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Oliver Rayón was born just east of Mexico City, in Puebla, the historic, cultural, and economic center of the state of Puebla, Mexico. At age four, his single mother moved him to Southern California. He was raised first in Bellflower and later in Santa Ana, California. While Oliver enjoyed sports, playing Pop Warner Football and National Junior Basketball, music was his true passion. He sang in choir throughout elementary and junior high school, earning recognition as a soloist. In high school show choir, he discovered musical theater and auditioned for roles. His early acting credits included "Guys and Dolls" and "Babes in Arms." Beyond school productions, he performed in "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" and portrayed Vittorio Vidal in "Sweet Charity." Although his path seemed set for the performing arts, by high school’s end, Oliver chose a different direction. Excelling in math and science, he was fascinated by avionics and flight, leading him to join the Air Force ROTC with plans to become an electrical engineer and pilot.
However, Oliver’s passion for performing proved stronger, and he eventually left the Air Force ROTC. While attending Orange Coast College (OCC), he rediscovered his love for acting and committed to it. Quickly landing roles in college theater confirmed his choice. His first OCC role was Estaban in the one-act play "Lynette at 3 a.m.," aided by his high school acting reputation and bilingual fluency. He also auditioned and was cast in two additional one-act plays. He went on to portray Montano in William Shakespeare's "Othello" and enjoyed playing Herb in the musical "Godspell."
A new chapter began at California State University, Long Beach, where Hugh O'Gorman introduced him to the Michael Chekhov Technique, sharpening his focus and specificity as an actor. A career highlight was his work under Anne D'Zmura's direction in Mary Zimmerman's "Metamorphoses" (Fall 2006), where he played multiple roles including Zeus, Erysichthon, and Cinyras. Voice and diction coaching from William Francis McGuire greatly enhanced his performances. Working with D'Zmura also gave him valuable insight into directing and a broader vision for his career. He further expanded his theater credits at CSULB by playing Shalva, the Adjutant, in Bertolt Brecht's "The Caucasian Chalk Circle" (Fall 2007). Philip Charles MacKenzie helped him strengthen his craft and adapt it for on-camera work. Oliver graduated with a BA in Theater Arts from CSULB in June 2007.
His artistic and professional standards were deeply influenced by training at The Actors Center in New York City (Summer 2006). The intensive program solidified his dedication to acting. He studied Fitzmaurice Voicework with Grace Zandarski, Balinese mask work with Per Brahe, movement with Felix Ivanov, and scene study with Scott Freeman, who guided him toward a realistic acting style now integral to his approach. Oliver views acting as an opportunity to tell impactful stories. Influences from filmmaking and acting greats such as John Cassavetes, Guillermo del Toro, Pedro Almodóvar, Marlon Brando, Katharine Hepburn, Anthony Quinn, Meryl Streep, and Daniel Day-Lewis shape his artistry. He learned piano as an adult and enjoys making music in his free time.
Oliver adapts seamlessly to stage, television, and film, reflecting his versatility and dedication. Early TV roles included local shows like The Heartbreak Cafe (1997) and Secretos (2004). He quickly earned lead roles in short films featured on the festival circuit, including Good Day LA (2007), Lawnchairs & Grappling Hooks (2008), Vlad & Antoinette (2008), and New Filmmaking (2009). He also had a recurring role on the Univision telenovela No Me Hallo (2011). More recently, he appeared on long-running daytime soaps such as General Hospital (1963), Days of Our Lives (1965), The Bold and the Beautiful (1987), as well as the crime drama spinoff Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders (2016) and the comedy Workaholics (2011).
Fluent in both Spanish and English, Oliver brings authenticity and depth to his roles. With Mexican, Spanish, and German heritage, he convincingly portrays a diverse array of characters. His roles include a passionate Latin romantic intrigued by the paranormal in Paranormal Incident (2011), an all-American assistant facing terrifying events in Reality Terror Night (2013), and an Italian villain infected by mutated creatures in Stem Cell (2009), among others.
His professional theater debut came with a principal role in the acclaimed revival of "La Victima," performing alongside esteemed actors Lupe Ontiveros, Sal Lopez, and Geoffrey Rivas under the direction of José Luis Valenzuela. Other notable stage work includes the touring passion play "Viva Cristo Rey," directed by Ángel Durán, and the immersive production "Accomplice: San Diego," written and directed by Tom Salamon for La Jolla Playhouse.
Oliver continues to secure leading and supporting roles in independent feature films such as In Transit (2018), Spermicide (2014), and Mega Summer Hit: A Slam Dunkumentary (2014). He has also appeared in several SyFy Channel films, including War of the Worlds 2: The Next Wave (2008), Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008), 2010: Moby Dick (2010), and Silent Venom (2009).
His most prominent work includes starring alongside Lin Shaye in the indie thriller Room for Rent (2019), written by Stuart Flack and directed by Tommy Stovall. He also played Florentino "Indian Charlie" Cruz in Doc Holliday's Revenge (2014), a Lionsgate and Rapid Hearts Pictures Western featuring Tom Berenger and Eric Roberts. Recently, Oliver has ventured into producing his own content, collaborating with colleagues Thomas Kellogg, Kyle Newacheck, and Ryan Max O'Melia to co-create the dramatic web series Studio City Kings (2016).
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