E. J. Bonilla

E.J. Bonilla
Born Edward Joshua Bonilla
September 8, 1988
New York City, New York, U.S.
Occupation Actor
Years active 2006-present

Edward Joshua Bonilla (born September 8, 1988),[1] known professionally as E.J. Bonilla is an American television and film actor. He is best known for his role as Rafe Rivera on Guiding Light.

Early life

Bonilla was born in New York City to Puerto Rican parents. He attended John Ericsson Junior High School 126 in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, where he became involved in band, playing the trumpet. He attended High School for Environmental Studies where he was involved in musical theater. He first became interested in acting in the ninth-grade, when he was cast as Danny Zuko in a performance of Grease.[2] He graduated from high school in 2006 and then attended Bard College.

Career

His first role was on the PBS educational show Reading Rainbow. After graduating from high school, he went on to originate the role of Rafe, Natalia's son, on Guiding Light in May 2007.[3]

Bonilla starred in the independent film Musical Chairs. It is a story of a couple (played by Bonilla and actress Leah Pipes) who enter a wheelchair ballroom dancing competition after the girl is disabled in a traffic accident. The film was released on March 23, 2012.

Bonilla received an Imagen Award for his performance as "Dexter," a former high school basketball player whose best days are behind him, in Joshua Sanchez's directorial debut, Four.[4] The film will be released on September 13, 2013.[5]

Awards

Award Date Film/Show Category Result
28th Annual Imagen Awards[6] August 16, 2013 Four Best Actor/Supporting Actor - Feature Film Pending
Los Angeles Film Festival[7] June 24, 2012 Four Best Performance in the Narrative Competition (Ensemble Cast) Won
36th Daytime Emmy Awards[8] August 30, 2009 Guiding Light (TV) Outstanding Younger Actor in a Drama Series Nominated

Filmography

Feature Films

Year Title Role Notes
2009 Don't Let Me Drown Lalo
2011 Yelling to the Sky Rob Rodriguez
2011 The Mortician Noah
2011 Mamitas Jordin Juarez
2011 Musical Chairs Armando
2013 The House that Jack Built Jack
2013 Four Dexter Imagen Award Nomination

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2006 The Ron Clark Story Hispanic Kid
2006 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Fraco Episode: Watch
2009 Law & Order Carlos Episode: Bailout
2009 Guiding Light Raphael "Rafe" Rivera 158 Episodes, Daytime Emmy Nomination
2009 Bored to Death Francisco Episode: The Case of the Stolen Skateboard
2010 Cold Case Ronnie Tavares '93 Episode: Shattered
2011 Blue Bloods Julio Episode: Dedication
2012 The Big C Scott Episode: What's Your Story?
2012-2013 Revenge Marco Romero 4 Episodes
2013 Shameless Jesus Episode: Civil Wrongs

External links

References

  1. About the Actors: E.J. Bonilla SoapCentral.com. Retrieved 9 June 2009.
  2. "'Buzzworthy: E.J. Bonilla". Retrieved 2013-07-27l. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  3. E.J. Bonilla biography CBS.com. Retrieved 9 June 2009.
  4. The Imagen Foundation.
  5. "Controversial Award-Winning Film - FOUR - Embraced by AMC". The Wall Street Journal. July 16, 2013. Retrieved 2013-07-22.
  6. "Nominees for the 28th Annual Imagen Awards Announced". Imagen Award. June 2013. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  7. "Winners Announced for 2012 Los Angeles Film Festival". Film Independent. 24 June 2013. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
  8. "Daytime Entertainment Emmy Awards: Full List of Nominees". Daytime Emmy Awards. 14 May 2009. Retrieved 21 July 2013.