Tony Plana
Actor Tony Plana changed Hollywood's portrayal of Latinos and their culture. The Cuban-born and London-trained actor, who appeared in numerous movie and television projects, gained prominence after starring in the theatrical and 1981 film version of "Zoot Suit," a musical about the wrongful persecution of a group of young Mexican-Americans in the 1940s. The character actor's raw and emotional intensity often found him cast in tough guy roles, from a Mohawk-sporting flight trainee in "An Officer and a Gentleman" (1982) to a Mexican bandit in "¡Three Amigos!" (1986). Plana also found success as a director, helming episodes for the Latino-centric series "Resurrection Blvd." (Showtime, 2000-02), in which he also starred. But it was playing against type as sympathetic widower and patriarch Ignacio Suarez in the groundbreaking television series "Ugly Betty" (ABC, 2006-10) that showcased Plana's versatility and ability to connect with audiences, making him one of the more beloved and respected character actors working in Hollywood.
Photos
Tony Plana
Filmography
Movies
Credit | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Holy Cash | Unknown (Character) | - | 2024 |
No Score Yet |
|
A Snowy Day in Oakland | Jesus Salgado (Character) | - | 2023 |
40% |
|
Wasp Network | Luis Posada Carriles (Character) | - | 2019 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Butterfly Caught | Michael Channis (Character) | - | 2017 |
55% |
|
Roman J. Israel, Esq. | Jessie Salinas (Character) | $11.7M | 2017 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Wildlands: War Within the Cartel | El Cardenal (Character) | - | 2017 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | America Adrift | William Fernandez (Character) | - | 2016 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Swimming in the Desert | Paul (Character) | - | 2016 |
No Score Yet |
|
Jodi Arias: Dirty Little Secret | Prosecutor Juan Martinez (Character) | - | 2013 |
No Score Yet |
|
A Miracle in Spanish Harlem | Mariano (Character) | - | 2013 |
No Score Yet |
|
Meddling Mom | Luis (Character) | - | 2013 |
40% |
|
The Man Who Shook the Hand of Vicente Fernandez | Dr. Dominguez (Character) | $9.9K | 2012 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | America | Leopoldo (Character) | - | 2010 |
50% |
|
Life Is Hot in Cracktown | Lou (Character) | - | 2009 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Hearing Everett | Unknown (Voice) | - | 2008 |
11% |
|
Towards Darkness | Carlos Gutierrez (Character) | - | 2007 |
No Score Yet |
|
The Dead One | Aparicio (Character) | - | 2007 |
No Score Yet |
|
Half Past Dead 2 | Warden El Fuego (Character) | - | 2007 |
No Score Yet |
|
Slayer | Javier (Character) | - | 2006 |
No Score Yet |
|
Vampire Bats | Sheriff Herbst (Character) | - | 2005 |
25% |
|
The Lost City | The Emcee (Character) | $2.5M | 2005 |
43% |
|
Goal! The Dream Begins | Hernan Munez (Character) | $4.3M | 2005 |
3% |
|
Half Past Dead | El Fuego (Character) | $15.4M | 2002 |
No Score Yet |
|
The Princess and the Barrio Boy |
Ramon Torres (Character), Director, Writer |
- | 2000 |
No Score Yet |
|
Picking Up the Pieces | Usher (Character) | - | 2000 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Knockout | Chuck (Character) | $127.9K | 2000 |
50% |
|
Noriega: God's Favorite | Colonel Diaz-Herrera (Character) | - | 2000 |
No Score Yet |
|
Justice | Orlando Reyes (Character) | - | 1999 |
30% |
|
One Eight Seven | Principal Garcia (Character) | $5.7M | 1997 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Santa Fe | Chief Gomez (Character) | - | 1997 |
No Score Yet |
|
Sub Down | Lt.Commander Melges (Character) | - | 1997 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Down for the Barrio | Cesar (Character) | - | 1996 |
77% |
|
Primal Fear | Martinez (Character) | $56.1M | 1996 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Stories From the Edge | Unknown (Character) | - | 1996 |
No Score Yet |
|
The Silver Strand | Richie Guttierez (Character) | - | 1995 |
75% |
|
Nixon | Manolo Sanchez (Character) | $13.7M | 1995 |
No Score Yet |
|
A Million to Juan | Jorge (Character) | $1.2M | 1994 |
No Score Yet |
|
The Burning Season | Galvao (Character) | - | 1994 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Father & Son: Dangerous Relations | Torres (Character) | - | 1993 |
0% |
|
Live Wire | Al-red (Character) | - | 1992 |
84% |
|
JFK | Carlos Bringuier (Character) | - | 1991 |
14% |
|
One Good Cop | Beniamino (Character) | $11.3M | 1991 |
No Score Yet |
|
Sweet 15 | Samuel (Character) | - | 1990 |
No Score Yet |
|
Why Me? | Benjy Klopzik (Character) | $49.9K | 1990 |
28% |
|
Havana | Julio Ramos (Character) | $8.8M | 1990 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | In the Line of Duty: A Cop for the Killing | Mario Portillo Grande (Character) | - | 1990 |
80% |
|
Romero | Father Manuel Morantes (Character) | $167.0K | 1989 |
No Score Yet |
|
The Case of the Hillside Stranglers | Mike Hernandez (Character) | - | 1989 |
No Score Yet |
|
Buy & Cell | Raoul (Character) | - | 1988 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Break of Dawn | Rodriguez (Character) | - | 1988 |
40% |
|
Born in East L.A. | Feo (Character) | $14.5M | 1987 |
No Score Yet |
|
Disorderlies | Miguel (Character) | $8.4M | 1987 |
45% |
|
Three Amigos! | Jefe (Character) | $36.2M | 1986 |
90% |
|
Salvador | Maj. Maximiliano 'Major Max' Casanova (presdential candidate) (Character) | - | 1986 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Latino | Ruben (Character) | - | 1985 |
No Score Yet |
|
City Limits | Ramos (Character) | - | 1985 |
No Score Yet |
|
Listen to Your Heart | Julio (Character) | - | 1983 |
29% |
|
Nightmares | Father Luis Del Amo (Character) | - | 1983 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Love and Money | National Guard General (Character) | - | 1982 |
79% |
|
An Officer and a Gentleman | Emiliano Della Serra (Character) | - | 1982 |
55% |
|
Zoot Suit | Rudy (Character) | - | 1981 |
TV
Credit | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
93% | 81% | Superstore | Ron (Guest Star) | 2017 2019 2021 |
67% | 67% | CONNECTING... | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2020 |
40% | 62% | Deputy | Jorge Reyes (Guest Star) | 2020 |
88% | 54% | Room 104 | Bracamonte (Character) | 2019 |
No Score Yet | 79% | Madam Secretary | Admiral Ray Parker (Guest Star) | 2014-2019 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Elena of Avalor | Oapa (Guest Voice) | 2018-2019 |
No Score Yet | 89% | StartUp | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2018 |
95% | 89% | Elementary | General Howard Alvero (Guest Star) | 2018 |
No Score Yet | 75% | Shooter | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2018 |
No Score Yet | 61% | Bull | Sean Perkins (Guest Star) | 2018 |
89% | 76% | Lethal Weapon | Ronnie Delgado (Guest Star) | 2016-2018 |
92% | 79% | Colony | Proxy Alcala (Guest Star) | 2017 |
25% | 47% | Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2016 |
82% | 87% | Castle | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2015 |
No Score Yet | 83% | Motive | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2015 |
53% | 61% | Cristela | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2015 |
100% | 86% | Jane The Virgin | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2014 |
78% | 83% | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Father Menendez (Guest Star) | 2013 |
92% | 78% | Person of Interest | J.P. Suarez (Guest Star) | 2012 |
No Score Yet | 81% | Blue Bloods | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2012 |
72% | 89% | Desperate Housewives |
Alejandro (Guest Star), Director |
2011 |
59% | 44% | Law & Order: LA | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2011 |
76% | 61% | Body of Proof | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2011 |
94% | 78% | Royal Pains | Marcos (Guest Star) | 2010 |
97% | 83% | Ugly Betty | Ignacio Suarez (Character) | 2006-2010 |
82% | No Score Yet | Commander in Chief | Pete Ragone (Guest Star) | 2006 |
83% | 84% | The Closer | Alonzo Lopez (Guest Star) | 2005 |
87% | 87% | 24 | Omar (Guest Star) | 2005 |
No Score Yet | 80% | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2005 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | JAG | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2004 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | L.A. Dragnet | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2003 |
89% | 88% | Monk | Capt. Alameda (Guest Star) | 2003 |
41% | No Score Yet | Greetings From Tucson | Director | 2003 |
73% | No Score Yet | John Doe | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2003 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Resurrection Blvd. | Roberto Santiago (Character) | 2000-2002 |
81% | 95% | The West Wing | Mickey Troop (Guest Star) | 2001 |
20% | No Score Yet | City of Angels | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2000 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Drew Carey Show | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1999 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Martial Law | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1999 |
61% | 78% | Ally McBeal | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1998 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction? | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1997 |
57% | No Score Yet | Gun | Unknown (Character) | 1997 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Coach | Albert (Guest Star) | 1997 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Nash Bridges | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1996 |
No Score Yet | 89% | Murder, She Wrote | Desi Ortega (Guest Star) | 1996 |
No Score Yet | 85% | ER | Priest (Guest Star) | 1995 |
91% | 71% | Murder One | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1995 |
67% | No Score Yet | Bakersfield, P.D. | Luke Ramirez (Character) | 1993-1994 |
91% | 89% | Star Trek: Deep Space Nine | Amaros (Guest Star) | 1994 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Nurses | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1993 |
0% | No Score Yet | Tequila and Bonetti | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1992 |
No Score Yet | 94% | The Golden Girls | Alvarez (Guest Star) | 1991 |
89% | 92% | Seinfeld | Manny (Guest Star) | 1991 |
No Score Yet | 86% | Beauty and the Beast | Louis Horner (Guest Star) | 1990 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Hunter | Otero (Guest Star) | 1985 1990 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | 21 Jump Street | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1989 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Equalizer | Antonio Cruz (Guest Star) | 1989 |
71% | 89% | Miami Vice | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1984 |
97% | 85% | Hill Street Blues | Kevin Herman Dracula (Guest Star) | 1981 1984 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Barnaby Jones | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1979 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Paper Chase | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1979 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | What's Happening!! | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1978 |