Biography

RAFAEL AMAYA

Rafael Amaya is without a doubt one of the most talented and best-known Latin actors in entertainment today, with a career that includes starring roles in successful original series plays, English and Spanish-language movies, and European television series.

The actor is best known for his iconic starring role of Aurelio Casillas in Telemundo’s Emmy-winning longest-running original series “El Señor de los Cielos” (“The Lord of the Skies”) which boasts seven successful seasons that have achieved global viewership in the tens of millions through streaming and worldwide syndication. Recipient of the Premios Tu Mundo award for Favorite Lead Actor for his role as Aurelio in El Señor de los Cielos in both 2014 and 2015.

It was recently announced that Amaya was signed once again by Telemundo Global Studios to a multi-project deal including an 8th season of “El Señor de los Cielos”

Since joining Telemundo, Rafael has appeared in drama series that have captivated audiences in the United States and around the world. These include “La Reina del Sur,” in which he played “El Güero” Dávila alongside leading lady Kate del Castillo. Following this successful performance, he starred in the telenovela “Alguien Te Mira.” He has also served as co-host of “The Billboard Latin Music Awards”, “The Billboard Mexican Music Awards,” and “Premios Tu Mundo” various times.

A native of Mexico, Rafael was born in Hermosillo, Sonora but moved to Tecate, Baja California at the age of five. He began his artistic career with such musical groups as “Banda Almalafa” and “Garibaldi.” He made the transition to acting with his telenovela debut in “La Casa de la Playa” in 2000, followed by “Sin Pecado Concebido” the following year, for which he earned Mexico’s El Heraldo Award in 2002. Since then, he has appeared in “Salomé,” “Las Vías del Amor” and “Las Dos Caras de Ana,” as well as in starring roles in the Spanish series “La Piel Azul,” “Hospital Central” and “Doctor Mateo.”

Rafael achieved crossover success in the Hallmark Television film “Meddling Mom,” the third-highest audience-rated production in the network’s history and starred in English-language films “Narco Soldiers” and “Powder & Gold”. He has also acted in a number of Spanish-language movies, including “Desnudos,” “Así del Precipicio,” “Caliz,” “Amor Letra por Letra,” “Fotonovela,” “Pepe & Santo vs. América,” “24 Cuadros de Terror,” “Rock Mari de Chava Cartas,” “Me Importas Tú… y Tú,” “The Fighter” and “Atrocious.” He made a special appearance in USA’s “Queen of the South” as Aurelio Casillas.

Rafael, named one of People en Español’s “50 Most Beautiful People” in 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2016 and 2018 has diversified beyond acting, producing his first movie, “Paco & Santo vs. América,” in 2009.