Rick Gonzalez

Rick Gonzalez (born June 30, 1979) is an American actor and musician. He is known for his roles as Timo Cruz in the motion picture Coach Carter, as Ben Gonzalez on the CW supernatural drama television series Reaper, and as Naps In Roll Bounce. From 2016–2020, he portrayed the superhero vigilante character Rene Ramirez / Wild Dog on the CW superhero drama series Arrow.

Not to be confused with Ricky Gonzalez.
Rick Gonzalez
Gonzalez at the 2017 Heroes and Villains Fan Fest
Born (1979-06-30) June 30, 1979
New York City, New York, U.S.
OccupationActor, Musician
Years active1998–present
Spouse(s)Sherionne
Children1

Early life

Gonzalez was born in New York City, of Dominican and Puerto Rican descent.[1] His parents met in Washington, DC, where they married. They moved and settled down in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn where they raised Gonzalez.[2] His parents were later divorced. He attended elementary and junior high school while living in Brooklyn. Ever since he was a young child, Gonzalez would put on improvised "shows" for his family and participate in all of his school's plays. His teachers were instrumental in convincing Gonzalez to apply and try out for the High School of the Performing Arts, on which Fame was based, in Manhattan. He did as suggested and was accepted. In 1997, he graduated and began to pursue a career in acting.[3]

Career

Gonzalez started his acting career in New York where he landed a small role in the made for television movie Thicker Than Blood (1998) as Sanchez. In 1999, he made his feature movie debut as Ricky in the movie Mambo Cafe, which was released in the year 2000. He followed that by participating in the film Prince of Central Park (2000) before heading for Los Angeles, California.[3]

Gonzalez in 2005

In Hollywood, he landed a small part as a gangbanger in the 2001 film Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles. He followed that with the roles of Rudy Bonilla in The Rookie, starring Dennis Quaid and as the sex-crazed Primo in the 2003 movie Biker Boyz. In 2005, he played the role of Timo Cruz in the movie Coach Carter. Gonzalez also appeared in Twista's video "Hope", which is the lead single off the Coach Carter movie soundtrack. He played the male lead in Mashonda's "Back of Tha Club" video; and has also starred in the video to the Obie Trice song "Snitch", where he plays a member of a group who successfully pull off a bank robbery, and then snitches on them. Gonzalez was also in Red Cafe's video for "All Night Long" which was also in the Coach Carter movie soundtrack.

Gonzalez appeared in the 2003 comedy Old School (alongside Luke Wilson, Vince Vaughn and Will Ferrell) as "Spanish", Laurel Canyon (2003) as Wyett, Subway Cafe (2004) as Vincent Young, War of the Worlds (2005) as Vincent, Roll Bounce (2005) as Naps, Pulse (2006) as Stone, First Snow (2006) as Andy Lopez, Illegal Tender (2007) as Wilson DeLeon Jr., What We Do Is Secret (2007) as Pat Smear. He also appears in Apartment 143 as Paul Ortega.

His TV guest appearances have been in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2000), Touched by an Angel (2001) as Ramone, ER (2001) as Jorge Escalona, Buffy the Vampire Slayer (2002) as Tomas, The Shield (2002), CSI: Miami (2006), Castle (2010), Lie to Me (2010), and Bones (2011). Most recently, he co-starred in the CW television series Reaper as Ben Gonzalez. Gonzalez had a blog about the 2008 MLB Post Season and was nicknamed the "October Gonzo". He co-starred in Lady Gaga's 2011 music video for her single "Judas" where he portrays Jesus. In 2013, Gonzalez appeared in the NCIS episode "Oil & Water", as Lenny Machaca.

Music career

On May 24, 2011 Gonzalez released a mixtape album hosted by DJ G-Spot titled "The Invisible Man" citing "I called it the invisible man because of my frustration trying to get my music career going for at least 7 years and feeling ignored by the industry. So I felt invisible to them (music industry)." He also appeared on the song "Bully Rap" off of Sean Price's last album Mic Tyson, it was released on October 30, 2012.

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1998 Thicker Than Blood Sanchez Television movie
2000 Mambo Café Ricky
Prince of Central Park Gangbanger
2001 Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles Gang Banger
2002 The Rookie Rudy Bonilla
Laurel Canyon Wyatt
2003 Biker Boyz Primo
Old School Spanish
2004 Subway Cafe Vincent Young
2005 Coach Carter Timo Cruz
War of the Worlds Vincent
Roll Bounce Naps
2006 First Snow Andy Lopez
Pulse Stone
For Your Consideration Chillaxin' Host
2007 Game of Life Gerardo
What We Do Is Secret Pat Smear
Illegal Tender Wilson DeLeon Jr.
In the Valley of Elah Phone Technician
2008 The Promotion Ernesto
Pride and Glory Eladio Casado
2010 Flying Lessons Benji
2011 Apartment 143 Paul Ortega
2012 Bad Girls Rodrigo Television film
The Guilt Trip Mark
2013 Make Your Move Rene
2014 Commencement
Blame It On The Streets Braze Short film
Victor Pablo
2015 November Rule Nick
2016 179th Street Chelo Santiago
2016 Bad Dad Rehab Pierre Television movie
2017 Deuces Papers Netflix movie

Television
Year Title Role Notes
1997 F/X: The Series Episode: "Spanish Harlem"
2000 Law and Order: Special Victims Unit Alfonso Episode: "The Third Guy"
Touched by an Angel Ramone Episode: "Living the Rest of My Life"
2000-2001 Boston Public Juan Figgis 4 episodes
2001 Nash Bridges Hector Episode: "Slam Dunk"
ER Jorge Escalona Episode: "Quo Vadis?"
2002 The Shield Lucas Episode "Pay in Pain"
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Tomas Episode: "Help"
2006 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Marcus Episode: "Poppin' Tags"
CSI: Miami Hector Rivera Episode: "Backstabbers"
2007-2009 Reaper Ben Gonzalez
2009 Medium Juan Espinosa Episode: "The Future's So Bright"
2010 Castle Mickey Carlson Episode: "The Third Man"
Cold Case Tut' 82 Episode: "Bombers"
Lie to Me Raul Campos Episode: "Headlock"
Dark Blue Manny Aguilar Episode: "Shelter of the Best"
The Whole Truth Ronnie Soto Episode: "Cold Case"
2011 Traffic Light Charlie Episode: "No Good Deed"
The Protector Jamie Sosa Episode: "Help"
The Closer Bruno Perez Episode: "Star Turn"
Bones Rick Cortez Episode: "The Prince in the Plastic"
2012-2014 Dark Prophet DJ Rashnu 2 episodes
2013 Blue Bloods Ricky Episode: "The Bitter End"
Ironside Episode: "Uptown Murders"
NCIS Lenny Machacha Episode: "Oil & Water"
2014 Rush Manny Maquis
2015 Battle Creek Omar Episode: "Pilot"
2015 Mr. Robot Isaac Vera 2 episodes
2016–2020 Arrow Rene Ramirez / Wild Dog Series regular (Season 5-8)
2017, 2020 Legends of Tomorrow 2 episodes
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See also

References
  1. TV Guide
  2. Arispe, Rudy. "New World Man", San Antonio Express-News, June 30, 2005. Accessed June 8, 2009. "I'm from Bushwick (an area of Brooklyn)..."
  3. From Brooklyn Archived June 29, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
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