You probably know the face. It's the one with the sharp, intimidating gaze and the intricate neck tattoos that practically defined a whole era of Netflix binge-watching. When Julio Macias first stepped onto the screen as Oscar "Spooky" Diaz in On My Block, he wasn't even supposed to stick around. He was a guest star. A side character. But then something happened—he opened his mouth, and the audience realized this wasn't just another cardboard cutout of a gang leader.
Fast forward to 2026, and Macias has managed to do what very few "breakout" stars from teen dramas actually achieve: he stayed relevant without being pigeonholed. If you look at the full list of Julio Macias movies and tv shows, you see a guy who is actively fighting against the industry's desire to keep him in a box.
He's played a cumbia legend. He's voiced a futuristic hero. He’s been a priest (sorta) and a father. Honestly, the range is kinda wild when you think about where he started.
The Oscar "Spooky" Diaz Phenomenon
It’s impossible to talk about his career without starting at the Freeridge neighborhood. On My Block (2018–2021) was a massive hit for Netflix, but Oscar Diaz was the secret sauce. Macias famously spent months researching the role, studying Chicano classics like Blood In Blood Out and American Me to make sure he wasn't just playing a stereotype.
He put on 20 pounds of muscle. He shaved his head. He adopted a specific East L.A. cadence that was so convincing, fans were genuinely shocked when they saw him in real life. There’s this famous clip of him doing an interview with his natural hair and a soft-spoken, articulate voice, and the comments are just thousands of people saying, "Wait, that’s actually him?"
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What made Oscar work wasn't the violence; it was the tragedy. Macias played him as a man who had to sacrifice his own future to ensure his brother, Cesar, actually had one. By the time the series wrapped, Macias had secured two Imagen Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor. He took a character that could have been a villain and turned him into the show's moral—if complicated—backbone.
From Gangster to Cumbia Master: The Selena Pivot
While On My Block was still peak-hype, Macias did something nobody saw coming. He joined Selena: The Series (2020–2021) as Pete Astudillo.
If you haven't seen it, the contrast is hilarious. He went from a neck-tatted street legend to a 90s-coiffed singer in high-waisted pants, dancing cumbia and harmonizing with Christian Serratos. Macias actually told People Chica that he was practicing his "2-step" in grocery store lines and in the shower just to make it look natural.
He didn't even audition for Pete. He originally read for the role of Chris Perez (Selena's husband), but the producers heard him sing La Media Vuelta and realized they had a different kind of talent on their hands. It was a smart move. It proved to Hollywood that his "Spooky" persona was just that—a persona.
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The Recent Years: Expanding the Resume
Since the Netflix era, Macias has been stacking credits that lean into drama and thrillers. He hasn't stopped working, even if the projects are a bit more varied now.
- Promised Land (2022): This was a short-lived but stylish ABC drama about a Latino family-owned vineyard in Sonoma Valley. Macias played Javier, a recurring role that let him play in the "prestige soap" sandbox. It was a far cry from the streets of L.A.
- The Rookie (2022-2023): He popped up here as Damian Lopez (aka Father Lopez), showing off that ability to play someone who commands respect without needing a weapon.
- Diarra from Detroit (2024): More recently, he appeared in this BET+ mystery-comedy as Young Marshall. It’s a great example of him picking projects with a bit of "edge" and unique storytelling.
- Border Hunters (2025): One of his more recent film credits where he plays Andro. This one leans back into the action-thriller territory where he definitely excels.
There is also the voice work. In the series Young Dario, he provided the voice for Adult Dario, showing that his vocal range is just as marketable as his look.
Why He’s Still the One to Watch
The "Julio Macias movies and tv shows" search usually leads people to the same few Netflix hits, but the real story is his longevity. In a 2025 interview on the Irregardless podcast, Macias talked about how he views his legacy. He doesn't want to just be "the guy from that one show." He’s been moving into producing, with projects like Pega Como Niña (Punch Like a Girl) in the works—a film based on a true story about a mother’s journey to the Olympics.
He’s very aware of how the industry tries to typecast Mexican-born actors. Being born in Mexico City and moving to the U.S. at age eight, he’s lived that "in-between" life. He’s often said he feels like an outsider in both places, and he uses that to fuel his characters.
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The Essentials: A Quick Look at His Career
- Breakthrough: On My Block (Oscar "Spooky" Diaz)
- Musical Flex: Selena: The Series (Pete Astudillo)
- Early Grind: Guest spots on Jane the Virgin, S.W.A.T., and Game Shakers.
- Newer Territory: Promised Land, The Rookie, and the upcoming thriller Atypical Pirate.
Honestly, if you've only seen him as Spooky, you're missing out on about 70% of what he can actually do. He has this weird ability to be the most terrifying person in the room one minute and then the most charming "guy next door" the next.
If you want to see the full evolution, start with On My Block Season 1, then immediately jump to an episode of Selena: The Series. The "acting whiplash" is the best way to appreciate the work he’s putting in.
Moving forward, keep an eye on his production credits. He seems less interested in just being "talent" and more interested in controlling the narrative of the stories being told about the Latino community. That's usually the sign of an actor who is going to be around for decades, not just a few seasons.
To get the most out of his filmography, you should check out his guest appearance in The Rookie to see his "fatherly" side, then track down the indie short Por Sofía for a glimpse of his early dramatic roots.