Joaquin Consuelos, the youngest son of Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos, has made his Broadway debut in a revival of Death of a Salesman alongside Nathan Lane and Laurie Metcalf. But it’s not just his big career milestone that has people talking – it’s the emotional tribute he paid to his late grandfather, Saul Consuelos, that has left fans deeply moved.
Joaquin, 23, who played “Young Biff” in the renowned play, took to Instagram following the performance to share highlights from his debut. Among the photos of him with his castmates and his dad Mark was a heart-wrenching throwback of Joaquin with his late grandfather, Saul. The touching image showed the two of them laughing together, each wearing underwear on their heads — a symbol of their close bond before Saul’s passing. Joaquin captioned the post simply: “Opening night was a movie.”
The emotional tribute didn’t stop there. Joaquin’s family flooded the comments section to express their pride, with sister Lola writing, “I can’t wait to see,” and brother Michael adding, “Too friggin cool!!” Kelly, his mom, also expressed her pride, saying, “What a night! What an incredible production! So proud.” His aunt Adriana Consuelos shared, “So very proud of you! Last photo is my fav.”
The Consuelos family has been dealing with a whirlwind of emotions recently. Less than two weeks after Joaquin’s Broadway debut, Mark, who recently lost his father, took the stage for his own opening night in Fallen Angels. During a recent appearance on LIVE with Kelly and Mark, Mark revealed how his father’s death had affected him, admitting that his play offered a “welcome distraction” during his grieving process. He spoke fondly of his late father, Saul, sharing how Saul had served in special ops for 30 years and embodied the American dream.
Reflecting on Saul’s impact on his life, Mark shared a fond anecdote about his dad, saying, “I used to make a joke about my dad, if you asked him what time it was, he’d tell you how to build a watch.” Mark’s heartfelt stories about his father painted a picture of a man who came to the U.S. from Mexico as a teenager, served his country, and showed his love for America every day. “He loved this country so much,” Mark said.
As Joaquin embarks on his own career journey, his tribute to his grandfather is a reminder of the power of family and the deep, lasting impact our loved ones have on us. Fans have rallied behind the family, sending messages of love, support, and admiration for both Joaquin’s talent and the emotional depth behind his Broadway debut.
