Sonny Ayon
Sonny Ayon (born April 30, 1982) is a Hispanic American actor/entertainer. He was featured as one of Hilary Swank's main students in the 2007 Paramount Pictures film, Freedom Writers.
Born in Upland CA and raised in Rialto, CA, he rose from the poverty-filled warzone into a young man imbued with hardened dreams and aspirations for the better.
By 2000, Ayon felt like a change of place was in the works. Through a series of fortunate events, his trainer Jesse Hernandez helped get him cast in a direct-to-video flick called "Backyard Dogs". The CD chose Ayon as one of the lead wrestlers, Psycho Dave, which led to solid screen time. Once the experience ended, he was inspired him to turn his pursuits towards the career path of acting.
In 2006, Ayon auditioned for director Richard LaGravenese (P.S. I Love You) for the film . He beat out thousands of Hispanic actors to score the coveted role as one of two-time Oscar winner Hilary Swank’s main Freedom Writers. Working alongside industry notables such as Grey’s Anatomy’s Patrick Dempsey, recording artist Mario, and Imelda Staunton, Ayon learned a great deal on set, reinforcing his desires to become a successful working actor. In the same year, he signed with the Momentum Talent Agency.
As 2008 rolled inwards, Ayon scored the role of George in an episode of America's Most Wanted. In the same year, he personally read for Kevin BaCon in his directorial effort for TNT’s The Closer and was booked for the episode. Furthermore, numerous auditions for FX’s The Shield throughout the course of the year for various roles, the casting director hired him for one of the last episode of the final season, in the role of Flaco, a hardened gangster who robs Walton Goggins, who plays Michael Chiklis’ partner in the series.
Ayon recently finished up a stint as the big bully in the band Red Jumpsuit Apparatus’ "Say Your Prayer" music video, which is an fun FX-filled extravaganza. He is currently slated in 2009 to work on a pilot called “Choices” which focus on the plight of kids in gangs and the right or wrong life decisions.