‘El Señor de los Cielos’ actor Rafael Amaya's incredible success

Will Aurelio Casillas wake up from his coma? That’s what El Señor de los Cielos (Lord of the Skies) fans are dying to know. As the sixth season of the hugely successful telenovela comes to an end, Rafael Amaya’s Mexican drug lord Casillas’s future is unknown. But before you start freaking out, the Spanish-language soap has been picked up a seventh season, so don’t despair. “Arre!” Did you know before Amaya started playing a rough and tough narco boss, he began his career as a singer? Yes, really! He teamed up with Mexican group Garibaldi, but two albums later he decided to leave. In 2000, Amaya put music on the backburner to focus on his real passion, acting. He quickly rose to telenovela stardom, and by 2004 starred in his first movie. He’s made more than 12 films in both English and Spanish, but nothing compares to the incredible success of “Aurelio Casillas.” The Mexican-born actor landed the role of Casillas in Telemundo’s super series El Señor de los Cielos in 2003. Six seasons — and 9 million Facebook followers — later, the telenovela is an undeniable hit. May’s Season 6 premiere came in at No. 1 in primetime TV, beating out CBS and ABC. That’s right, it outperformed some of the biggest shows in one of the most-coveted categories, adults 18-49. With nearly 2 million viewers per episode in July, this Spanish soap appears to be unstoppable. The telenovela won an International Emmy in 2014, and Amaya has received seven awards, including three Premios Tu Mundo for Favorite Lead Actor. The franchise even inspired him to launch his own Western-style clothing line, which the cast wears on camera. In May, Telemundo confirmed that El Señor de los Cielos will return for a seventh season. Word is Amaya’s character will turn himself in to U.S. authorities. What?!? Fans, prepare for a bumpy and action-filled ride!