Telenovela actor Rafael Amaya, best known for his starring role in the hit Super Series El Señor de los Cielos (Lord of the Skies) is returning to Telemundo after signing a multi-project deal with Telemundo Global Studios.
Under the terms of the new deal, Amaya will star in several yet-to-be-named Telemundo Global Studios original productions. According to the company, his first project slated to air later this year.
“We’re honored to once again work with Rafael Amaya, one of the most well-known and talented Latin actors in the entertainment industry,” says Karen Barroeta, EVP of Production and Development, Telemundo Global Studios. “This deal reaffirms Telemundo’s commitment to working with the best talent in the business and to continue creating groundbreaking original content for Latinos across all platforms.”
Amaya started his career in his native Mexico, performing minor roles in Televisa novelas before landing a lead. But playing the character of Aurelio Casillas on Telemundo's Emmy-award winning and longest-running Telemundo Super Series franchise El Señor de los Cielos for seven seasons marked his rise to fame.
The actor, who publicly acknowledged problems with addiction and has recently undergone rehabilitation, was killed off from the show in season 7, which ended its run in February 2020 to stellar ratings. The finale of El Señor de los Cielos ranked as the #1 Spanish-language primetime program Friday night among adults 18-49 and adults 18-34, averaging 1.3 million in total viewers, according to Nielsen.
Amaya's career includes roles in the hit series La Reina del Sur, alongside Kate del Castillo, and a cross over guest role in the USA Network's adaptation of the same series, Queen of the South with Alice Braga. He has also performed in theater and film and has served as co-host of the Billboard Mexican Music Awards and the Billboard Latin Music Awards, broadcast on Telemundo.
Telemundo has not announced if there will be another season of the popular El Señor de los Cielos or if Amaya will be involved in any way. The company would not provide any details about any of his future projects under this new agreement.
