An Interview with Victor Rivers, an accomplished actor, a survivor of domestic violence and advocate
November, 2003

When he was 12 years old, Victor Rivers tried to buy a gun to kill his abusive father. Today, he is an actor and an advocate against domestic violence.

Victor Rivers immigrated to the United States with his family from Cuba when he was almost 2 years old. Beginning early in his childhood, Victor's father abused him along with his mother and five siblings.

Not surprisingly, the violence escalated as Victor grew older. Enduring beatings from his father with objects ranging from a belt to a meat tenderizer, Victor often placed himself in harm's way to protect other members of his family from his father's abuse. Victor was burned, locked in closets, and tied up. He once watched his father attack his mother, who was eight months pregnant with his brother Robert, kicking her repeatedly in the stomach. Born disabled, Robert was institutionalized his whole life. He died before he turned 10.

Victor, who labels himself "a talker," attempted repeatedly to tell others of his fathers' abuse. His friends, however, admired his father, calling him "cool." No one believed that a man who loaded all the neighborhood kids in the car and took them out for ice cream was capable of such heinous acts of violence. Victor describes his father as a chameleon, calculating and cold, who purposely hit Victor in places where others would not see his bruises.

When Victor finally gathered the courage to go to a police station and show them the welts, burns and bruises on his body, the police told him the issue was a private, family matter and instructed Victor to "take care of it himself." So, at 12 years old, in a desperate attempt to protect himself and his family, Victor tried to buy a gun to kill his father. Ultimately, his attempt to purchase a gun failed and Victor and his family continued to suffer brutal attacks from his father in secret.

When he grew large enough, Victor physically confronted his father, who cowered at Victor's newfound aggression. Believing his father would later react by trying to kill him, Victor ran away from home when he was 15. After bouncing through many foster homes, and finding temporary acceptance and sanctuary in gang life, Victor was taken in by a loving Cuban family who showed him positive and appropriate displays of affection. Amazingly, Victor eventually was elected senior class president of his high school and lettered in four sports. He went on to play football at Florida State University on a full scholarship, and was mentored by head coach Bobby Bowden. The Miami Dolphins later drafted him.

Victor still reflects on the young boy who heard his mother call the police and pleaded in broken English for help that never came.

Victor's indomitable spirit and years of acting out roles to escape his abusive childhood led him to a career in acting. He can be seen in films such as "The Mask of Zorro," "Fear City," "The Hulk," "The Distinguished Gentleman" and "Amistad."

Victor uses his fame and success as an actor to speak out against domestic violence and to encourage other men to do the same. He is less concerned with the batterers than he is with the "men who stand by silently." Victor believes "other men need to speak up," and through a sports team analogy, he artfully delivers the message that "men need to step up to the plate and say that [abusive] behavior is unacceptable. Peer pressure is just as powerful in adults as it is in children.