Franco Rivera is a fictional firefighter on the FX drama Rescue Me. The character is portrayed by Daniel Sunjata. Franco is the "ladies man" of the firehouse and Tommy's protégé.
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Season One
He discovered that he had a daughter, Keela, who he took in after initially signing away his legal rights to her upon the death of her mother. He was also injured towards the end of season one helping Tommy who was lost in a vision, leading to a battle with a painkiller addiction.
Season Two
Franco has trouble with his addiction to painkillers. Keela accidentally overdoses on his pills and he has to take her to the hospital. This event convinces Franco to seek help and he starts going to Narcotics Anonymous. He also became romantically attached to Laura, a fellow firefighter at the house who leaves him after she finds out about the three other people he is sleeping with during a period in which the two were in a relationship. Laura helps him overcome his addiction to painkillers.
Season Three
Franco eventually starts a new romantic relationship with an older woman named Alicia (Susan Sarandon), who takes a liking to Keela. Alicia ultimately decides to take Keela away from Franco, stating that his swinging lifestyle is a bad influence on her. Despite his burning desire to reunite with his daughter, Franco has found himself powerless, having signed away his legal rights to his daughter. Franco later begins to date a woman, Natalie, who resembles his daughter. She takes care of her mentally challenged brother, Ritchie, who has Tourette syndrome and randomly says racist comments to Franco. Ironically Franco accepts the verbal abuse and befriends Ritchie.
Season Four
Franco is still dating Natalie and being pressured by Ritchie to propose to her. Eventually, he does so, although he deals with the pressure of the decision by throwing up in the bathroom as he proposes to her. Unfortunately, the engagement and the relationship does not last.
