A Heart of Gold for Violent Roles
July, 1999

(English translation)

It seems that the actor Victor Rivers of Cuban American heritage is fascinated with brutal personalities. Like his portrayal of the brother of Spaniard Antonio Banderas in "The Mask of Zorro" or the assassin in "One Good Cop" with Michael Keaton. But away from the screen, he is a spokesperson against violence. The 43-year-old Rivers, who recently starred in "La Cucaracha" with Eric Roberts, hosted an event in Los Angeles to lend his support in the fight to end domestic violence. "I was a victim of an abusive father," said Rivers, who is married to the writer Mim Eichler-Rivas. "I took my father to court over the abuse he inflicted on us." The second of six children Rivers was born in Cuba and immigrated to the U.S. with his parents in 1957. When he was 15 years old he ran away from home and he asked for legal assistance from the courts until he was eventually adopted by a family. "When my wife told me she was pregnant, I became very anxious (I was terrified)" Rivers commented. "They say that abused children may become abusers themselves. But the only thing my son gets from me is love."

(Original, in Spanish)

Parece que al actor de origen cubanoa-mericano Victor Rivers Ie fascinan los personajes brutales. Ya sea como el nerma-no del espaiiol Antonio Banderas en The Mask ofZorro o como el asesino de One Good Cop, junto a Michael Keaton. Pero fue-ra de la pantalla es un portavoz contra la violencia. Rivers, de 43 anos, quien recien-temente estreno La cucaracha, con Eric Roberts, se presento en un evento de Los Angeles para apoyar una campana contra el abuso domestico. "Yo fui victima de un papa abusador", dice Rivers, casado con la escri-tora Mim Eichler-Rivas y padre de Elias Ri-vas, de 4 anos. "Lleve a mi papa a la corte por los golpes que nos daba". Segundo de seis hermanos, Rivers nacio en Cuba y emi-gro con sus padres a Estados Unidos en 1957. Cuando tenia 15 anos escape de su casa y pidio ayuda legal ante las cortes has-ta que fue adoptado por una familia. "Cuando mi esposa salio embarazada me aterre", comenta Rivers. "Dicen que los ninos abu-sados se convlerten en abusadores. Pero to unico que el ha recibido de mi es amor".