Tony Plana
Tony Plana | |
|---|---|
Plana in 2019 | |
| Born | José Antonio Plana April 19, 1952 Havana, Cuba |
| Citizenship | American |
| Alma mater | Loyola Marymount University |
| Occupations | |
| Years active | 1974–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
José Antonio Plana (born April 19, 1952) is a Cuban-American actor and director.[1] He is known for playing Betty Suarez's father, Ignacio Suarez, on the ABC television show Ugly Betty and for voicing Manuel "Manny" Calavera in the video game Grim Fandango.
Early life and education
Plana was born in Havana, Cuba.[2] His family moved to Miami in 1960.[3] He is a graduate of Loyola Marymount University and was trained in acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London.
Career
While known to a broad audience for his roles in feature films and television, Plana is also known for his skills in acting and directing for the stage. In 1995, he founded East L.A. Classic Theatre and over the course of a decade, he created and directed a number of Shakespeare productions for minority audiences.[4] He has been active in the Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and New York City theater communities, including leading appearances on Broadway and at New York City's Public Theater. He originated the role of Rudy in the Los Angeles production of Luis Valdez's play Zoot Suit, going on to play Rudy in the film version.[5]
Plana has acted, directed and written for television in series, miniseries, and specials such as Hill Street Blues, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Resurrection Boulevard, Commander in Chief, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, The West Wing, 24, and Cagney & Lacey.
Plana has acted in films such as An Officer and a Gentleman, Three Amigos, Goal!, and Lone Star. He is known to PC gamers as the voice of Manny Calavera in the LucasArts 1998 adventure game Grim Fandango. In 2011, Plana guest starred in Desperate Housewives as Gabrielle Solis's abusive stepfather, Alejandro Perez. He also directed Witch's Lament, a Desperate Housewives episode in the show's eighth season. In 2011, he appeared in Body of Proof, in the episode "Helping Hand".
Plana participated in the web series Los Americans (2011), about a middle-class family in Los Angeles.
Plana teaches acting at California State University, Dominguez Hills and Rio Hondo College. In 2012, he served as a judge for the Noor Iranian Film Festival.
Politics
Plana volunteers as a spokesperson for comprehensive immigration reform.[6] He was the keynote speaker for the 2012 LULAC conference in Coronado Springs Convention Center in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.[7]
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Bravo Award | Outstanding Actor in a Feature Film | For Tony Plana's performance in Lone Star | Nominated | |
| 2001 | ALMA Award | Outstanding Actor in a New Television Series | For Tony Plana's performance in Resurrection Blvd. | Nominated | |
| 2002 | ALMA Award | Outstanding Actor in a Television Series | For Tony Plana's performance in Resurrection Blvd. | Nominated | |
| 2006 | Satellite Awards | Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries, or Motion Picture Made for Television | For Tony Plana's role as "Ignacio Suarez" in Ugly Betty | Won | [8] |
| 2006 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Best Ensemble - Comedy Series | For Tony Plana's performance in Ugly Betty | Nominated |
Filmography
Film
- 1978: The Boss' Son – Juan
- 1980: Seed of Innocence (uncredited)
- 1980: First Family – White House Gardener
- 1981: Love & Money – National Guard General
- 1981: Circle of Power – Reza Haddad
- 1981: Zoot Suit – Rudy
- 1982: An Officer and a Gentleman – Emiliano De la Serra
- 1983: Valley Girl – Low Rider
- 1983: Nightmares – Father Luis Del Amo (segment "The Benediction")
- 1983: El Norte – Carlos, The Bus Boy
- 1983: Deal of the Century – Chicano Man
- 1985: City Limits – Ramos
- 1985: Latino – Ruben
- 1985: Godzilla 1985 – Goro Maki (voice, uncredited)
- 1986: The Best of Times – Chico
- 1986: Salvador – Major Max
- 1986: Three Amigos – Jefe
- 1987: Disorderlies – Miguel
- 1987: Born in East L.A. – Feo
- 1988: Buy & Cell – Raoul
- 1989: Romero – Father Manuel Morantes
- 1989: What's Up, Hideous Sun Demon – Officer Ignatz
- 1990: Why Me? – Benjy Klopzik
- 1990: The Rookie – Morales
- 1990: Havana – Julio Ramos
- 1991: One Good Cop as Beniamino Rios
- 1991: JFK – Carlos Bringuier
- 1992: Live Wire – Al-Red
- 1993: Red Hot – KGB Investigator
- 1993: Greshnitsa v maske – Le Arden
- 1994: A Million to Juan – Jorge
- 1995: Nixon – Manolo Sanchez
- 1996: Lone Star – Ray
- 1996: Primal Fear – Martinez
- 1996: Down for the Barrio – Cesar
- 1996: Canción desesperada – Patrick
- 1996: The Disappearance of Garcia Lorca – Marcos, Lorca's Friend
- 1997: Santa Fe – Chief Gomez
- 1997: One Eight Seven – Principal Garcia
- 1998: The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit – Victor Medina
- 1998: Shadow of Doubt – Detective Krause
- 1998: Every Dog Has Its Day – The Cop
- 1999: Let the Devil Wear Black – Tall
- 2000: Knockout – Chuck Alvarado
- 2000: Picking Up the Pieces – Usher
- 2001: Vegas, City of Dreams – Captain Martin
- 2002: Half Past Dead – Warden Juan Ruiz 'El Fuego' Escarzaga
- 2005: The Lost City – The Emcee
- 2005: Goal! – Hernan Munez
- 2007: El Muerto – Aparicio
- 2007: Hacia la oscuridad – Carlos Gutierrez
- 2007: Half Past Dead 2 – Warden Juan Ruiz 'El Fuego' Escarzaga
- 2008: AmericanEast – Dez
- 2009: Life Is Hot in Cracktown – Lou
- 2011: America – Tio Poldo
- 2012: The Man Who Shook the Hand of Vicente Fernandez – Dr. Dominguez
- 2013: Pain and Gain – Captain Lopez
- 2013: A Miracle in Spanish Harlem – Mariano
- 2016: America Adrift – William Fernandez
- 2017: Roman J. Israel, Esq. – Jessie Salinas
- 2017: Butterfly Caught – Michael Channis
- 2019: Wasp Network – Luis Posada Carriles
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | What's Happening!! | Amid | 1 episode | |
| 1978 | The Paper Chase | Marcos | Episode: "The Man in the Chair" (S1.E15) | [9] |
| 1981 | Madame X | Senor Rueda | TV movie | |
| 1984, 1988 | Miami Vice | Ernesto Guerrero / Cinco | 2 episodes | |
| 1988 | Break of Dawn | Rodriguez | TV movie | |
| 1989 | The Case of the Hillside Stranglers | Mike Hernandez | TV movie | |
| 1989 | The Equalizer | Antonio Cruz | Episode: "Prisoners of Conscience" | |
| 1989 | The Case of the Hillside Stranglers | Mike Hernandez | TV movie | |
| 1991 | Seinfeld | Manny | Episode: "The Apartment" (S2.E5) | |
| 1991 | The Golden Girls | Alvarez | 1 episode | |
| 1993–1994 | Bakersfield, P.D. | Luke Ramirez | 17 episodes | |
| 1994 | Star Trek: Deep Space Nine | Amaros | Episode: "The Maquis" Parts 1 & 2 (S2.E20-21) | |
| 1995 | Silver Strand | Richie Guttierez | TV movie | |
| 1995 | Santo Bugito | Paco (voice) | 2 episodes | |
| 1997 | Extreme Ghostbusters | Carl Rivera (voice) | 1 episode | |
| 2003 | John Doe | Captain Ruiz | Episode: "Doe or Die" (S1.E17) | |
| 2003 | Monk | Captain Alameda | 1 episode | |
| 2004 | 24 | Omar | 5 episodes | |
| 2005 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Elindio Zapata | 1 episode | |
| 2005 | The Closer | Alonzo Lopez | 1 episode | |
| 2006–2010 | Ugly Betty | Ignacio Suarez | 85 episodes | |
| 2011 | Desperate Housewives | Alejandro Perez | 5 episodes | |
| 2011 | Body of Proof | Armando Rosas | Episode: "Helping Hand" | |
| 2013 | Psych | Pablo Nuñez | Episode: "No Country for Two Old Men" (S7.E4) | |
| 2013 | Jodi Arias: Dirty Little Secret | Prosecutor Juan Martinez | TV movie | |
| 2013–2014 | Alpha House | Benito 'Benny' Lopez | 6 episodes | |
| 2014 | Jane the Virgin | Father Ortega | 1 episode | |
| 2015–2017 | The Fosters | Victor Gutierrez | 6 episodes | |
| 2015 | Cristela | Joaquin Alvarez | 1 episode | |
| 2015 | Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders | Father Consolmango | 1 episode | |
| 2016 | The Young Pope | Carlos García | 3 episodes | |
| 2016–2018 | Lethal Weapon | Ronnie Delgado | 7 episodes | |
| 2017 | Colony | Proxy Alcala | 4 episodes | |
| 2017–2021 | Superstore | Ron Sosa | 3 episodes | |
| 2017–2019 | One Day at a Time | Berto | 4 episodes | |
| 2017–2019 | The Punisher | Rafael Hernandez | 8 episodes | |
| 2018 | Mayans M.C. | Devante Cano | 7 episodes, FX TV | |
| 2018 | Shooter | Guitierez | 1 episode | |
| 2018, 2019 | Elena of Avalor | Qapa (voice) | 2 episodes | |
| 2019 | Jugar con fuego | Peter Miller | 9 episodes | |
| 2019 | Dynasty | Silvio Flores | 1 episode | |
| 2020 | Enemigo íntimo | Santilla | season 2 | |
| 2020 | Connecting... | Ramon | 1 episode | |
| 2023 | The Legend of Vox Machina | Kamaljiori (voice) | 1 episode |
Voice acting
- Video games
- 1998: Grim Fandango – Manuel "Manny" Calavera
- 2017: Ghost Recon Wildlands – El Cardenal
- Other voice roles
- 2003: Cuba Libre – Narrator
- 2003: Hiroshima – Radio play based on the book by John Hersey, adapted by John Valentine
References
- ^ "Happy (belated) Birthday, Tony Plana!". www.alloy.com. April 20, 2009. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
- ^ Verdeja, Sam; Martine, Guillermo (2012). Cubans, an Epic Journey: The Struggle of Exiles for Truth and Freedom. Reedy Press LLC. ISBN 978-1-935-80620-2.
- ^ Yahoo! Movies biography
- ^ Kello, Robin. "Eastside Stories: The Vision and Legacy of East L.A. Classic Theatre". Latinx Shakespeares. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
- ^ Berumen, Frank Javier Garcia (August 22, 2014). Latino Image Makers in Hollywood: Performers, Filmmakers and Films Since the 1960s. McFarland. ISBN 9781476614113.
- ^ Reform Immigration Now clip with Tony Plana on YouTube
- ^ 2012 LULAC Convention: Tony Plana, Actor introduces the March from Selma to Montgomery Video on YouTube
- ^ The 11th Annual Satellite Awards Archived 2011-09-28 at the Wayback Machine. Last accessed January 9, 2007.
- ^ The Paper Chase, Season 1, Episode 15: "The Man in the Chair" (YouTube)
External links
- Tony Plana at IMDb
- Tony Plana at the Internet Broadway Database
- Tony Plana at TV Guide