Emilio Rivera
Actor
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
Actor
San Antonio, Texas, USA
Feb 24, 1961
Age65years
Movies65
Series28
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 Carlos
Con Air
1997
Plays Lobby Guard Richard
Venom
2018
Plays Policeman at Sand Truck
Spider-Man 3
2007
Plays Benitez
Confessions of a Dangerous Mind
2002
Plays Eddy
Harsh Times
2005
Plays Hood
Bruce Almighty
2003
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 Vacho Montañez
Flamin' Hot
2023
Plays Sanchez
Act of Valor
2012
Plays Garza
A Man Apart
2003
Plays Jesus Alvarado
Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot
2018
Plays Tamalito
My Family
1995
Plays Actor
Holy Cash
2024
Plays Rico
Ali G Indahouse
2002
Plays Aquarius
3 from Hell
2019
Plays Rudy
El padrino: The Latin Godfather
2004
Plays Jorge
Delta Farce
2007
Plays Officer David Teal
Doing Hard Time
2004
Plays Paisa
American Lowrider
2013
Plays Poco Efe
Smartass
2017
Plays Jesse
Splinter
2006
Plays Trabajador 3 / José
The Movie Teller
2023
Plays Valentino
Under Fire
2025
Plays Javier Ortega
Bodyman
2026
Plays Shadow
El Chicano
2019
Plays Speedy
Bullet
2014
Plays Bodega
Next Day Air
2009
Plays Nightwatchman
Cinema Verite
2011
Plays Bill Duffy
The Devil's in the Details
2013
Plays Vicente Cruz
El Camino Christmas
2017
Plays Carlos Santiago
Avenge the Crows
2017
Plays Pvt. Alberto Ramirerz
The Base 2: Guilty as Charged
2000
Plays Javier
Rage
1995
Plays Gunner
48 Hours to Live
2016
Plays Melville
10 Cent Pistol
2014
Plays Reporter #2
Murder Was the Case
1995
Plays Mani
Filly Brown
2013
Plays Fidel
Cake
2004
Plays Lucky Lou
Badsville
2017
Plays Honeydew Driver
Thunder and Lightning
1977
Plays Big Happy
Budz House
2011
Plays Deputy
Purple Heart
2005
Plays Con 1
Pros & Cons
1999
Plays Captain Pasado
Dante's Hotel
2023
TV Shows
Plays Marcus Álvarez
Mayans M.C.
2018
Plays Alejandro Zuniga
Carl Weber's The Family Business
2018
Plays Marcus Alvarez
Sons of Anarchy
2008
Plays Tio Gordo
Gang Related
2014
Plays Escorpion
Z Nation
2014
Plays El Coyote
Weeds
2005
Plays Luis Medina
Landman
2024
Plays Barkavious
The Upshaws
2021
Plays Victor
My Name Is Earl
2005
Plays Navaro Quintero
The Shield
2002
Plays Castro
Titus
2000
Plays Chemma Tejada
Moonlight
2007
Plays Tony Calvo
Lie to Me
2009
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 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 93
RZR Cyber Protocol
Felix
2026
Bodyman
Javier Ortega
2026
The Upshaws
Barkavious
2026Season 5
Under Fire
Valentino
2025
Law & Order: Organized Crime
Miguel 'El Diablo' Olivas
2025Season 5
Cuisine de la 'Pocalypse
Murray
2025
Landman
Luis Medina
2024Season 1
Holy Cash
Actor
2024
The Movie Teller
Trabajador 3 / José
2023
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 65 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 RZR Cyber Protocol, which premiered on August 28, 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.