Biography
Producer, actor, philanthropist, and activist, Raul Julia-Levy has been a long-time advocate for the well-being of animals and people. He grew up in a prominent family in Mexico City and started a relationship with his real father, Raul Julia, in Hollywood when he was 17. Raul pursued a career in entertainment, acting in Mexican soap operas before moving to Hollywood, California. Once in Hollywood, Raul continued landing roles in movies such as sci-fi flick Epoch in 2000 and gangster flick Clash in 2006 where he also received credit as an Associate Producer.
In recent years since 2014, Julia-Levy has pledged to make a difference through ending animal abuse and is recognized for his hands-on efforts in Latin America. Over the last decade, Julia-Levy has been a part of critical law cases of animal torture, some of which have mobilized the political structures of Latin American cities with new legislation and have saved the lives of innocent and abused dogs.
Along with these efforts, Julia-Levy and his ex-wife founded Paw Hills, a luxury pet hotel in Agoura Hills, California. Inside the pet hotel is the Raul Julia Foundation, which is dedicated to preserve and fight for the rights of animals in Latin America and Mexico. Since its founding, the Raul Julia Foundation has saved over 7,500 stray dogs. Future plans for the Foundation are to build an animal rehabilitation center in hopes of saving 50,000 stray and abused dogs and cats. Julia-Levy has also expanded his involvement to include the plight of Lolita, an orca whale that has been living and performing at Seaquarium in Miami, Florida. Numerous animal rights organizations have rallied to Free Lolita. In support of this effort, Raul has assembled some of the most powerful people in Hollywood including Johnny Depp, Wesley Snipes, Lindsay Lohan, Harrison Ford, Jonathan Sanger, Richard Donner, David Permut, Steve Longi, Hayden Panettiere, Janet Jackson, Ringo Starr, Elton John, 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg, Plácido Domingo, Cameron Crowe, Ed Elbert, and Ron Howard who show support through donations, petitions, and various charity events.
In 2018, Julia-Levy pleaded with President Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela to relocate dying and abused zoo animals to reserves around the world. Amid the nation's hunger crisis, Julia-Levy took to Twitter and the media to confront the Venezuelan president and expose the situation. He stated "I can't imagine a place in the world where they let the animals suffer so much," and offered to air-lift the animals out and also sent 36 tons of dog food to Venezuela.
