Playing a drug dealer is a fairly new role for Gonzalez
By Bel Hernandez
Rick Gonzalez plays a drug dealer in USA Network’s Rush, but there is more to Gonzalez’s character, Manny then meets the eye. Written and directed Jonathan Levine and produced Shawn Williamson, Rush premieres on Thursday, July 17th at 9pm/8c.
“What drove me to this roles is the duality, he has a good side and bad side and in a good show you always want to care about the character,” Gonzales tells us. For that he gives props to the writer (Levine) who he says writes “flawed” characters. In fact they are all flawed from the lead to all those around them. They are after all human and the series goes along the writers will delve deep into their lives to see what makes them the imperfect persons that they are.
The pilot sets the groundwork. Tom Ellis plays the title role of William Rush a renegade physician. Once a top attending physician, working alongside his physician father and having found the love of his live, he loses it all. We find Rush now a drug addicted doctor whose livelihood consists of making house calls to self entitled Los Angeles’ elite (and some other shady characters) for a hefty “cash only” payout. Larenz Tate plays his loyal friend from the good old days, who still stand by his friend. His beautiful ex-girlfriend played by Odette Annable (who is also in ABC’s Astronaut’s Wives Club new series), while is still in love with him, holds him at arm’s lengths hoping to see him change change his evil ways. She may have a long wait if at all.
As for Gonzalez, playing a drug dealer is a rather new role. A trained actor graduating from New York’s High School of the Performing Arts Gonzalez has played a wide range of characters. Beginning his professional career shortly after graduating from high school, he landed his first role in a TV move in 1998 (Thicker Than Water) then made is film debut in the indie film Mambo Cafe written and directed by Reuben Gonzalez in 2000. Then it was on to the bigger profile films. In a span of four years, from 2003 to 2005 he was cast in five films including working alongside Luke Wilson, vince Vaughn and Will Farrell in Old School; the blockbuster film War of the Worlds starring alongside Tom Cruise; a baseball movie (The Rookie), a Basketball movie (Coach Carter) and in between played a sex-crazed character in Biker Boyz written by Craig Fernandez and starring Laurence Fishbourne. On TV he has been a series regular on The Reaper where he played a “soul searcher” for Satan himself. In addition check his IMDB credits and he has done guest appearances on most of the top TV shows in the past decade.
His role as Manny is not your typical Hollywood stereotype. This drug dealer a hip looking cat who rides around delivering his drugs on a motorcycle wearing black jeans, a leather jacket and boots. The unconventional bond between Manny and Rush pushes the boundaries of your typical drug connection. Serving as a drug concierge delivery service, at Rush’s beck and call, does have its rewards so when Manny reaches out to Rush he is there to help him out in matter of a life or death situation. It’s obvious these two have a strong bond, how deep it goes will be explored in further episodes.
When we spoke to Gonzalez he was on location in Vancouver, Canada having just shot their third episode. He was happy to be working and even happier to be playing the most important role of his life – not the drug dealer – the dad role. He recently became a father and, not wanting to miss a single day of his young daughter’s life, had brought her on location with him.
Having started his career at age 19 and having played the young teenager roles and 20 something’s for so long, it now seems Gonzalez is finally getting to play the role of a lifetime – the daddy role.
Rush is Executive Produced by Adam Fierro (The Shield) and Craig Wright (Six Feet Under). From Fox21 (Homeland) and writer/director Jonathan Levine (Warm Bodies, 50/50), along with Gina Matthews and Grant Scharbo (Missing,13 Going on 30)
Cast: Tom Ellis, Larenz Tate, Rick Gonzalez, Odette Annable, Sarah Habel
Follow Rick on Twitter @officialrickg
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