Ricardo Gonzalez (born June 30, 1979) is an American actor. He is known for his roles as Timo Cruz in the motion picture Coach Carter, as Spanish in Old School, 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. In 2021, he starred in the TV series adaptation of The Lost Symbol. In 2022, he joined the cast of Law & Order: Organized Crime as Detective Bobby Reyes.
Early life Gonzalez was born in New York, of Dominican and Puerto Rican descent.TV Guide His parents met in Washington, DC, where they married. They moved and settled down in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn where they raised Gonzalez.Arispe, Rudy. "New World Man" , San Antonio Express-News, June 30, 2005. Accessed June 8, 2009. "I'm from Bushwick (an area of Brooklyn)..." 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 LaGuardia 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.From Brooklyn
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.
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 has 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. In 2022, Gonzalez joined the cast of Law & Order: Organized Crime as Detective Bobby Reyes.
Music On May 24, 2011, Gonzalez released his 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 YearTitleRoleNotes2000Mambo CaféRickyPrince of Central ParkGangbanger2001Crocodile Dundee in Los AngelesGang Banger2002The RookieRudy BonillaLaurel CanyonWyatt2003Biker BoyzPrimoOld SchoolSpanish2004Subway CafeVincent Young 2005Coach CarterTimo Cruz War of the WorldsVincentRoll BounceNaps2006First SnowAndy LopezPulseStoneFor Your ConsiderationChillaxin' Host2007Game of LifeGerardoWhat We Do Is SecretPat SmearIllegal TenderWilson DeLeon Jr.In the Valley of ElahPhone Technician2008The PromotionErnestoPride and GloryEladio Casado2010Flying LessonsBenji2011Apartment 143Paul Ortega2012The Guilt TripMark2013Make Your MoveRene2014CommencementVictorPablo2015November RuleNick2016179th StreetChelo Santiago2017DeucesPapers2025Predator: Killer of Killers TorresVoice
Television YearTitleRoleNotes1997F/X: The SeriesEpisode: "Spanish Harlem"1998Thicker Than BloodSanchezTelevision film2000Law & Order: Special Victims UnitAlfonso CardenasEpisode: "The Third Guy"Touched by an AngelRamoneEpisode: "Living the Rest of My Life"2000–2001Boston PublicJuan Figgis4 episodes2001Nash BridgesHectorEpisode: "Slam Dunk"ERJorge EscalonaEpisode: "Quo Vadis?"2002The ShieldLucasEpisode "Pay in Pain"Buffy the Vampire SlayerTomasEpisode: "Help"2006CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationMarcusEpisode: "Poppin' Tags"CSI: MiamiHector RiveraEpisode: "Backstabbers"2007–2009ReaperBen GonzalezMain role2009MediumJuan EspinosaEpisode: "The Future's So Bright"2010CastleMickey CarlsonEpisode: "The Third Man"Cold CaseTut' 82Episode: "Bombers"Lie to MeRaul CamposEpisode: "Headlock"Dark BlueManny AguilarEpisode: "Shelter of the Best"The Whole TruthRonnie SotoEpisode: "Cold Case"2011Traffic LightCharlieEpisode: "No Good Deed"The ProtectorJamie SosaEpisode: "Help"The CloserBruno PerezEpisode: "Star Turn"BonesRick CortezEpisode: "The Prince in the Plastic"2012Bad GirlsRodrigoTelevision film2012–2014Dark ProphetDJ Rashnu2 episodes2013Blue BloodsRickyEpisode: "The Bitter End"IronsidePlatanoEpisode: "Uptown Murders"NCISLenny MachachaEpisode: "Oil & Water"2014RushManny MaquisMain role2015Battle CreekOmarEpisode: "Pilot"2015Mr. RobotIsaac Vera2 episodes2016Bad Dad RehabPierre Television film2016–2020ArrowRene Ramirez / Wild DogRecurring role (season 5); Main role (seasons 6–8)2017, 2020Legends of TomorrowRene Ramirez / Wild Dog2 episodes2021The Lost SymbolAlfonso NunezMain role2022–2025Law & Order: Organized CrimeDet. Bobby ReyesMain role (season 3–5)
See also
List of Puerto Ricans List of Dominican Americans
References
External links