Tony Dalton has taken on the antagonist role of Ray Vega, a former Marine turned corrupt Los Angeles sheriff, in the second season of Apple’s crime series Sugar. The character, whom Dalton modeled after Denzel Washington’s Training Day role, represents a departure from his widely acclaimed portrayal of cartel leader Lalo Salamanca in Better Call Saul, though both characters share certain thematic elements.
Dalton’s arc culminates in the seventh episode when his character faces off against Colin Farrell’s private investigator John Sugar in a climactic desert confrontation. The sequence, which takes place within an overturned Ford Bronco, required extensive choreography and multiple days of rehearsal. Dalton drew inspiration from the Argentine film Wild Tales for the scene’s violent intensity. During production, he accidentally struck Farrell during filming, but the actor encouraged him to continue without interruption. The physical toll was significant, with Dalton sustaining extensive bruising on both sides of his torso.
Dalton credits showrunner Sam Catlin, a writer from Breaking Bad’s early seasons who helped develop the original Lalo character, with creating the opportunity. Dalton consulted with Jonathan Banks, his Better Call Saul co-star, before accepting the role. Banks encouraged him to take the part, having worked with Catlin previously on the acclaimed monologue from Breaking Bad’s “Half Measures” episode.
The actor reflected on his character’s refusal to accept Sugar’s offer of a new life in Panama, attributing Ray’s decision to someone trapped by habit and fear of change. Despite similarities to Lalo, Dalton emphasized that Ray operates within the constraints of law enforcement rather than outside it entirely. Dalton has received numerous subsequent opportunities following Better Call Saul’s global recognition, including roles in the Marvel Cinematic Universe projects Hawkeye and Daredevil: Born Again, though he remains cautious about accepting similar cartel roles repeatedly.
On a personal note, Dalton marked a significant milestone during production when his son was born, an event he described as unforgettable despite occurring midway through the shooting schedule.
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