Julio César Cedillo is an Ariel Award–nominated actor whose career spans more than 80 film and television productions. He is perhaps best known for portraying the title character in Tommy Lee Jones’ Cannes Award–winning THE THREE BURIALS OF MELQUIADES ESTRADA. The Dallas Morning News praised his work, writing, “Cedillo gives a sensitive, nuanced performance as a lonely northern Mexico vaquero.” He later delivered a gripping performance opposite Benicio Del Toro in Denis Villeneuve’s SICARIO.

Cedillo gained international recognition as Calderoni across two seasons of Netflix’s global hit NARCOS: MEXICO. His heartfelt performance in Amazon MGM Studios’ A MILLION MILES AWAY earned him an Imagen Award nomination. In UPON OPEN SKY, Cedillo received both an Ariel Award nomination and the Silver Goddess Award for Best Supporting Actor from PECIME, Mexico’s Cinematic Journalists Association.

His film credits also include COWBOYS & ALIENS, directed by Jon Favreau, where he worked alongside Daniel Craig, Sam Rockwell, and Walton Goggins, and THE HARDER THEY FALL, opposite Jonathan Majors.

Television Guest Appearances include PRISON BREAK, FX’s THE BRIDGE, THE WALKING DEAD, NCIS: NEW ORLEANS, QUEEN OF THE SOUTH, CHICAGO P.D., BOSCH: LEGACY, and the second season of CBS’s CIA.

Upcoming projects include Amazon MGM Studios’ highly anticipated comic book–inspired series  VIGILANTE  opposite Diego Boneta, UK-produced holiday action-comedy HOLIDAY HITMAN by Empire Studios, the supernatural horror feature POSTMORTEM by Colombian director Andrés Beltrán and the Neo-Western BETHESDA directed by the Lewis Brothers in their feature-length directorial debut. 

Away from the screen, Cedillo considers fatherhood his most important role. His philosophy: “You have to tell the universe who you are and what you want; if not, it will drag you wherever it wants.”