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Emilio Rivera
★ Acting

Emilio Rivera

IMDb TMDB
Born 1961 · San Antonio, Texas, USA · Active 1977–2026

Born in San Antonio in 1961, Emilio Rivera has established himself as a formidable presence in action and crime dramas. Known for his role as Marcus Álvarez in the FX series Sons of Anarchy, Rivera's tough-guy image translates seamlessly to his performance in Thunder and Lightning (1977), where he embodies the gritty essence of 1970s exploitation cinema. With a career that spans over three decades, he continues to captivate audiences with his intense portrayals and strong character work.

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Thunder and Lightning

Thunder and Lightning

1977 ★ 5.6
as Honeydew Driver

A young man who hauls liquor for moonshiners comes up against a competing gang of moonshiners who intend to get rid of him and take over his operation.

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Career Highlights Top 6 by popularity · TMDB
Venom (2018)
Venom
2018
Spider-Man 3 (2007)
Spider-Man 3
2007
Bruce Almighty (2003)
Bruce Almighty
2003
Collateral (2004)
Collateral
2004
Con Air (1997)
Con Air
1997
The Mentalist (2008)
The Mentalist
2008

Filmography

110 credits
2020s 14 credits
2026
Bodyman as Javier Ortega
Movie
2025
Under Fire as Valentino
Movie ★ 6.5
2025
Cuisine de la 'Pocalypse as Murray
Movie
2024
Holy Cash as Actor
Movie ★ 6.0
2024
Chuck Zito: An American Story as Self
Movie ★ 2.0
2024
Hot Ones Versus as Self
TV ★ 8.8
2024
Landman as Luis Medina
TV ★ 8.1
2023
The Movie Teller as Trabajador 3 / José
Movie ★ 6.5
2023
Dante's Hotel as Captain Pasado
Movie ★ 3.8
2023
Flamin' Hot as Vacho Montañez
Movie ★ 7.9
2021
The Upshaws as Barkavious
TV ★ 7.6
2021
Law & Order: Organized Crime as Miguel 'El Diablo' Olivas
TV ★ 7.9
2020
Ride Hard: Live Free as Gauge
Movie
2020
Love and Betrayal on the Force as George (voice)
Movie
2010s 37 credits
2019
3 from Hell as Aquarius
Movie ★ 5.8
2019
El Chicano as Shadow
Movie ★ 6.6
2019
To Hell and Back: The Making of 3 From Hell as Self
Movie ★ 6.0
2018
Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot as Jesus Alvarado
Movie ★ 6.7
2018
Venom as Lobby Guard Richard
Movie ★ 6.8
2018
Mayans M.C. as Marcus Álvarez
TV ★ 8.0
2018
Mayans M.C. as Marcus Alvarez
TV ★ 8.0
2018
Carl Weber's The Family Business as Alejandro Zuniga
TV ★ 8.5
2017
Smartass as Poco Efe
Movie ★ 5.3
2017
Avenge the Crows as Carlos Santiago
Movie ★ 4.7
2017
El Camino Christmas as Vicente Cruz
Movie ★ 5.6
2017
Badsville as Lucky Lou
Movie ★ 5.0
2016
48 Hours to Live as Gunner
Movie ★ 4.4
2016
North by El Norte as Big boss
Movie ★ 4.0
2016
Street Level as Pete
Movie ★ 2.0
2015
Hitman: Agent 47 as Fabian
Movie ★ 5.9
2015
Mercy for Angels as Machetto
Movie ★ 1.0
2014
Bullet as Speedy
Movie ★ 4.3
2014
Water & Power as Norte
Movie ★ 6.5
2014
10 Cent Pistol as Melville
Movie ★ 4.5
2014
Gang Related as Tio Gordo
TV ★ 6.6
2014
Z Nation as Hector Alvarez/Escorpion
TV ★ 7.3
2014
Z Nation as Escorpion
TV ★ 7.3
2014
Z Nation as Hector Alvarez
TV ★ 7.3
2014
Z Nation as Hector
TV ★ 7.3
2013
The Devil's in the Details as Bill Duffy
Movie ★ 4.9
2013
American Lowrider as Paisa
Movie ★ 5.0
2013
Filly Brown as Mani
Movie ★ 6.2
2012
Act of Valor as Sanchez
Movie ★ 6.5
2012
C'mon Man as Steven
Movie ★ 7.0
2012
The Obama Effect as Hector Santiago
Movie ★ 2.5
2011
Budz House as Big Happy
Movie ★ 3.2
2011
Cinema Verite as Nightwatchman
Movie ★ 5.7
2011
Platinum Illusions as Boss Hogg
Movie ★ 10.0
2011
Narcocorrido as Ramon
Movie ★ 7.0
2010
American Flyer as Big Boss
Movie ★ 4.3
2010
Cholo Comedy Slam: Stand Up and Lean Back
Movie
2000s 41 credits
2009
Next Day Air as Bodega
Movie ★ 5.2
2009
Lie to Me as Tony Calvo
TV ★ 7.9
2008
Street Kings as OG Vato
Movie ★ 6.6
2008
Sons of Anarchy as Marcus Alvarez
TV ★ 8.4
2008
The Mentalist as Martin
TV ★ 8.4
2008
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles as Mexican Police Chief
TV ★ 7.5
2007
Delta Farce as Jorge
Movie ★ 4.7
2007
Spider-Man 3 as Policeman at Sand Truck
Movie ★ 6.5
2007
Moonlight as Chemma Tejada
TV ★ 7.3
2007
Raines
TV ★ 7.5
2006
Splinter as Jesse
Movie ★ 4.5
2006
Brothers and Sisters as The Sponsor
TV ★ 7.1
2006
Shark as Detective #1
TV ★ 6.7
2005
Harsh Times as Eddy
Movie ★ 6.4
2005
Short Fuse as Camacho
Movie ★ 9.0
2005
Fun with Dick and Jane as Day Laborer
Movie ★ 6.2
2005
Purple Heart as Deputy
Movie ★ 5.2
2005
Bones as Ramon Ortez
TV ★ 8.2
2005
My Name Is Earl as Victor
TV ★ 7.7
2005
Kojak
TV ★ 4.4
2005
Weeds as El Coyote
TV ★ 7.5
2004
El padrino: The Latin Godfather as Rudy
Movie ★ 7.1
2004
Sucker Free City as Detective Zepada
Movie ★ 5.9
2004
Collateral as Paco
Movie ★ 7.2
2004
Cake as Fidel
Movie ★ 6.0
2004
Doing Hard Time as Officer David Teal
Movie ★ 5.0
2004
CSI: NY as Little Stevie
TV ★ 7.3
2003
A Man Apart as Garza
Movie ★ 6.1
2003
Bruce Almighty as Hood
Movie ★ 6.7
2002
High Crimes as Salvadoran Man
Movie ★ 6.4
2002
Ali G Indahouse as Rico
Movie ★ 6.1
2002
Road Dogz as Big Joe
Movie ★ 6.8
2002
Confessions of a Dangerous Mind as Benitez
Movie ★ 6.7
2002
The Shield as Navaro Quintero
TV ★ 8.2
2001
Tomcats as Sampson (uncredited)
Movie ★ 5.1
2000
The Base 2: Guilty as Charged as Pvt. Alberto Ramirerz
Movie ★ 4.6
2000
Traffic as Salazar Soldier #2
Movie ★ 7.1
2000
Titus as Castro
TV ★ 6.9
2000
Son of the Beach
TV ★ 6.6
2000
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation as Bank Robber #1
TV ★ 7.6
2000
Girlfriends as Nick
TV ★ 7.3
1990s 13 credits
1999
Pros & Cons as Con 1
Movie ★ 3.6
1999
L.A. Heat
TV ★ 7.1
1999
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Benito Escobar
TV ★ 7.9
1997
Con Air as Carlos
Movie ★ 6.8
1996
The Cable Guy as Jail Inmate
Movie ★ 6.0
1995
Rage as Javier
Movie ★ 6.3
1995
Murder Was the Case as Reporter #2
Movie ★ 6.0
1995
JAG as Drug Runner
TV ★ 7.3
1994
ER as Emilio Cardazco
TV ★ 7.8
1993
Walker, Texas Ranger as Juan 'Loco' Morales
TV ★ 7.0
1993
The X-Files as Brigham
TV ★ 8.4
1992
Renegade as Rafe
TV ★ 6.7
1990
Beverly Hills, 90210 as Felipe
TV ★ 7.3
1970s 1 credit
1977
Thunder and Lightning● as Honeydew Driver
Movie ★ 5.0
s 4 credits
—
Purgatory
Movie
—
RZR Cyber Protocol as Felix
Movie
—
How To Date Again as Rancher
Movie
—
Grit as Self
Movie