Mark Gonzales, also known as “The Gonz,” is a professional skateboarder, artist, and occasional actor. Born on June 1, 1968, in South Gate, California, Gonzales is regarded as one of the most influential skateboarders ever. He is also seen as a pioneer of street skating.
At a very young age, Gonzales took up skateboarding as a hobby but quickly gained recognition in the skating community. Their appreciation and passion made Gonzales a professional skateboarder at 14.
He set this record for being the youngest professional skateboarder in the 1980s. He participated in various skateboarding competitions and earned a reputation for his bold and innovative style.
In the early 1990s, Gonzales pushed his limits and also tested those of the skateboarding sport. He launched and later established a new style combining freestyle, dancing, and acrobatics elements. With such a distinct display of his skills, he stood out from the crowd, gained attraction, and became one of the most famous skateboarders.
Beyond his skateboarding success, Gonzales is a gifted artist who has showcased his unique artwork in galleries worldwide. Combining elements of street art, graffiti, and cartooning, he has developed a style all his own.
Aside from the presence of crowds at his exhibitions, his talent has also gained recognition in publications such as Juxtapoz Magazine and Thrasher Magazine.
Not one to be limited by his skateboarding and art pursuits, Gonzales has also tried his hand at acting. He had a small part in the 1995 film “Kids” and has briefly appeared in other movies and TV shows.
Throughout his innovation-laden skateboarding career, Gonzales has been honored with numerous awards for his contributions to skateboarding. In 2018, he was inducted into the Skateboarding Hall of Fame and recognized by Transworld Skateboarding magazine as one of the 50 most influential skateboarders ever.
Like all renowned figures, Gonzales has also been subjected to some controversies throughout his career. In 2006, he found himself in trouble with the law when he was arrested and charged with vandalism for spray painting graffiti on a wall in New York City. This incident caused quite a stir, but Gonzales was eventually able to put it behind him.
Later, he was involved in a highly-publicized legal dispute with a skateboard company over the use of his name and image. The legal battle went on for a long period but was eventually resolved as a settlement was reached.
Despite these bumps in the road, Gonzales remains a respected figure in skateboarding and continues to inspire future generations of skaters.
Gonzales has been married twice, first to filmmaker Megan Baltimore, and together they have a daughter named Sophia. He is now married to artist and photographer Tia Semer, with whom he shares a son named Oliver and a daughter named Louie.
He has been candid about his past struggles with substance abuse but has maintained his sobriety and credits it as a key factor in his continued success in his career and personal life. His personal life issues have not overshadowed his success and popularity as one of the skateboarding community’s most innovative and leading names.
I’m an aged skateboarder and I still shred responsibly. I started skateboarding 25 years ago but also love surfing, snowboarding, or anything that involves a board.