On the 'Pulse': New Mexico native takes the screen as part of Netflix series' cast

Heath Adam Cates jumped at the chance to be involved in Netflix’s latest series, “Pulse.”

When production was announced in 2024 and that it would film at Netflix Studios, Cates held out hope that the production would hire New Mexican actors. It did.

“This industry is tough and I’ve been pursuing it for a long time,” Cates says. “Over the years, New Mexicans have gotten a lot more roles. With ‘Pulse,’ it’s been an honor to be part of it.”

“Pulse” follows the story of Miami, Florida’s busiest Level 1 Trauma Center as a hurricane barrels towards it.

The first season of the medical drama is currently available to stream on Netflix.

Third-year resident Dr. Danny Simms, played by Willa Fitzgerald, is unexpectedly thrust into a promotion when beloved Chief Resident Dr. Xander Phillips, played by Colin Woodell, is suspended.

Amid the worsening storm and an onslaught of trauma cases, the hospital goes into lockdown, and Danny and Xander must find a way to work together — even as the bombshell details of a complicated and illicit romance between them begin to spill out.

The rest of the emergency room is left to process the fallout of their relationship while balancing their own challenges, both personal and professional, as they work under the pressure of life-or-death stakes.

Because for this tight-knit group of doctors, saving their patients’ lives is often less complicated than living their own.

Joining Fitzgerald and Woodell in the cast is Justina Machado, Jack Bannon, Jessie T. Usher, Jessy Yates, Chelsea Muirhead, Daniela Nieves, Néstor Carbonell, Jessica Rothe, Santiago Segura, Ash Santos and Arturo Del Puerto.

According to the New Mexico Film Office, the production filmed through Aug. 2024 at Netflix Studios and employed over 200 New Mexicans — 200 crew members and 30 background talent.

Cates is seen in episode three, where he plays Mike.

The role was pitched to him by his agent, Tina Presley.

“I booked this role from a self tape,” he says. “Kira Rye was doing the casting for it. I’ve auditioned with her for a few years, so there is that working relationship. This time the role fit for me and it worked out. Netflix is such a huge scale to be on.”

Cates is a New Mexico native that splits his time between New Mexico and Phoenix.

He travels back home every other week, as his daughter lives in northern New Mexico.

For the role, he remained in New Mexico for a month — which gave him time with his family.

“It was nice not to be traveling between the two,” he says. “My ultimate goal is to be a full-time actor that is based in New Mexico.”

Cates has been involved in the New Mexico film community for more than a decade. Prior to the pandemic, he ran Cates Academy in Farmington.

“The one thing I really loved about the school is that I was an advocate for everyone in my school,” he says. “I had three kids cast on TV shows. We were able to provide a resource for people in Farmington. I felt so good about it as we were able to provide a creative space. Then COVID came in and ransacked it.”

Cates admits running the academy pushed his own career goals to the back burner.

“I’m hyper focused on putting my career first,” he says. “I’m spreading my wings now, and ‘Pulse’ is another step in the right direction.”

On the 'Pulse': New Mexico native takes the screen as part of Netflix series' cast