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Manuel Garcia-Rulfo: Lincoln Lawyer, Dating & Next Projects

Thomas Lucas Smith Wilson • 2026-07-10 • Reviewed by Ethan Collins

Anyone who has watched Netflix’s The Lincoln Lawyer knows the face of Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, but the Mexican actor’s story goes far beyond the courtroom drama — from his breakout role in The Magnificent Seven to recent rumors linking him with Shakira and Audrey McGraw. Here’s a grounded look at where he stands now, what he’s working on, and what the rumors actually say.

Full name: Manuel García-Rulfo Lapuente ·
Date of birth: February 25, 1981 ·
Place of birth: Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico ·
Known for: Mickey Haller in The Lincoln Lawyer ·
Net worth (estimated): $5 million ·
Height: 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • Plays Mickey Haller in Netflix’s The Lincoln Lawyer (IMDb)
  • Born February 25, 1981, in Guadalajara, Mexico (Wikipedia)
  • Studied filmmaking at the New York Film Academy (People)
  • Appeared in The Magnificent Seven (2016) and Widows (2018) (Wikipedia)
2What’s unclear
  • Whether he is currently dating Shakira or Audrey McGraw — neither relationship confirmed by representatives (NDTV)
  • Exact net worth not publicly verified (NDTV)
  • Details of future projects beyond season 4 and Pedro Páramo unannounced (NDTV)
3Timeline signal
  • 2023: Rumored relationship with Shakira surfaces (The Daily Beast)
  • June 2023: Starts dating Audrey McGraw (People)
  • 2024: The Lincoln Lawyer season 4 ordered; spotted with Audrey McGraw (The Hollywood Reporter)
  • 2025: Filming season 4 and Pedro Páramo; cast in Jurassic World Rebirth (Deadline)
4What’s next
  • The Lincoln Lawyer season 4 (Netflix, filming) (The Hollywood Reporter)
  • Pedro Páramo (2024 film, lead role and executive producer) (Deadline)
  • Jurassic World Rebirth (2025, playing Reuben Delgado) (IMDb)
  • A Long Winter (Andrew Haigh adaptation, completed) (The Hollywood Reporter)

Seven facts about the man behind the role, at a glance:

Label Value
Full name Manuel García-Rulfo Lapuente
Date of birth February 25, 1981
Place of birth Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Education New York Film Academy
Notable role Mickey Haller in The Lincoln Lawyer
Net worth (estimated) $5 million
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)

What is Manuel Garcia-Rulfo best known for?

Role as Mickey Haller in The Lincoln Lawyer

  • Garcia-Rulfo plays the lead role of Mickey Haller in Netflix’s legal drama The Lincoln Lawyer, a role that brought him international recognition (IMDb).
  • The series, based on Michael Connelly’s novels, has run for three seasons and was renewed for a fourth (The Hollywood Reporter).

Role as Vasquez in The Magnificent Seven (2016)

  • He played the outlaw Vasquez in Antoine Fuqua’s 2016 remake of The Magnificent Seven (Wikipedia).

Role in Widows (2018)

  • Garcia-Rulfo appeared in Steve McQueen’s heist thriller Widows alongside Viola Davis and Liam Neeson (Wikipedia).
The upshot

Garcia-Rulfo’s career pivoted from supporting roles in big-budget films to leading a Netflix franchise. The Lincoln Lawyer is now his primary calling card, but his filmography shows he’s been working steadily in Hollywood for nearly a decade.

What is Manuel Garcia-Rulfo doing now?

Filming The Lincoln Lawyer season 4

  • Garcia-Rulfo is currently filming the fourth season of the Netflix series, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Starring in Pedro Páramo adaptation

  • He starred in and executive produced the 2024 film adaptation of Juan Rulfo’s classic novel Pedro Páramo (Deadline).

Public appearances and rumored relationships

  • Garcia-Rulfo was photographed with Shakira leaving a Los Angeles hotel in June 2026, sparking dating rumors that Shakira later dismissed (NDTV).
  • He has been seen publicly with Audrey McGraw, daughter of Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, since June 2023 (People).
What to watch

The dating rumors around Shakira and Audrey McGraw have not been confirmed by either party. The only publicly acknowledged relationship from People is the one with Audrey McGraw, reported as a romantic pairing since June 2023.

Who does Manuel Garcia date?

Rumored relationship with Shakira

  • In June 2026, photos of Garcia-Rulfo and Shakira leaving a hotel together led to speculation. The Daily Beast reported that neither party publicly commented on the rumor, and Shakira later dismissed the idea of a new relationship.

Rumored relationship with Audrey McGraw

  • People magazine reported that Garcia-Rulfo and Audrey McGraw began dating in June 2023. The pair have been seen together in Pasadena and other locations, with sources describing the relationship as serious (People).

Past relationships

  • Garcia-Rulfo has kept his private life largely out of the spotlight. No confirmed past relationships are documented in reliable sources.
The pattern

The actor’s dating life is a frequent topic of tabloid interest, but the only on-the-record relationship is with Audrey McGraw, reported by People. The Shakira rumor lacks confirmation and appears to have been short-lived.

What is Manuel Garcia-Rulfo’s next project?

The Lincoln Lawyer season 4 (Netflix)

  • Netflix renewed the series for a fourth season, and Garcia-Rulfo is currently filming (The Hollywood Reporter).

Pedro Páramo (feature film)

  • Garcia-Rulfo leads the adaptation of the classic Mexican novel, serving as both star and executive producer. The film was released in 2024 (Wikipedia).

Jurassic World Rebirth (2025)

  • Garcia-Rulfo was in talks to join the Jurassic World franchise in May 2024, and his role as Reuben Delgado is listed on IMDb. The film is scheduled for release on July 2, 2025 (Deadline).

A Long Winter – completed

  • He recently completed work on Andrew Haigh’s adaptation of A Long Winter, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Why this matters

Garcia-Rulfo is transitioning from a TV lead to a big-budget franchise player. Jurassic World Rebirth will be his highest-profile film to date, and his role in Pedro Páramo shows he’s committed to Spanish-language projects as well.

What is Manuel Garcia-Rulfo’s background and education?

Born in Guadalajara, Mexico

  • Garcia-Rulfo was born on February 25, 1981, in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico (Wikipedia).

Studied at the New York Film Academy

  • He told TODAY in 2023 that he studied filmmaking at the New York Film Academy (People).

Early acting career

  • Before his Hollywood breakthrough, Garcia-Rulfo appeared in Mexican television and short films. His first major English-language role was in The Magnificent Seven (Wikipedia).
The catch

Despite his rising profile, biographical details about Garcia-Rulfo’s early life remain sparse. His education at NYFA is one of the few confirmed facts about his pre-Hollywood years.

Timeline

  • 1981 – Born in Guadalajara, Mexico (Wikipedia)
  • 2016 – Plays Vasquez in The Magnificent Seven (Wikipedia)
  • 2018 – Appears in Widows (Wikipedia)
  • 2022 – Begins starring as Mickey Haller in Netflix’s The Lincoln Lawyer (IMDb)
  • 2023 – Rumored relationship with Shakira; starts dating Audrey McGraw (The Daily Beast; People)
  • 2024 – Spotted with Audrey McGraw; The Lincoln Lawyer season 4 ordered (People; The Hollywood Reporter)
  • 2025 – Filming The Lincoln Lawyer season 4 and Pedro Páramo; cast in Jurassic World Rebirth (Deadline)

The timeline shows a steady rise from supporting roles to leading man, with a major franchise opportunity now on the horizon.

Clarity check: confirmed vs. unclear

Confirmed facts

  • He plays Mickey Haller in Netflix’s The Lincoln Lawyer (IMDb).
  • He was born February 25, 1981, in Guadalajara (Wikipedia).
  • He studied at the New York Film Academy (People).
  • He appears in The Magnificent Seven and Widows (Wikipedia).
  • The Lincoln Lawyer season 4 has been ordered by Netflix (The Hollywood Reporter).

What’s unclear

  • Whether he is currently dating Shakira or Audrey McGraw — neither relationship has been confirmed by representatives.
  • Exact net worth is not publicly verified.
  • Details of his future projects beyond season 4 and Pedro Páramo are unannounced.

Quotes

“I’ve always wanted to direct.”

Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, as told to People

García-Rulfo is a Mexican actor known for his starring role in The Lincoln Lawyer.

From his Wikipedia entry

García-Rulfo is an alumnus of the New York Film Academy.

People citing his NYFA background

For fans of the actor, the next few years will determine whether he can turn his Lincoln Lawyer fame into a durable film career. With Jurassic World Rebirth on the horizon and a Spanish-language passion project already released, the choices he makes now will shape his trajectory. The gamble: balancing franchise blockbusters with personal projects. For audiences in the U.S. and Latin America, the question is whether Garcia-Rulfo becomes the next crossover star — or remains a TV favorite who took a shot at the big screen.

Fans curious about the actor’s off-screen relationships can explore Manuel Garcia-Rulfos personal life for more details on his dating history and family.

Frequently asked questions

What is Manuel Garcia-Rulfo’s nationality?

He is Mexican, born in Guadalajara, Jalisco.

How old is Manuel Garcia-Rulfo?

He was born on February 25, 1981, making him 44 years old as of 2025.

Where is Manuel Garcia-Rulfo from?

He is from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.

What movies has Manuel Garcia-Rulfo been in?

His notable films include The Magnificent Seven (2016), Widows (2018), Pedro Páramo (2024), and the upcoming Jurassic World Rebirth (2025).

Is Manuel Garcia-Rulfo married?

He is not publicly known to be married. He has been linked to Audrey McGraw and Shakira, but neither relationship has been confirmed as a marriage.

Who does Manuel Garcia-Rulfo play in The Lincoln Lawyer?

He plays Mickey Haller, a defense attorney who operates out of his Lincoln Town Car.

What is Manuel Garcia-Rulfo’s height?

He is 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m).



Thomas Lucas Smith Wilson

About the author

Thomas Lucas Smith Wilson

Coverage is updated through the day with transparent source checks.