Emilio Rivera
Known for
Emilio Rivera, born in San Antonio, Texas in 1961 and raised in East Los Angeles, has built a career on tough, quietly authoritative supporting roles. He appeared in Con Air (1997) and a long list of studio thrillers before finding a lasting home as Marcus Alvarez on Sons of Anarchy (2008), a role he then carried into the spinoff Mayans MC (2018). He speaks openly about leaving gang life for acting and mentors young Latino performers in Los Angeles. He is regarded as one of the go-to character actors for stories set on the border between crime and community.
Emilio Rivera
63 Movies
28 Series
Emilio Rivera, born in San Antonio, Texas in 1961 and raised in East Los Angeles, has built a career on tough, quietly authoritative supporting roles. He appeared in Con Air (1997) and a long list of studio thrillers before finding a lasting home as Marcus Alvarez on Sons of Anarchy (2008), a role he then carried into the spinoff Mayans MC (2018). He speaks openly about leaving gang life for acting and mentors young Latino performers in Los Angeles. He is regarded as one of the go-to character actors for stories set on the border between crime and community.
Movies
Plays Policeman at Sand Truck
Spider-Man 3
2007
Plays Lobby Guard Richard
Venom
2018
Plays Hood
Bruce Almighty
2003
Plays Vacho Montañez
Flamin' Hot
2023
Plays Carlos
Con Air
1997
Plays Paco
Collateral
2004
Plays OG Vato
Street Kings
2008
Plays Salazar Soldier #2
Traffic
2000
Plays Fabian
Hitman: Agent 47
2015
Plays Jail Inmate
The Cable Guy
1996
Plays Salvadoran Man
High Crimes
2002
Plays Day Laborer
Fun with Dick and Jane
2005
Plays Sanchez
Act of Valor
2012
Plays Garza
A Man Apart
2003
Plays Rico
Ali G Indahouse
2002
Plays Benitez
Confessions of a Dangerous Mind
2002
Plays Eddy
Harsh Times
2005
Plays Jesus Alvarado
Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot
2018
Plays Aquarius
3 from Hell
2019
Plays Officer David Teal
Doing Hard Time
2004
Plays Trabajador 3 / José
The Movie Teller
2023
Plays Jorge
Delta Farce
2007
Plays Valentino
Under Fire
2025
Plays Shadow
El Chicano
2019
Plays Rudy
El padrino: The Latin Godfather
2004
Plays Poco Efe
Smartass
2017
Plays Bodega
Next Day Air
2009
Plays Vicente Cruz
El Camino Christmas
2017
Plays Paisa
American Lowrider
2013
Plays Jesse
Splinter
2006
Plays Speedy
Bullet
2014
Plays Lucky Lou
Badsville
2017
Plays Actor
Holy Cash
2024
Plays Bill Duffy
The Devil's in the Details
2013
Plays Nightwatchman
Cinema Verite
2011
Plays Honeydew Driver
Thunder and Lightning
1977
Plays Fidel
Cake
2004
Plays Javier
Rage
1995
Plays Carlos Santiago
Avenge the Crows
2017
Plays Pvt. Alberto Ramirerz
The Base 2: Guilty as Charged
2000
Plays Big Happy
Budz House
2011
Plays Gunner
48 Hours to Live
2016
Plays Con 1
Pros & Cons
1999
Plays Mani
Filly Brown
2013
Plays Melville
10 Cent Pistol
2014
Plays Steven
C'mon Man
2012
Plays Big Joe
Road Dogz
2002
Plays Deputy
Purple Heart
2005
Plays Captain Pasado
Dante's Hotel
2023
Plays Reporter #2
Murder Was the Case
1995
TV Shows
Plays Alejandro Zuniga
Carl Weber's The Family Business
2018
Plays Marcus Alvarez
Sons of Anarchy
2008
Plays Marcus Alvarez
Mayans M.C.
2018
Plays Tio Gordo
Gang Related
2014
Plays Escorpion
Z Nation
2014
Plays El Coyote
Weeds
2005
Plays Victor
My Name Is Earl
2005
Plays Navaro Quintero
The Shield
2002
Plays Barkavious
The Upshaws
2021
Plays Luis Medina
Landman
2024
Plays Castro
Titus
2000
Plays The Sponsor
Brothers and Sisters
2006
Plays Rafe
Renegade
1992
Plays Detective #1
Shark
2006
Plays Felipe
Beverly Hills, 90210
1990
Plays Ramon Ortez
Bones
2005
Plays Bank Robber #1
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
2000
Plays Little Stevie
CSI: NY
2004
Plays Juan 'Loco' Morales
Walker, Texas Ranger
1993
Plays Brigham
The X-Files
1993
Plays Chemma Tejada
Moonlight
2007
Plays Tony Calvo
Lie to Me
2009
Plays Martin
The Mentalist
2008
Plays Emilio Cardazco
ER
1994
Plays Mexican Police Chief
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
2008
Plays Drug Runner
JAG
1995
Plays Miguel 'El Diablo' Olivas
Law & Order: Organized Crime
2021
Plays Nick
Girlfriends
2000
Latest Trailers
Watch Trailer
Under Fire
Full Filmography
Bodyman
Javier Ortega
2026
Film
Under Fire
Valentino
2025
Film
Cuisine de la 'Pocalypse
Murray
2025
Film
Landman
Luis Medina · 2 episodes
2024–
TV
Holy Cash
Actor
2024
Film
The Movie Teller
Trabajador 3 / José
2023
Film
Dante's Hotel
Captain Pasado
2023
Film
Flamin' Hot
Vacho Montañez
2023
Film
The Upshaws
Barkavious · 2 episodes
2021–
TV
Photos
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Emilio Rivera and where are they from?
Emilio Rivera is 65 years old, born on February 24, 1961 in San Antonio, Texas, USA.
What are the most famous roles of Emilio Rivera?
Emilio Rivera is best known for roles in Venom, Spider-Man 3, Bruce Almighty.
How many movies has Emilio Rivera been in?
Over a 49-year career (since 1977), Emilio Rivera has appeared in 63 movies and 28 TV shows.
What was Emilio Rivera's first movie?
The career of Emilio Rivera began with Thunder and Lightning (1977).
What is Emilio Rivera's most recent movie or series?
Emilio Rivera's most recent release is Bodyman, which premiered on April 20, 2026.
What TV shows has Emilio Rivera appeared in?
On television, Emilio Rivera has appeared in The Mentalist, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, The X-Files, Bones.
Emilio Rivera
1961-02-24 · San Antonio, Texas, USA
Emilio Rivera (born February 24, 1961) is a distinguished Native-Latino American businessman, entrepreneur, film and television actor, and producer, best known for his powerful portrayal of Marcus Álvarez, the president of the Mayans Motorcycle Club, in the acclaimed FX series Sons of Anarchy (2008–2014) and its spin-off Mayans M.C. (2018–2023).
With a career spanning over three decades, the San Antonio-born actor has become one of Hollywood's most recognizable "tough guys," often cast in high-stakes crime dramas and action films such as Con Air (1997), Traffic (2000), and Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017). Beyond his signature biker roles, Rivera has displayed significant range in series like Z Nation, where he played Hector "Escorpion" Alvarez, and the Netflix coming-of-age dramedy On My Block.