Biker Boyz

Background:

“Being in LA is a great thing to 'cause the Mexican culture just embraces us too. So there's a lot of pride. There's a lot of love out there. And I think now is the most perfect time to be Latino and just be proud of it and just embrace it.” Rick Gonzalez (on being Latino).

Hispanic-American actor Rick Gonzalez is recognized by moviegoers for his roles in such films as "Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles" (2001), "The Rookie" (2002), "Biker Boyz" (2003), "Old School" (2003), "Coach Carter" (2005), "War of the Worlds" (2005), "Pulse" (2006), "First Snow" (2006), "For Your Consideration" (2006), "What We Do Is Secret" (2007), "In the Valley of Elah" (2007), and "The Promotion" (2008). Next, he will star in the upcoming films "Pride and Glory" and "Four."

On the small screen, the 5' 8" actor has guest-starred in "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," "Touched by an Angel," "Nash Bridges," "ER," "The Shield," "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," and "CSI: Miami."

He had a recurring role in "Boston Public" (as Juan Figgis; 2000-2001) and now plays Benjamin "Benji" Gonzalez on the CW comedy-drama series "Reaper," which premiered on September 25, 2007.

"If I'm going to do something, I'm going to do it - no matter what." Rick Gonzalez.

Latino Rick

Childhood and Family:

Born in New York City, New York, on June 30, 1979, of Dominican (Dominican Republic) and Puerto Rican descendant Rick Gonzalez grew up in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn, where he attended elementary and Jr. high school. From 1994 to 1997, he studied acting at Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, New York, on which the movie “Fame” was based.

Gonzalez is friend of Jorge A. Reyes.

“Since I was 10, I can remember making the decision. I did a church play that left a profound feeling in me. My mom would take me to the theater for movies and plays and I think that subconsciously pushed me. I told my mother, 'I wanna act, where do I do that?'” Rick Gonzalez (on deciding to become an actor).

The Rookie

Career:

“When I was two years old, I carried around a video camera and filmed people. I knew that this was what I wanted to be.” Rick Gonzalez.

Graduating from Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in 1997, Rick Gonzalez began pursuing a serious acting career and landed his debut in the TV movie adaptation of Bill Cain's play, "Thicker Than Blood" (1998), starring Mickey Rourke and Dan Futterman.

In 2000, the struggling actor got his feature debut as Ricky in the romantic drama/comedy movie written and directed by Reuben Gonzalez, "Mambo Cafe," starring Danny Aiello and Paul Rodriguez. That same year, he played a tiny role as gangbanger in John Leekley-directed family movie "Prince of Central Park," starring Kathleen Turner, Danny Aiello, Harvey Keitel, and Cathy Moriarty.

Meanwhile, he was spotted as a guest in an episode of NBC's police procedural drama "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," CBS family drama "Touched by an Angel," CBS cop drama starring Don Johnson, "Nash Bridges," and the hit NBC medical drama "ER." He also had a recurring role, as Juan Figgis (2000-2001), on FOX teen drama series "Boston Public."

After playing a small part as a gangbanger again, this time in Simon Wincer's Australian comedy film starring Paul Hogan, "Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles" (2001), Gonzalez was cast as Rudy Bonilla in John Lee Hancock's true story-based drama starring Dennis Quaid, "The Rookie" (2002).

He then supported Frances McDormand, Christian Bale, and Kate Beckinsale in writer/director Lisa Cholodenko's drama movie "Laurel Canyon" (2002) and scored his breakout role as the woman-crazy Primo in Reggie Rock Bythewood's film about a predominantly African-American group of underground motorcycle drag racers, "Biker Boyz" (2003), alongside Laurence Fishburne, Djimon Hounsou, Derek Luke, Meagan Good, and Larenz Tate.

About his role in "Biker Boyz" (2003), Gonzalez admitted, “He's the most exaggerated version of Rick Gonzalez.”

During this time, Gonzalez guest starred in an episode of FX Networks police-drama "The Shield" and The WB/UPN cult TV series starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."

In the following years, Gonzalez was cast along side Luke Wilson, Vince Vaughn, and Will Ferrell in Todd Phillips' comedy motion picture "Old School" (2003), appeared in Josh Monkarsh's short drama film "Subway Cafe' (2004), and co-starred with Samuel L. Jackson in Thomas Carter's fact-based film "Coach Carter" (2005), playing troubled basketball player Timo Cruz.

“When I play sports I'm going to make sure I know I look like I know what I am doing. If I shoot a jumper or do crossovers I will not embarrass myself.” Rick Gonzalez.

He was also cast in Steven Spielberg's film version of H.G. Wells' science fiction disaster novel, "War of the Worlds" (2005; starring Tom Cruise and Dakota Fanning), Malcolm D. Lee's comedy-drama film "Roll Bounce" (2005; starring rapper Bow Wow, Chi McBride, Kellita Smith, and Jurnee Smollett), and Mark Fergus' thriller movie "First Snow" (2006; starring Guy Pearce, Piper Perabo, and J.K. Simmons).

Meanwhile, he guest-starred in an episode of CBS crime drama series "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" and its spin-off, "CSI: Miami." He also appeared in a "Sprite" commercial, as well as and in the music video for Twista & Faith Evans, "Hope" (2005), in which he does a speech in the beginning of the video which serves kind of like an "opening," and in the music video for "Snitch" (2006) by rapper Obie Trice.

Gonzalez subsequently starred in "Pulse" (2006; with Kristen Bell, Ian Somerhalder, and Christina Milian), Jim Sonzero's remake of the 2001 Japanese horror film "Kairo" by cult Japanese helmer Kiyoshi Kurosawa, Christopher Guest's comedy "For Your Consideration" (2006; featuring Harry Shearer, Catherine O'Hara, and Parker Posey), and Rodger Grossman's biopic about punk legend Darby Crash and his band the Germs, "What We Do Is Secret" (2007; starring Shane West and Bijou Phillips), in which he portrays alternative rock guitarist Pat Smear.

Recently, Gonzalez was cast as a Latino college student who, alongside his courageous mother (played by Wanda de Jesus), escapes from the thugs that murdered his father (played by Manny Perez), in the John Singleton-produced crime/drama/thriller film "Illegal Tender" (2007), and supported Tommy Lee Jones, Charlize Theron, and Susan Sarandon in Paul Haggis' Academy Award-nominated film "In the Valley of Elah" (2007).

“All of my supporting roles combined equal a big break.” Rick Gonzalez.

2008 saw Gonzalez co-starred with Tom Sizemore, Tom Arnold, and Heather Locklear in Joseph Merhi's straight-to-video released "Oranges" and with John C. Reilly and Sean William Scott in writer/director Steven Conrad's comedy movie "The Promotion."

“I've been lucky to work with a lot of huge actors, playing those pivotal roles... I feel blessed that people have given me love off what I've done.” Rick Gonzalez.

Gonzales has completed his new film, "Pride and Glory," a crime drama directed by Gavin O'Connor starring Edward Norton and Colin Farrell, and is now working on Joshua Sanchez's film adaptation of Christopher Shinn's play, "Four," in which he will take the lead role.

“If a director wants something I'm going to rectify it for them - like 'I know what you're looking for but just to make it more believable we should do it this way, to authenticate it and dispel the stereotype.” Rick Gonzalez (on fighting the stereotypes on Latinos in film).

TV audiences now can watch Gonzalez plays Sam (played by Bret Harrison) and Sock's (played by Tyler Labine) co-worker and friend Benjamin "Benji" Gonzalez on the CW comedy-drama series "Reaper," which premiered on September 25, 2007.

While busy acting on television and in films, Gonzalez also records and performs in the hip-hop group U-Krime as Realm Reality.

“My thing is good work. My thing is being a part of something that has substance, that is well-written, and that gives me a challenge.” Rick Gonzalez.

Awards:
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