Rio Puertollano is the younger son of Dr. Raul J. Puertollano and Dr. Marilu A. Puertollano. Rio grew up all over the United States but spent most of his life in New York. He attended the Stony Brook School on Long Island. Rio also was an exchange student at the Uppingham School in England. He studied for the summer at Oxford University, University College. He graduated from Southern Methodist University's Theater Program with a BFA in Theater, with an emphasis in Acting. In 2001, he received his MFA in Acting from the Yale School of Drama. As an actor, Rio has appeared Off Broadway and Off-Off Broadway. Rio's films have won awards and have been screened internationally.