Adamo Ruggiero

Adamo Ruggiero is a Canadian actor and television host who is openly gay and best known for playing Marco Del Rossi on Degrassi: The Next Generation (2001), a gay teen character whose storyline centered on coming to terms with his sexuality. Ruggiero publicly came out in January 2008 and has said that portraying Marco played a role in helping him accept his own identity. Following his time on Degrassi, he hosted the Canadian reality series The Next Star (2008) and continued working in television, film, and digital media. In addition to his entertainment career, Ruggiero has been active as an LGBTQ+ advocate and public speaker. He remains a notable figure for many viewers who connected with his work during a formative period of LGBTQ+ representation on teen television.