big Bang Theory universe as the skeptic in the tire shop, but he’s emerged as something more: the comedic disruptor with a beating heart beneath the punchlines — and a role audiences didn’t even know they needed.

If the trajectory of season two is any indication, Ruben isn’t just here to stay — he’s here to surprise you.

Photography Credit:
Photographer: Tony Moux
Creative Director & Groomer: Olivia Shipman
Styling: Rima Vaidila