Biography
Who is Tony Plana?
Early life and education
Born in Havana, Cuba, José Antonio Plana moved with his family to Miami in 1960. He pursued higher education in the United States, graduating from Loyola Marymount University. He also received professional acting training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art located in London.
Stage and screen career
Tony Plana built an extensive career across various mediums including stage, television, and film. He founded the East L.A. Classic Theatre in 1995. During a ten-year period, he directed several Shakespearean plays designed for minority audiences. He also performed in the theater communities of Washington, D.C., New York City, and Los Angeles.
On Broadway and at the Public Theater in New York, he appeared in significant productions. He originated the role of Rudy in the Los Angeles production of Zoot Suit by Luis Valdez and later reprised the character for the film version.
Television and film roles
Television viewers recognize Tony Plana for a wide array of roles in series, miniseries, and specials. His credits include appearances on Hill Street Blues, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, The West Wing, and 24. He also appeared in Resurrection Boulevard, Commander in Chief, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and Cagney & Lacey.
As a director, he helmed the episode Witch's Lament for the eighth season of Desperate Housewives. He also guest starred on the show as Alejandro Perez, the stepfather of Gabrielle Solis. In 2011, he took a role in the web series Los Americans about a Los Angeles family.
Voice work and cinema
The actor has appeared in various motion pictures such as An Officer and a Gentleman, Three Amigos, Goal!, and Lone Star. PC gamers know his voice work as Manny Calavera in the 1998 LucasArts adventure title Grim Fandango. Later voice roles include El Cardenal in the 2017 game Ghost Recon Wildlands and the narrator for the documentary Cuba Libre. He also provided his voice for the 2003 radio play Hiroshima.
Teaching and advocacy
Beyond his performance work, Tony Plana teaches acting at Rio Hondo College and California State University, Dominguez Hills. He remains active in public life as a volunteer spokesperson for comprehensive immigration reform. He served as the keynote speaker for the 2012 LULAC conference held at the Coronado Springs Convention Center in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Also, he participated as a judge for the Noor Iranian Film Festival in 2012.
Birthday and age
Tony Plana was born on April 19, 1952, which makes Tony 74 years old today. That birthday falls under the Aries sign. Tony shares the date with 56 other famous people.
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