E.J. Bonilla

Edward Joshua Bonilla (born September 8, 1988) is an American television and film actor. He is best known for his role as Rafe Rivera on Guiding Light.

Early life Bonilla was born in Brooklyn to Puerto Rican parents. He attended John Ericsson Junior High School 126 in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, where he became involved in poetry, dance, and band, playing the trumpet. He also participated in musical theater while in junior high school and high school. Bonilla attended high school for Environmental Studies. He first became interested in acting in the ninth-grade, when he was cast as Danny Zuko in a performance of Grease. He graduated from high school in 2006 and then attended Bard College.

Career His first role was a non-union commercial for a Hilary Duff film called Raise Your Voice. After graduating from high school, he went on to originate the role of Rafe, Natalia Rivera Aitoro son, on Guiding Light in May 2007.

Bonilla starred in the independent film Musical Chairs. It is a story of a couple (played by Bonilla and actress Leah Pipes) who enter a wheelchair ballroom dancing competition after the girl is disabled in a traffic accident. The film was released on March 23, 2012.

Bonilla received an Imagen Award nomination for his performance as "Dexter," a former high school basketball player whose best days are behind him, in Joshua Sanchez's directorial debut, Four. The film was released on September 13, 2013.

Awards AwardDate Film/showCategoryResult 28th Annual Imagen Awards August 16, 2013 Four Best Actor/Supporting Actor - Feature Film Los Angeles Film Festival June 24, 2012 Four Best Performance in the Narrative Competition (Ensemble Cast) 36th Daytime Emmy Awards August 30, 2009 Guiding Light Outstanding Younger Actor in a Drama Series

Filmography

Feature films

Year Title Role Notes 2009 Don't Let Me Drown Lalo 2011 Yelling to the Sky Rob Rodriguez 2011 The Mortician Noah 2011 Mamitas Jordin Juarez 2011 Musical Chairs Armando 2013 The House That Jack Built Jack 2013 Four DexterNominated – Imagen Award 2019 Gemini Man Marino 2019 The Kitchen Gonzalo Martinez 2023 The Exorcist: Believer Father Maddox 2024 In Our Blood Danny Martinez

Television Year Title Role Notes 2006 The Ron Clark Story Hispanic Kid Television film 2006 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Fraco Episode: "Watch" 2007–2009 Guiding Light Raphael "Rafe" Rivera 158 episodesNominated – Daytime Emmy Award 2009 Law & Order Carlos Episode: "Bailout" 2009 Bored to Death Francisco Episode: "The Case of the Stolen Skateboard" 2010 Cold Case Ronnie Tavares '93 Episode: "Shattered" 2011 Blue Bloods Julio Episode: "Dedication" 2012 The Big C Scott Episode: "What's Your Story?" 2012–2013 Revenge Marco Romero 4 episodes 2013 Shameless Jesus Episode: "Civil Wrongs" 2015–2016 Unforgettable Denny Padilla Main cast 2017 The Long Road Home Shane Aguero 8 episodes2017 Madam Secretary Juan-Luis Moreno 1 episode 2018 Insecure Beat Crew Guy 2 episodes 2018 Bull Gabriel Almonte 6 episodes 2022–present The Old Man Agent Raymond Waters 2024 Chicago P.D. Officer Danny Alvarado Episode: "Safe Harbor"