Emilio Rivera
Acting • Born 1961-02-24
Biography
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.
Filmography
107 credits
Pros & Cons
Movie • 1999
Con 1
High Crimes
Movie • 2002
Salvadoran Man
Tomcats
Movie • 2001
Sampson (uncredited)
Harsh Times
Movie • 2005
Eddy
Ali G Indahouse
Movie • 2002
Rico
Splinter
Movie • 2006
Jesse
The Cable Guy
Movie • 1996
Jail Inmate
Rage
Movie • 1995
Javier
Act of Valor
Movie • 2012
Sanchez
El padrino: The Latin Godfather
Movie • 2004
Rudy
Budz House
Movie • 2011
Big Happy
The Base 2: Guilty as Charged
Movie • 2000
Pvt. Alberto Ramirerz
Road Dogz
Movie • 2002
Big Joe
Delta Farce
Movie • 2007
Jorge
The Devil's in the Details
Movie • 2013
Bill Duffy
The Movie Teller
Movie • 2023
Trabajador 3 / José
American Lowrider
Movie • 2013
Paisa
Hitman: Agent 47
Movie • 2015
Fabian
Dante's Hotel
Movie • 2023
Captain Pasado
Confessions of a Dangerous Mind
Movie • 2002
Benitez
Cinema Verite
Movie • 2011
Nightwatchman
Bullet
Movie • 2014
Speedy
A Man Apart
Movie • 2003
Garza
C'mon Man
Movie • 2012
Steven
48 Hours to Live
Movie • 2016
Gunner
Flamin' Hot
Movie • 2023
Vacho Montañez
Water & Power
Movie • 2014
Norte
North by El Norte
Movie • 2016
Big boss
American Flyer
Movie • 2010
Big Boss
Purgatory
Movie
Con Air
Movie • 1997
Carlos
Traffic
Movie • 2000
Salazar Soldier #2
Thunder and Lightning
Movie • 1977
Honeydew Driver
10 Cent Pistol
Movie • 2014
Melville
Platinum Illusions
Movie • 2011
Boss Hogg
Sucker Free City
Movie • 2004
Detective Zepada
Filly Brown
Movie • 2013
Mani
Collateral
Movie • 2004
Paco
Street Level
Movie • 2016
Pete
Smartass
Movie • 2017
Poco Efe
Short Fuse
Movie • 2005
Camacho
The Obama Effect
Movie • 2012
Hector Santiago
Spider-Man 3
Movie • 2007
Policeman at Sand Truck
Street Kings
Movie • 2008
OG Vato
Narcocorrido
Movie • 2011
Ramon
Cake
Movie • 2004
Fidel
Mercy for Angels
Movie • 2015
Machetto
Avenge the Crows
Movie • 2017
Carlos Santiago
El Camino Christmas
Movie • 2017
Vicente Cruz
Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot
Movie • 2018
Jesus Alvarado
Badsville
Movie • 2017
Lucky Lou
Bruce Almighty
Movie • 2003
Hood
3 from Hell
Movie • 2019
Aquarius
Cholo Comedy Slam: Stand Up and Lean Back
Movie • 2010
El Chicano
Movie • 2019
Shadow
Venom
Movie • 2018
Lobby Guard Richard
Next Day Air
Movie • 2009
Bodega
To Hell and Back: The Making of 3 From Hell
Movie • 2019
Self
Fun with Dick and Jane
Movie • 2005
Day Laborer
Purple Heart
Movie • 2005
Deputy
Doing Hard Time
Movie • 2004
Officer David Teal
Holy Cash
Movie • 2024
Actor
Ride Hard: Live Free
Movie • 2020
Gauge
RZR Cyber Protocol
Movie
Felix
Under Fire
Movie • 2025
Valentino
Cuisine de la 'Pocalypse
Movie • 2025
Murray
Chuck Zito: An American Story
Movie • 2024
Self
Murder Was the Case
Movie • 1995
Reporter #2
Love and Betrayal on the Force
Movie • 2020
George (voice)
Titus
TV • 2000
Castro
Son of the Beach
TV • 2000
Sons of Anarchy
TV • 2008
Marcus Alvarez
Brothers and Sisters
TV • 2006
The Sponsor
Renegade
TV • 1992
Rafe
Shark
TV • 2006
Detective #1
Beverly Hills, 90210
TV • 1990
Felipe
Bones
TV • 2005
Ramon Ortez
My Name Is Earl
TV • 2005
Victor
L.A. Heat
TV • 1999
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
TV • 2000
Bank Robber #1
CSI: NY
TV • 2004
Little Stevie
Walker, Texas Ranger
TV • 1993
Juan 'Loco' Morales
The X-Files
TV • 1993
Brigham
Moonlight
TV • 2007
Chemma Tejada
Raines
TV • 2007
Lie to Me
TV • 2009
Tony Calvo
Kojak
TV • 2005
Weeds
TV • 2005
El Coyote
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
TV • 1999
Benito Escobar
Mayans M.C.
TV • 2018
Marcus Álvarez
The Mentalist
TV • 2008
Martin
ER
TV • 1994
Emilio Cardazco
Gang Related
TV • 2014
Tio Gordo
Mayans M.C.
TV • 2018
Marcus Alvarez
Carl Weber's The Family Business
TV • 2018
Alejandro Zuniga
The Shield
TV • 2002
Navaro Quintero
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
TV • 2008
Mexican Police Chief
The Upshaws
TV • 2021
Barkavious
JAG
TV • 1995
Drug Runner
Hot Ones Versus
TV • 2024
Self
Z Nation
TV • 2014
Hector Alvarez/Escorpion
Z Nation
TV • 2014
Escorpion
Z Nation
TV • 2014
Hector Alvarez
Z Nation
TV • 2014
Hector
Landman
TV • 2024
Luis Medina
Law & Order: Organized Crime
TV • 2021
Miguel 'El Diablo' Olivas
Girlfriends
TV • 2000
Nick