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Tony Plana BiographyJosé Antonio Plana, better known as Tony Plana, is a Cuban American actor and director. He is known for playing Betty Suarez's father, Ignacio Suarez, on the ABC television show Ugly Betty and also for voicing Manuel "Manny" Calavera in the video game Grim Fandango.
While he is 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. He has created and directed a number of productions of the works of Shakespeare for minority audiences and he has been active in both 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 L.A. production of the Luis Valdez play Zoot Suit, going on to play Rudy in the film version as well.
Plana has acted, directed and written for television in series, mini-series, 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, Cagney & Lacey and many others.
Plana has acted in films such as An Officer and a Gentleman, Three Amigos, Goal!, Lone Star, and others. 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, during his acting career participated in the web series Los Americans, which is characterized by having a multigenerational focus, a middle class family living in Los Angeles. During the series, he participated with Esai Morales, Lupe Ontiveros, JC Gonzalez, Raymond Cruz, Yvonne DeLaRosa, and Ana Villafañe.
Plana teaches acting at California State University, Dominguez Hills and Rio Hondo College. In 2012, he served as an official judge for the Noor Iranian Film Festival.
Plana is currently volunteering as a spokesperson for comprehensive immigration reform. He was the keynote speaker for the 2012 LULAC conference in Coronado Springs Convention Center in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Tony Plana and other top speakers and celebrities.
-The Power of Theater in the Classroom
Finding Help and Hope
My Journey from Cuba to My Life as an Actor
The cast of "Ugly Betty" reunited Saturday night at the ATX Television Festival -- and they pitched another possible reunion.
Tony Plana and Jessica Parker Kennedy have joined the cast of Colony in season 2, EW has learned exclusively. Ugly Betty's Plana will play Proxy Alcala, the ...
A picture of Tony Plana at Pasadena Civic Auditorium - The 2013 NCLR ALMA Awards Press Room - Contactmusic photo 3884142.
Users also viewed these speakers:This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.
All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.
If you are the talent, and wish to request removal from this catalog or report an issue with your profile, please click here.
José Antonio Plana, better known as Tony Plana, is a Cuban American actor and director. He is known for playing Betty Suarez's father, Ignacio Suarez, on the ABC television show Ugly Betty and also for voicing Manuel "Manny" Calavera in the video game Grim Fandango.
While he is 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. He has created and directed a number of productions of the works of Shakespeare for minority audiences and he has been active in both 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 L.A. production of the Luis Valdez play Zoot Suit, going on to play Rudy in the film version as well.
Plana has acted, directed and written for television in series, mini-series, 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, Cagney & Lacey and many others.
Plana has acted in films such as An Officer and a Gentleman, Three Amigos, Goal!, Lone Star, and others. 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, during his acting career participated in the web series Los Americans, which is characterized by having a multigenerational focus, a middle class family living in Los Angeles. During the series, he participated with Esai Morales, Lupe Ontiveros, JC Gonzalez, Raymond Cruz, Yvonne DeLaRosa, and Ana Villafañe.
Plana teaches acting at California State University, Dominguez Hills and Rio Hondo College. In 2012, he served as an official judge for the Noor Iranian Film Festival.
Plana is currently volunteering as a spokesperson for comprehensive immigration reform. He was the keynote speaker for the 2012 LULAC conference in Coronado Springs Convention Center in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Tony Plana and other top speakers and celebrities.
The Power of Theater in the Classroom
Finding Help and Hope
My Journey from Cuba to My Life as an Actor
Tony Plana is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics . The estimated speaking fee range to book Tony Plana for your event is $10,000 - $20,000. Tony Plana generally travels from Los Angeles, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Hill Harper, Victoria Rowell, John Quiñones, Maria Hinojosa and Holly Robinson Peete. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Tony Plana for an upcoming event.
The Power of Theater in the Classroom
Finding Help and Hope
My Journey from Cuba to My Life as an Actor
The cast of "Ugly Betty" reunited Saturday night at the ATX Television Festival -- and they pitched another possible reunion.
Tony Plana and Jessica Parker Kennedy have joined the cast of Colony in season 2, EW has learned exclusively. Ugly Betty's Plana will play Proxy Alcala, the ...
A picture of Tony Plana at Pasadena Civic Auditorium - The 2013 NCLR ALMA Awards Press Room - Contactmusic photo 3884142.
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This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.
All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.
If you are the talent, and wish to request removal from this catalog or report an issue with your profile, please click here.
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