Juan Pablo Raba Vidal (born 14 January 1977) is a Colombian film, TV and telenovela actor, best known internationally for his role as Gustavo Gaviria in the 2015 Netflix series Narcos.
Early life Raba was born in Bogotá, Colombia where he graduated from Colegio Nueva Granada. After his parents' divorce, he was raised in Spain by his Argentinian father.
Career Raba subsequently returned to Colombia and worked as a model. He sought work from the Colombian TV channel Caracol, who suggested that he take acting lessons. He took acting classes in Bogota with Edgardo Roman and then continued his studies in New York at the Lee Strasberg Institute.
Not long after, he accompanied a friend to an acting class where Colombian professor Edgardo Roman was impressed by Raba's acting ability. Encouraged, Raba began attending auditions. Two months after his first audition, Caracol channel asked him to co-star in the television series Amor En Forma. In 1999, he played a small part in the TV series Marido y mujer.
Immediately after, he took the leading part in the TV series La reina de Queens. Around the same time, he appeared in the theatrical play Chronicle of a Death Foretold, based on the book by Gabriel García Márquez.
Later the Venezuelan channel RCTV asked him to co-star in the telenovela Viva La Pepa. This led to an offer to appear in La niña de mis ojos, which launched Raba's international career. In 2002's Mi gorda bella, Raba played Orestes Villanueva Mercuri, who falls in love with the good-hearted Valentina.
In 2004, when he filmed for RCTV the TV series Estrambótica Anastasia. In 2005, he returned to Colombia and filmed for the channel Caracol the TV series Por amor a Gloria. In 2006 included he appeared in the movie Una Abuela Virgen and as the main character in the TV film Soltera y sin Compromiso.
In the following years he had parts in several soap operas. In 2008 Raba appeared in El Cartel de los sapos, in a 2009 episode of Tiempo final and in an episode of Mental. After that he had a part in Los Caballeros Las Prefieren Brutas. In 2013 he was a main character in Los secretos de Lucía.
In 2014, he was cast as Gustavo Gaviria, the cousin of Pablo Escobar in Narcos. He stated that this was a very personal story for him since his uncle was killed by Escobar. In 2015 Raba joined the third season of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. as the Inhuman Joey Gutierrez.
Personal life In 2003, he met Colombian journalist Paula Quinteros, whom he married on 6 December in a barefoot Celtic ceremony in Los Roques, Venezuela.
In 2006, he and Paula announced their separation, which subsequently resulted in their divorce in 2007.
In August 2011, he married television presenter Mónica Fonseca in a private ceremony in Miami, United States. On 19 July 2012, his wife gave birth to their son, Joaquín Raba Fonseca. Raba is an active cyclist and now resides in Miami. With his family, he has been very active in human and animal rights organizations.
Filmography Films Year Title Role Notes2006ElipsisGuest PartyUncredit Cameo 2006 Anillo de compromiso Fede Short film 2007 Una abuela virgen Carlos 2007 Ni tan largos, ni tan cortos Carlos 2007 Puras joyitas Bigote 2009 Día naranja Leo 2011 The Snitch Cartel John Mario Martínez / Pirulo 2012 El cielo en tu mirada Mario Domínguez 2012 La Lectora Waiter Special appearance2013Secreto de ConfesiónTeniente Restrepo 2015 The 33 Darío Segovia 2016 7 años Carlos 2017 Nacido de Nuevo Ramon Short film 2017 Shot Caller Herman Gómez 2018 Peppermint Diego Garcia 2018 Operation Entebbe Juan Pablo 2019 Imprisoned Dylan Burke 2021 The Marksman Mauricio 2023 Freelance President Juan Venegas 2024 Long Gone Heroes Guapo
Television Year Title Role Notes 1998 Amor en forma Eduardo 1999 Marido y mujer Isidrio 2000 La reina de Queens Andres Velásquez 2001 Viva la Pepa Luis Ángel Perdomo 2001 La niña de mis ojos Alejandro Rondón 2002 Mi gorda bella Orestes Villanueva Mercouri 2004 Estrambótica Anastasia Aureliano Paz 2005 Por amor a Gloria Esteban Marín 2006 Soltera y sin compromiso Jaime Villalba Television film 2006 Y los declaro marido y mujer Juan Andrés Gutiérrez 2007 Sobregiro de amor Martín Monsalve 2008 El cartel John Mario Martínez / Pirulito 2008 Tiempo final Franco 2 episodes 2009 Sin retorno Diego Episode: "Heroína" 2009 Mental Ray Hernandez Episode: "Pilot" 2010 El Clon Said Hashim Episode: "Encuentro divino" 2010 Los caballeros las prefieren brutas Alejandro Botero 2011 La Reina del Sur Jaime Gutiérrez Solana 5 episodes 2011 Flor Salvaje Emiliano Monteverde Episode: "Gran estreno" 2012 Pobres Rico Gonzalo Rico 2013 Los secretos de Lucía Miguel Gaitán 2013 Wake Up with No Make Up Iván 4 episodes 2014 El corazón del océano Unknown role 3 episodes 2015–16 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Joey Gutierrez 6 episodes 2015–16 Narcos Gustavo Gaviria 10 episodes 2017–2018 Six Ricky "Buddha" Ortiz 18 episodes 2018-19 Distrito Salvaje Jhon Jeiver "Yei Yei" 2021 Coyote Juan Diego "El Catrin" Zamora 2023 Echo 3 Ernesto Matiz 2025 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Defense Attorney Andre VaughnEpisode: Accomplice Liability2026Dutton RanchJoaquin9 episodes Noticia de un SecuestroAlberto VillamizarAmazon Prime Upcoming series
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