Rafael de La Fuente

Rafael de la Fuente (born November 11, 1986) is a Venezuelan actor and singer. He is known for his roles in the fantasy television series Grachi (2011–2013) and the soap opera reboot Dynasty (2017–2022) as Sam "Sammy Jo" Jones. His other notable role was in the first and second seasons of the drama series Empire (2015–2016). Early life Rafael Alfredo De la Fuente Torres Jr. was born in Caracas, Venezuela. on November 11, 1986. His parents are Rafael Sr., a bariatric surgeon, and Helena. He has a younger sister, Alma. His early goal was to pursue a career as a singer. After high school, he moved to the United States to attend The University of Tampa. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2009. After graduation, he decided to focus on an acting career and began landing roles. TV and Film His first acting job came by chance. When he was 18, a casting director visited his father's office and saw a picture of him. This led to a two episode appearance on a Venezuelan telenovela.