They say life is full of surprises. Well, that old adage is true, especially when it comes to Hollywood celebrities! And if you’ve ever experienced a kind of deja vu while watching a favorite TV show or movie, the kind that happens when you suddenly realize you recognize a specific actor from prior roles, this one will truly amaze. Walking around New York City, it’s not unusual to find a film crew filming a movie or TV series. The Law and Order TV series is famous for filming in multiple locations throughout the city; several websites provide information on filming locations and production lists for New York City. One such website, On Location Tours, specifically lists the filming locations for the Law and Order TV series. Once while walking around the Chelsea neighborhood, I passed by an actively working film crew; I stopped for a moment and watched from a distance. They were filming Law and Order:Organized Crime, Mariska Hargitay was there along with the rest of the crew. Organized Crime is the latest Law and Order spinoff and it’s been one of my favorites this past year. The plot centers around various crime figures with some unusual twists, including a few characters who are new to the series. Personally, I am slow to put 2 and 2 together (I hate math!) but I have a decent memory for people and faces. Still, I watched 5 episodes before recognizing this actor, so good he is at his craft. When I realized who it was, I was like “no way!” So who am I talking about? No other than the New York City actor Rick Gonzalez playing the role of enigmatic Detective Bobby Reyes. One of my favorite shows (great cast!), I’ve been rabidly watching it since season one. So when they introduced a new character this season, I eagerly focused on the storyline, intrigued as to how the plot would develop this time. Earlier episodes went places I’d never thought Law and Order would go, including an embarrassingly hokey Jukebox scene featuring Blondie’s famous song “Call Me.” Some things you just cannot unsee, much as I have tried. Anyway, back to Rick Gonzalez, the actor. I kept wondering, “he looks familiar, where have I seen him before?” Turns out, he played Jesus in Lady Gaga’s video Judas. That was over 10 years ago; the actor tweeted about it back it 2021. Hard to believe – ten years and so much has changed. Also, I cannot believe I watched five episodes before making the connection — that’s the sign of a great actor, they can so completely transform themselves into an entirely different and unrecognizable character. A quick review of Rick Gonzalez’s Imdb profile serves as definitive proof of his versatility as an actor – with numerous roles spanning over a two decade career, including one as Isaac Vera in Mr. Robot. I didn’t recognize him in that role either, amazing actor! Born in New York City, raised in Brooklyn and a graduate of High School of the Performing Arts (on which the series Fame was based), he is one super-talented individual. As Detective Bobby Reyes, he plays a complicated character on the current Law and Order:Organized Crime. It’s a role that requires a delicate balance between street savvy toughness while reckoning with a dark painful past. The unnerving ability to convey a preternatural yet silent vulnerability was clearly evident when looking back at the role of Jesus in Gaga’s Judas music video. It’s reminiscent of acting pre-audio in the silent film days. Back then, actors had to be able to convey emotions past a monochromatic silent screen. And the truly talented ones still can. Detective Bobby Reyes has some dark hidden Freudian stuff going on for sure. Where this will lead us this season is a total mystery. Just a mysterious as an actor’s magical ability to undergo a metamorphic transformation without saying a word.
As they say in Law and Order: