Emilio Rivera

Emilio Rivera is an American film and television actor and stand-up comedian. He is best known for his portrayal of Marcus Álvarez in Sons of Anarchy and its spin-off, Mayans M.C. He is also known for his depiction of criminals and law enforcement officers.

Early life

Rivera is of Mexican descent. He is the oldest sibling in his family, with four younger brothers and three younger sisters. He was raised in Elysian Valley also known as Frogtown, a neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.

Rivera suffered from stuttering as a youth. In the third grade, he was cast as the titular character in a school theatre production of Rumpelstiltskin. Rivera noticed he did not stutter once during his performance on stage. Shortly after, he confessed to his father he wanted to be an actor, to which his father replied that acting was only for "rich white people."

At 18 years old in 1979, Rivera enlisted in the U.S. Army.

Career

Rivera's first feature role was in the TV series Renegade with Lorenzo Lamas. He also had a role in the feature film Con Air, co-starring Nicolas Cage. Emilio has appeared in several commercials, television programs and feature films including Training Day, Fun with Dick and Jane, Traffic, The Cable Guy, NYPD Blue, Beverly Hills, 90210, Walker, Texas Ranger, Titus, Hitman: Agent 47, JAG, ER, A Man Apart with Vin Diesel, John Cusack's film Never Get Outta the Boat, Ali G Indahouse, Rush, Howard Stern's Son of the Beach, Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, Z Nation, and Michael Mann's new series Metro. He also played Marcus Álvarez in Sons of Anarchy for seven seasons and played Álvarez in Mayans M.C. for 5 seasons.

Personal life

Emilio has three children from a previous marriage and his oldest child from another woman.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1995 My Family Tamalito Murder Was the Case Reporter #2 Rage Javier Extreme Blue Matulo TV movie Donor Unknown Emilio TV movie 1996 The Cable Guy Jail Inmate 1997 Con Air Carlos 1999 Pros & Cons Con #1 2000 Guilty as Charged Private Alberto Ramirerz TV movie Traffic Salazar Soldier #2 2001 Tomcats Sampson 2002 Road Dogz Joe "Big Joe" Ali G Indahouse Rico High Crimes Salvadoran Man Never Get Outta the Boat Angel Confessions of a Dangerous Mind Benitez R.U.S./H. "Stick" Sandoval TV movie 2003 A Man Apart Garza Bruce Almighty Hood El Matador "Chuy" 2004 Party Animalz Uncle Hector Video Cake Fidel Video Collateral Paco El Padrino Rudy Sucker Free City Detective Zepada TV movie Doing Hard Time Officer David Teal Video 2005 Y nada más Lalo Short Harsh Times Eddy Fun with Dick and Jane Day Laborer Short Fuse Camacho Purple Heart Deputy 2006 Splinter Jesse (Veterano) 2007 The Dead One "Coyote" Spider-Man 3 Policeman At Sand Truck The Gift: Life Unwrapped Father Romero Delta Farce Jorge 2008 The Third Nail Martin Strange Wilderness Border Guard Street Kings O.G. Vato 2009 Next Day Air "Bodega" Otis E. The Drunk Tom Cool Actor 2010 Lean Like a Cholo Paisa Food Stamps Benny "Bible Benny" Broken Carlos American Flyer "Big Boss" 2011 Cinema Verite Nightwatchman TV movie Platinum Illusions "Boss Hog" Budz House "Big Happy" Narcocorrido Ramon Short 2012 Filly Brown Mani Act of Valor Sanchez Vaseline Mr. Chumpero Short C'mon Man Steven The Obama Effect Hector Santiago Devils Inside Mob Boss 2013 The Devil's in the Details Bill Duffy Water & Power Norte / Sur 2014 Bullet "Speedy" 10 Cent Pistol Melville Cry of the Butterfly Jose Sins of the Father Ramon Short 2015 Mercy For Angels Machetto Hitman: Agent 47 Fabian Street Level Pete 2016 North by El Norte "Big Boss" Better Criminal Clavo Lopez 48 Hours to Live Gunner 2017 Badsville Lou "Lucky Lou" Smartass Poco Efe Avenge the Crows Carlos Santiago El Camino Christmas Vicente Santos Shadow of the Gun Captain Morales 2018 Lawless Range Miguel Flores Fade Away Mr. Salvatore Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot Jesus Alvarado El Chicano "Shadow" Venom Lobby Guard Richard 2019 3 from Hell Francisco "Aquarius" Mendoza Chavez 2020 Ride Hard: Live Free "Gauge" 2021 Welcome to Our World Benny "Bible Benny" 2023 Flamin' Hot Vacho Montañez 2024 Holy Cash James 2025 Under Fire Valentino

Television Year Title Role Notes 1992 Renegade Rafe Episode: "Payback" 1993 The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. Federale Episode: "Brisco in Jalisco" 1995 Beverly Hills, 90210 Felipe Episode: "Hazardous to Your Health" Unsolved Mysteries Tony Castro Episode: "Episode #8.1" 1996 JAG Drug Runner Episode: "Sightings" 1996–1997 The Bold and the Beautiful Lucien Cortéz Regular Cast 1997–1999 L.A. Heat Officer Miller Guest Cast: Season 1–2 1998 Soldier of Fortune, Inc. Hector Episode: "Déja Vu" & "Apres Vu" Walker, Texas Ranger Juan "Loco" Morales Episode: "Test of Faith" NYPD Blue Galvez Episode: "Don't Kill the Messenger" 1999 The Young and the Restless Boat Captain Episode: "Episode #1.6579" & "#1.6583" 2000 The X Files Brigham Episode: "Orison" 2001 NYPD Blue Hector Episode: "Waking Up Is Hard to Do" ER Emilio Cardazco Episode: "Start All Over Again" Titus Castro Episode: "Racing in the Streets" 2002 Son of the Beach "Dirty" Sanchez 2002–2003 Robbery Homicide Division Juan Tiant Recurring Cast 2003 The Young and the Restless Ruffian Episode: "Episode #1.7553" The Shield Navaro Quintero Episode: "The Quick Fix" & "Greenlit" CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Bank Robber #1 Episode: "Inside the Box" 2005 Kojak Diaz "The King" Recurring Cast 2006 Bones Ramon Ortez Episode: "The Woman in the Garden" Shark Detective #1 Episode: "Pilot" My Name Is Earl Bandit #1 Episode: "South of the Border: Part Uno & Part Dos" 2007 Brothers & Sisters The Sponsor Episode: "The Other Walker" Raines "Coyote" Episode: "Meet Juan Doe" Girlfriends Nick Episode: "Deck the Halls with Bags and Folly" 2008 Moonlight Chemma Tejada Episode: "Love Lasts Forever" Weeds "El Coyote" Recurring Cast: Season 4 Mexican Police Chief Episode: "Mr. Ferguson Is Ill Today" 2008–2014 Sons of Anarchy Marcus Álvarez Recurring Cast: Season 1–4 & 7, Guest: Season 5–6 2009 CSI: NY Stevie "Little Stevie" Episode: "Point of No Return" Lie to Me Tony Calvo Episode: "Blinded" 2010 General Hospital Santos Lopez Episode: "Episode #1.12125" & "#1.12126" 2011 Southland Luis Reyes Episode: "Let It Snow" The Mentalist Martin Episode: "The Redshirt" 2013 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Benito Escobar Episode: "Poisoned Motive" 2013–2014 Kroll Show Various Characters Guest Cast: Season 1–2 2014 Gang Related Tio Gordo Recurring Cast 2014–2017 Hand of God Sergeant Kessler Recurring Cast 2015–2016 Z Nation Hector "Escorpion" Alvarez Main Cast: Season 2-3 2016 The Night Shift Jorge Episode: "The Way Back" TripTank Episode: "Sick Day" & "Brain Virus" 2017 Saints & Sinners Officer Francisco Cooper Recurring Cast: Season 2 2018–2021 On My Block Chivo Recurring Cast: Season 1-2 & 4, Guest: Season 3 2018–2023 Mayans M.C. Marcus Álvarez Recurring Cast: Season 1, Main Cast: Season 2–5 2018–2024 The Family Business Alejandro Zuniga Main Cast: Season 1-3, Guest: Season 4, Recurring Cast: Season 5 2021 Celebrity Family Feud Himself / Celebrity Player Episode: "Episode #8.3" 2022 The Garcias Shaman Episode: "The Compromise" 2024 The Upshaws Barkavious Episode: "Hail Mary" RZR Felix De La Cruz Recurring Cast Landman Luis Medina Episode: "Landman"

Music videos Year Title Artist Role 2004 "Got It Twisted" Mobb Deep Rival Gang Boss 2005 "Just a Lil Bit" 50 Cent Rival Gangster 2013 "High School" Nicki Minaj featuring Lil Wayne "El Jefe" 2021 "Overpass Graffiti" Ed Sheeran Cameo Bike Gang Member