Emilio Rivera

Emilio Rivera

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.

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Known For

Filmography

2025

Under Fire
Under Fire
as Valentino
Movie - Released: 8/7/2025
Cuisine de la 'Pocalypse
Cuisine de la 'Pocalypse
as Murray
Movie - Released: 1/17/2025

2024

Holy Cash
Holy Cash
as Actor
Movie - Released: 10/11/2024
Chuck Zito: An American Story
Chuck Zito: An American Story
as Self
Movie - Released: 5/1/2024
Hot Ones Versus
Hot Ones Versus
as Self
TV - Released: 1/31/2024
Landman
Landman
as Luis Medina
TV - Released: 11/17/2024

2023

The Movie Teller
The Movie Teller
as Trabajador 3 / José
Movie - Released: 10/27/2023
Dante's Hotel
Dante's Hotel
as Captain Pasado
Movie - Released: 10/20/2023
Flamin' Hot
Flamin' Hot
as Vacho Montañez
Movie - Released: 3/11/2023

2021

The Upshaws
The Upshaws
as Barkavious
TV - Released: 5/12/2021
Law & Order: Organized Crime
Law & Order: Organized Crime
as Miguel 'El Diablo' Olivas
TV - Released: 4/1/2021

2020

Ride Hard: Live Free
Ride Hard: Live Free
as Gauge
Movie - Released: 1/15/2020

2019

3 from Hell
3 from Hell
as Aquarius
Movie - Released: 9/16/2019
El Chicano
El Chicano
as Shadow
Movie - Released: 5/3/2019
To Hell and Back: The Making of 3 From Hell
To Hell and Back: The Making of 3 From Hell
as Self
Movie - Released: 9/16/2019

2018

Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot
Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot
as Jesus Alvarado
Movie - Released: 4/4/2018
Venom
Venom
as Lobby Guard Richard
Movie - Released: 9/28/2018
Mayans M.C.
Mayans M.C.
as Marcus Álvarez
TV - Released: 9/4/2018
Mayans M.C.
Mayans M.C.
as Marcus Alvarez
TV - Released: 9/4/2018
Carl Weber's The Family Business
Carl Weber's The Family Business
as Alejandro Zuniga
TV - Released: 11/13/2018

2017

Smartass
Smartass
as Poco Efe
Movie - Released: 9/12/2017
Avenge the Crows
Avenge the Crows
as Carlos Santiago
Movie - Released: 12/5/2017
El Camino Christmas
El Camino Christmas
as Vicente Cruz
Movie - Released: 12/8/2017
Badsville
Badsville
as Lucky Lou
Movie - Released: 3/25/2017

2016

48 Hours to Live
48 Hours to Live
as Gunner
Movie - Released: 11/9/2016
North by El Norte
North by El Norte
as Big boss
Movie - Released: 1/1/2016
Street Level
Street Level
as Pete
Movie - Released: 11/8/2016

2015

Hitman: Agent 47
Hitman: Agent 47
as Fabian
Movie - Released: 8/20/2015
Mercy for Angels
Mercy for Angels
as Machetto
Movie - Released: 4/15/2015

2014

Bullet
Bullet
as Speedy
Movie - Released: 2/25/2014
Water & Power
Water & Power
as Norte
Movie - Released: 5/2/2014
10 Cent Pistol
10 Cent Pistol
as Melville
Movie - Released: 7/24/2014
Gang Related
Gang Related
as Tio Gordo
TV - Released: 5/22/2014
Z Nation
Z Nation
as Escorpion
TV - Released: 9/12/2014
Z Nation
Z Nation
as Hector Alvarez/Escorpion
TV - Released: 9/12/2014
Z Nation
Z Nation
as Hector Alvarez
TV - Released: 9/12/2014
Z Nation
Z Nation
as Hector
TV - Released: 9/12/2014

2013

The Devil's in the Details
The Devil's in the Details
as Bill Duffy
Movie - Released: 3/6/2013
American Lowrider
American Lowrider
as Paisa
Movie - Released: 9/17/2013
Filly Brown
Filly Brown
as Mani
Movie - Released: 4/19/2013

2012

Act of Valor
Act of Valor
as Sanchez
Movie - Released: 2/24/2012
C'mon Man
C'mon Man
as Steven
Movie - Released: 6/26/2012
The Obama Effect
The Obama Effect
as Hector Santiago
Movie - Released: 7/13/2012

2011

Budz House
Budz House
as Big Happy
Movie - Released: 10/25/2011
Cinema Verite
Cinema Verite
as Nightwatchman
Movie - Released: 4/23/2011
Platinum Illusions
Platinum Illusions
as Boss Hogg
Movie - Released: 6/14/2011
Narcocorrido
Narcocorrido
as Ramon
Movie - Released: 8/30/2011

2010

American Flyer
American Flyer
as Big Boss
Movie - Released: 1/1/2010
Cholo Comedy Slam: Stand Up and Lean Back
Cholo Comedy Slam: Stand Up and Lean Back
Movie - Released: 5/21/2010

2009

Next Day Air
Next Day Air
as Bodega
Movie - Released: 2/6/2009
Lie to Me
Lie to Me
as Tony Calvo
TV - Released: 1/21/2009

2008

Street Kings
Street Kings
as OG Vato
Movie - Released: 4/10/2008
Sons of Anarchy
Sons of Anarchy
as Marcus Alvarez
TV - Released: 9/3/2008
The Mentalist
The Mentalist
as Martin
TV - Released: 9/23/2008
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
as Mexican Police Chief
TV - Released: 1/13/2008

2007

Delta Farce
Delta Farce
as Jorge
Movie - Released: 5/11/2007
Spider-Man 3
Spider-Man 3
as Policeman at Sand Truck
Movie - Released: 5/1/2007
Moonlight
Moonlight
as Chemma Tejada
TV - Released: 9/28/2007
Raines
Raines
TV - Released: 3/15/2007

2006

Splinter
Splinter
as Jesse
Movie - Released: 8/17/2006
Brothers and Sisters
Brothers and Sisters
as The Sponsor
TV - Released: 9/24/2006
Shark
Shark
as Detective #1
TV - Released: 9/21/2006

2005

Harsh Times
Harsh Times
as Eddy
Movie - Released: 9/11/2005
Short Fuse
Short Fuse
as Camacho
Movie - Released: 1/1/2005
Fun with Dick and Jane
Fun with Dick and Jane
as Day Laborer
Movie - Released: 12/21/2005
Purple Heart
Purple Heart
as Deputy
Movie - Released: 1/1/2005
Bones
Bones
as Ramon Ortez
TV - Released: 9/13/2005
My Name Is Earl
My Name Is Earl
as Victor
TV - Released: 9/20/2005
Kojak
Kojak
TV - Released: 3/25/2005
Weeds
Weeds
as El Coyote
TV - Released: 8/7/2005

2004

El padrino: The Latin Godfather
El padrino: The Latin Godfather
as Rudy
Movie - Released: 9/27/2004
Sucker Free City
Sucker Free City
as Detective Zepada
Movie - Released: 9/16/2004
Collateral
Collateral
as Paco
Movie - Released: 8/4/2004
Cake
Cake
as Fidel
Movie - Released: 7/8/2004
Doing Hard Time
Doing Hard Time
as Officer David Teal
Movie - Released: 11/23/2004
CSI: NY
CSI: NY
as Little Stevie
TV - Released: 9/22/2004

2003

A Man Apart
A Man Apart
as Garza
Movie - Released: 4/4/2003
Bruce Almighty
Bruce Almighty
as Hood
Movie - Released: 5/23/2003

2002

High Crimes
High Crimes
as Salvadoran Man
Movie - Released: 4/5/2002
Ali G Indahouse
Ali G Indahouse
as Rico
Movie - Released: 3/21/2002
Road Dogz
Road Dogz
as Big Joe
Movie - Released: 3/26/2002
Confessions of a Dangerous Mind
Confessions of a Dangerous Mind
as Benitez
Movie - Released: 12/31/2002
The Shield
The Shield
as Navaro Quintero
TV - Released: 3/12/2002

2001

Tomcats
Tomcats
as Sampson (uncredited)
Movie - Released: 3/30/2001

2000

The Base 2: Guilty as Charged
The Base 2: Guilty as Charged
as Pvt. Alberto Ramirerz
Movie - Released: 12/8/2000
Traffic
Traffic
as Salazar Soldier #2
Movie - Released: 12/27/2000
Titus
Titus
as Castro
TV - Released: 3/20/2000
Son of the Beach
Son of the Beach
TV - Released: 3/14/2000
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
as Bank Robber #1
TV - Released: 10/6/2000
Girlfriends
Girlfriends
as Nick
TV - Released: 9/11/2000

1999

Pros & Cons
Pros & Cons
as Con 1
Movie - Released: 1/1/1999
L.A. Heat
L.A. Heat
TV - Released: 3/15/1999
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
as Benito Escobar
TV - Released: 9/20/1999

1997

Con Air
Con Air
as Carlos
Movie - Released: 6/5/1997

1996

The Cable Guy
The Cable Guy
as Jail Inmate
Movie - Released: 6/10/1996

1995

Rage
Rage
as Javier
Movie - Released: 11/3/1995
Murder Was the Case
Murder Was the Case
as Reporter #2
Movie - Released: 2/14/1995
JAG
JAG
as Drug Runner
TV - Released: 9/23/1995

1994

ER
ER
as Emilio Cardazco
TV - Released: 9/19/1994

1993

Walker, Texas Ranger
Walker, Texas Ranger
as Juan 'Loco' Morales
TV - Released: 4/21/1993
The X-Files
The X-Files
as Brigham
TV - Released: 9/10/1993

1992

Renegade
Renegade
as Rafe
TV - Released: 9/19/1992

1990

Beverly Hills, 90210
Beverly Hills, 90210
as Felipe
TV - Released: 10/4/1990

1977

Thunder and Lightning
Thunder and Lightning
as Honeydew Driver
Movie - Released: 8/12/1977

Unknown

Movie
Purgatory
Movie
RZR Cyber Protocol
RZR Cyber Protocol
as Felix
Movie