Mateo Arias is an American actor, rapper, and singer-songwriter best known for playing Jerry Martinez in the Disney XD series Kickin’ It and for his music career under the stage name ¿Téo?.
He grew up in a Colombian-American household in Atlanta, Georgia, and launched his acting career at age nine before pivoting to music in 2017.
Who is Mateo Arias?
Mateo Arias, also known professionally as ¿Téo?, is a Colombian-American actor and musician who spent his childhood years on Disney Channel before building an independent music career.
He played the role of Jerry Cesar Martinez, a Hispanic black belt, in Kickin’ It from 2011 to 2015.
Beyond acting, Arias shifted his focus to music under the stage name ¿Téo?, blending bossa nova, hip-hop, and alternative R&B into a style he describes as “Neo-American.”
His debut album earned over 50 million streams on Spotify, and he has collaborated with Jaden Smith, Willow Smith, Kali Uchis, and Post Malone.
He is the younger brother of actor Moisés Arias, known for his role as Rico in Hannah Montana.
The brothers both grew up bilingual and have frequently collaborated, including co-starring in the 2020 film Blast Beat.
Early Life of Mateo Arias
Mateo Arias was born in Atlanta, Georgia, to Colombian immigrants Mónica and César Arias, who came from the Paisa region of Colombia.
He grew up between Lawrenceville and Atlanta in what he described as a “pseudo-Colombian culture.”
His parents raised him bilingual, and he did not speak English until around age four.
His mother, Mónica Rendón, enrolled both Mateo and his older brother Moisés in acting classes in Atlanta at a young age.
She wanted her sons comfortable in front of a camera. Some extended family thought the decision was unconventional, but years of success followed.
Mateo produced short films with his brother from an early age, exploring his love of both the camera and music.
He began creating original music content as young as ten years old.
Mateo Arias Age / Birthday
Mateo Arias is 30 years old as of 2026, born on October 31, 1995. His zodiac sign is Scorpio, a sign associated with depth, intensity, and creative drive.
He remains active across both acting and music in his early thirties.
Mateo Arias Ethnicity and Nationality
Mateo Arias holds American nationality. His ethnic background is Colombian-American, with both parents tracing roots to the Paisa region of Colombia.
He grew up immersed in Colombian cultural traditions alongside American life, which deeply influenced the bilingual, Latin-infused style of his music.
Mateo Arias Height and Weight
Mateo Arias stands approximately 5 feet 7 inches tall, which is roughly 170 centimeters.
His weight is not publicly confirmed. He has a lean build that suited his physical role as a martial arts character on Kickin’ It.
Mateo Arias Education
Mateo and his brother attended acting classes in Atlanta from an early age, driven by their mother’s encouragement.
No further details about his formal schooling are publicly confirmed.
Mateo Arias Career
Mateo Arias began acting at age nine and spent his formative years building credits on Disney Channel and in supporting film roles.
After Kickin’ It ended in 2015, he moved toward music, releasing his first single in 2017.
Since then, he has pursued both careers in parallel, touring North America and releasing three studio albums.
Acting Beginnings (2005–2010)
Mateo made his screen debut in the 2005 family comedy Yours, Mine and Ours, directed by Raja Gosnell.
He played a bully kid in the film. It marked his first professional credit at age nine.
He followed with guest appearances on the Nickelodeon sitcom Drake & Josh in 2007, playing a character named Reggie.
That same year, he appeared in a Hannah Montana episode as a character called Mateo Suave.
In 2009, he appeared in two episodes of the CBS crime drama Cold Case as Gabriel Ariza.
He also played Andre in the 2009 Disney Channel Original Movie Dadnapped. These early roles built a foundation that led to his major casting in Kickin’ It.
Kickin’ It and Disney XD (2011–2015)
In June 2011, Mateo joined the main cast of Kickin’ It on Disney XD, playing Jerome “Jerry” Martínez for the full run of the series until March 2015.
The show ran for four seasons and 84 episodes. It followed a martial arts instructor and five students at a struggling academy, with Mateo’s character serving as the comic and athletic heart of the group.
His brother Moisés also appeared in the series. The two had previously produced short film content together on YouTube, which helped bring them both into the production.
Mateo described the experience of filming alongside his brother as a dream scenario.
In 2014, the Imagen Foundation nominated Mateo for the Best Young Actor in Television award for his work on the show.
The nomination recognized his consistent performance across three seasons.
He also co-starred with Moisés in the 2012 short film Brothers in Arms, which Moisés wrote and directed. The story followed two brothers separated by a military draft.
Music Career as ¿Téo? (2017–Present)
After Kickin’ It ended, Mateo redirected his energy to music under the stage name ¿Téo?.
In 2017, he released his debut single “Uno Dos,” featuring longtime friend and collaborator Jaden Smith. The track set the tone for his bilingual, genre-blending approach.
In 2018, he followed with two more singles, “Palm Trees” and “Orso (Off Top).” His self-titled debut studio album ¿Téo? dropped on September 23, 2018, on the 49 Digits label.
The nine-track project blended bossa nova, alternative R&B, and hip-hop elements, earning positive critical reception and accumulating over 50 million streams on Spotify.
Billboard interviewed him in 2019 about his friendship with Jaden Smith and the meaning of the “Neo-American” genre label he coined.
His second studio album, Sol, arrived on June 11, 2021, with 12 tracks exploring themes of self-expression and personal growth.
It featured the collaboration “Buzzed” with Willow Smith and received wide attention for its sonic range. In 2022, Mateo toured North America as an opening act for Justin Bieber.
His third album, Luna, came out on August 18, 2023. Luna paired with Sol as a day-and-night companion set.
In April 2023, he performed at the 22nd Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
During his set, Jaden Smith appeared on stage and publicly said he was proud of his friend.
The Coachella appearance marked one of the highest-profile moments of Mateo’s music career to date.
He also appeared in a cameo in the 2024 film Trap, playing the lead singer of a fictional band called Papa’s Boots.
Beyond that, his single “A Big Apple” dropped on November 12, 2025, continuing his output under the ¿Téo? name.
Acting Return and Film Work (2016–2024)
While building his music profile, Mateo continued taking film roles.
In 2016, he appeared in First Girl I Loved, a romantic drama directed by Kerem Sanga that premiered at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Audience Award in the “Best of Next” category.
Mateo played Clifton Martinez in the film.
That same year, he appeared in Good Kids, directed by Chris McCoy, as Lionel “The Lion” Miller, an MMA coach.
In 2018, he took a supporting role in The Samuel Project, playing a character named Kasim.
His most significant film role came in 2020 with Blast Beat, directed by Colombian filmmaker Esteban Arango, which expanded a short film of the same name.
Mateo played Carlos “Carly” Andres, a math genius and metal fan who dreams of working for NASA.
Moisés played his younger brother. The story followed two Colombian brothers who emigrate to Georgia in 1999, with Wilmer Valderrama playing their father.
Blast Beat premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival and received strong critical attention for its bilingual storytelling and character depth.
Mateo Arias Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Yours, Mine & Ours | Bully | Film debut |
| 2012 | Brothers in Arms | Matthew | Short film |
| 2016 | First Girl I Loved | Clifton Martinez | Sundance premiere |
| 2016 | Good Kids | Lionel “The Lion” Miller | |
| 2018 | The Samuel Project | Kasim | |
| 2020 | Blast Beat | Carlos “Carly” Andres | Sundance premiere |
| 2024 | Trap | Lead singer of Papa’s Boots | Cameo |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Drake & Josh | Reggie | Guest role |
| 2007 | Hannah Montana | Mateo Suave | Guest role |
| 2009 | Cold Case | Gabriel Ariza | 2 episodes |
| 2011–2015 | Kickin’ It | Jerome “Jerry” Martínez | Main role |
Mateo Arias Awards and Recognition
- Imagen Foundation Award nomination, Best Young Actor in Television, for Kickin’ It (2014)
Mateo Arias Wife
Mateo Arias is not married and has not publicly confirmed a girlfriend or wife as of 2026.
He keeps his personal life largely private and has not shared relationship details on his social media accounts. No confirmed relationship is on record.
Mateo Arias Net Worth
Mateo Arias’s estimated net worth is $5 million as of 2026. His income draws from two separate careers: acting across Disney television and independent film, and music as ¿Téo? under the 49 Digits label.
His acting career included a four-year main role on Kickin’ It and several independent films, while his music career added touring revenue, including opening for Justin Bieber’s 2022 North American tour.
His three studio albums, which together have drawn tens of millions of streams on Spotify, also generate ongoing royalty income.
Brand endorsements connected to his music persona contribute to his overall earnings as well.
Mateo Arias Social Media
Mateo Arias uses Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) primarily under his ¿Téo? music identity.
His official Instagram handle is @teoriah and his verified X account is @OfficialMateo.
His official YouTube channel, Teoriah, features music videos including “Final Step,” which his brother Moisés directed and which collected over 100,000 views on YouTube.
Conclusion
Mateo Arias moved from a childhood Disney role into an independent music career that reached Coachella in 2023, covering more creative ground than most actors who cross into music.
His work as ¿Téo? shows a genuine artistic voice rooted in his Colombian heritage and bilingual upbringing, distinct from his earlier television identity.