E.J. Bonilla’s biography, net worth, fact, career, awards and life story

Edward Joshua “E. J.” Bonilla (born September 8, 1988) 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 also participated in musical theater while in Junior High School and High School. Bonilla attended High School for Environmental Studies. He first became interested in acting in the ninth-grade, when he was cast as Danny Zuko in a performance of Grease. 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.

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. The film was released on September 13, 2013.

Awards