Tony Plana (born April 19, 1952) is a Cuban-American actor and director. He is well known for playing Betty Suarez's father, Ignacio Suarez, on the ABC show Ugly Betty.
| # | Fact |
|---|
| 1 | He was awarded the 1978 Drama-Logue Award for Outstanding Achievement Performance for "Zoot Suit" at the Mark Taper Forum Theatre in Los Angeles, California. |
| 2 | Born in Cuba, he later starred in two movies whose plots deal with the 1959 revolution: Fidel (2002) (as dictator "Fulgencio Batista") and The Lost City (2005) (as "The Emcee"). He also co-starred in JFK (1991) as Cuban exile "Carlos Bringuier". |
| 3 | His father, Pepe, is a former banker. His mother, Conchita, is also a former banker who suffers from Alzheimer's disease and has been in a nursing home since 2005. Family fled Cuba when Tony was a child. They settled in Culver City, California, where his father found employment in a Tootsie Roll factory. |
| 4 | Has two younger brothers, Victor and Oscar. |
| 5 | Has two children by actress Ada Maris: Alejandro Plana and Isabel Plana. |
| 6 | Plays the patriarch Ignacio Suarez on Ugly Betty (2006). |
| 7 | Originated the role of Rudy in the L.A. stage production of "Zoot Suit" and followed the show to Broadway. He also played Rudy in the film adaptation of the play. |
| 8 | Graduate of Loyola Marymount University |
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|
| Butterfly Caught | 2015 | post-production | Michael Channis (Acting Coach) |
| The Fosters | 2015 | TV Series | Victor |
| Madam Secretary | 2014-2015 | TV Series | Admiral Ed Parker |
| Motive | 2015 | TV Series | Franco Vega |
| Cristela | 2015 | TV Series | Joaquin Alvarez |
| Jane the Virgin | 2014 | TV Series | Father Ortega |
| Alpha House | 2013-2014 | TV Series | Benito 'Benny' Lopez |
| Taxi Brooklyn | 2014 | TV Series | Machado |
| A Miracle in Spanish Harlem | 2013 | Mariano |
| Jodi Arias: Dirty Little Secret | 2013 | TV Movie | Prosecutor Martinez |
| Pain & Gain | 2013 | Captain Lopez |
| Psych | 2013 | TV Series | Pablo Nuñez |
| Meddling Mom | 2013 | TV Movie | Luis |
| Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | 2013 | TV Series | Father Menendez |
| Person of Interest | 2012 | TV Series | J.P. Suarez |
| Blue Bloods | 2012 | TV Series | President Velverde |
| Blue | 2012 | TV Series | Stribling |
| The Man Who Shook the Hand of Vicente Fernandez | 2012 | Dr. Dominguez |
| Harry's Law | 2012 | TV Series | Judge Tomás Garcia |
| Desperate Housewives | 2011 | TV Series | Alejandro / Alejandro Perez |
| Law & Order: LA | 2011 | TV Series | Jorge Gomez |
| America | 2011/II | Tio Poldo |
| Body of Proof | 2011 | TV Series | Armando Rosas |
| Los Americans | 2011 | TV Series | Max |
| Change Your Life! | 2010 | Video | Simon Martinez |
| Flowers for Norma | 2010 | Short | Older Gentleman #1 |
| Royal Pains | 2010 | TV Series | Marcos |
| Ugly Betty | 2006-2010 | TV Series | Ignacio Suarez |
| Life Is Hot in Cracktown | 2009 | Lou |
| AmericanEast | 2008 | Dez |
| La Pasion de la Decision | 2008 | TV Series | Papi (2008) |
| Half Past Dead 2 | 2007 | Video | Warden El Fuego |
| Hacia la oscuridad | 2007 | Carlos Gutierrez |
| The Dead One | 2007 | Aparicio |
| Scarface: The World Is Yours | 2006 | Video Game voice |
| Slayer | 2006 | TV Movie | Javier |
| Commander in Chief | 2006 | TV Series | Pete Ragone |
| Vampire Bats | 2005 | TV Movie | Sheriff Herbst |
| Goal! The Dream Begins | 2005 | Hernan Munez |
| The Closer | 2005 | TV Series | Alonzo Lopez |
| The Lost City | 2005 | The Emcee |
| 24 | 2005 | TV Series | Omar |
| CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | 2005 | TV Series | Elindio Zapata |
| The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay | 2004 | Video Game | Tom / Cuellas (voice) |
| The Division | 2004 | TV Series |
| JAG | 2004 | TV Series | Colonel Okarman |
| Cuban Blood | 2003 | The narrator (voice) |
| Dragnet | 2003 | TV Series | Father Sosa |
| Monk | 2003 | TV Series | Capt. Alameda |
| John Doe | 2003 | TV Series | Captain Ruiz |
| Half Past Dead | 2002 | Warden El Fuego |
| Less Than Perfect | 2002 | TV Series | Owl Inspector |
| Resurrection Blvd. | 2000-2002 | TV Series | Roberto Santiago |
| Fidel | 2002 | TV Movie | Gen. Fulgencio Battista |
| As Told by Ginger | 2001 | TV Series | Spanish Doctor |
| Vegas, City of Dreams | 2001 | Captain Martin |
| The West Wing | 2001 | TV Series | Mickey Troop |
| Star Wars: Force Commander | 2000 | Video Game | Airspeeder Pilot / Imperial Prison Ship Comm Officer (voice) |
| The Princess & the Barrio Boy | 2000 | TV Movie | Ramon Torres |
| Clifford the Big Red Dog | 2000 | TV Series short | Victor / Pedro (voice) |
| Picking Up the Pieces | 2000 | Usher |
| City of Angels | 2000 | TV Series | Javier Guerrero |
| Noriega: God's Favorite | 2000 | TV Movie | Colonel Diaz-Herrera |
| Knockout | 2000/I | Chuck Alvarado |
| Hard Time: Hostage Hotel | 1999 | TV Movie | Mayor |
| The Drew Carey Show | 1999 | TV Series | Andrew Rodriguez |
| My Little Assassin | 1999 | TV Movie |
| Every Dog Has Its Day | 1999 | The Cop |
| Justice | 1999/I | TV Movie | Orlando Reyes |
| Martial Law | 1999 | TV Series | Chava Rocha |
| Let the Devil Wear Black | 1999 | Tall |
| Grim Fandango | 1998 | Video Game | Manuel 'Manny' Calavera (voice) |
| Ally McBeal | 1998 | TV Series | Judge Warren Figueroa |
| Godzilla: The Series | 1998 | TV Series |
| Brooklyn South | 1998 | TV Series | Lt. Casisas |
| Shadow of Doubt | 1998 | Detective Krause |
| The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit | 1998 | Victor Medina |
| Extreme Ghostbusters | 1997 | TV Series |
| Sub Down | 1997 | Video | Lt.Commander Melges |
| Canción desesperada | 1997 | Patrick |
| One Eight Seven | 1997 | Principal Garcia |
| Santa Fe | 1997 | Chief Gomez |
| Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction | 1997 | TV Series | Dr. David Sanders (segment "The Unknown Patient") / Dr. David Sanders |
| Gun | 1997 | TV Series | Innez |
| Coach | 1997 | TV Series | Albert |
| Down for the Barrio | 1997 | Cesar |
| Total Security | 1997 | TV Series | Luis Escobar |
| Peacock Blues | 1996 | TV Short |
| The Pretender | 1996 | TV Series | Det. Guerra |
| Death in Granada | 1996 | Lorca's Friend Marcos |
| Lone Star | 1996 | Ray |
| Nash Bridges | 1996 | TV Series | Roscoe Skirt |
| Primal Fear | 1996 | Martinez |
| Murder, She Wrote | 1996 | TV Series | Desi Ortega |
| L.A. Firefighters | 1996 | TV Series | Marco |
| Nixon | 1995 | Manolo Sanchez |
| ER | 1995 | TV Series | Priest |
| Silver Strand | 1995 | TV Movie | Richie Guttierez |
| Murder One | 1995 | TV Series | A.D.A. Julio Salazar |
| 500 Nations | 1995 | TV Mini-Series voice |
| Santo Bugito | 1995 | TV Series | Paco |
| Dave's World | 1994 | TV Series | Juan Gallegos |
| The Burning Season | 1994 | TV Movie | Galvao |
| Bakersfield P.D. | 1993-1994 | TV Series | Luke Ramirez |
| One West Waikiki | 1994 | TV Series | Ramon Guiterrez |
| A Million to Juan | 1994 | Jorge |
| Star Trek: Deep Space Nine | 1994 | TV Series | Amaros |
| Red Hot | 1993 | KGB Investigator |
| Father & Son: Dangerous Relations | 1993 | TV Movie | Torres |
| Nurses | 1993 | TV Series | Rico Garcia |
| Greshnitsa v maske | 1993 | Le Arden |
| Blossom | 1992 | TV Series | Chico Barranca |
| Live Wire | 1992 | Al-red |
| Tequila and Bonetti | 1992 | TV Series | Arturo Medina |
| JFK | 1991 | Carlos Bringuier |
| Keeper of the City | 1991 | TV Movie | Killer |
| The Golden Girls | 1991 | TV Series | Lt. Alvarez |
| Veronica Clare | 1991 | TV Series | Nicky Swarchek |
| One Good Cop | 1991 | Beniamino |
| Seinfeld | 1991 | TV Series | Manny |
| Sweet 15 | 1990 | TV Movie | Samuel |
| Havana | 1990/I | Julio Ramos |
| The Rookie | 1990 | Morales |
| In the Line of Duty: A Cop for the Killing | 1990 | TV Movie | Mario Portillo Grande |
| Beauty and the Beast | 1990 | TV Series | Louis Horner / Horner |
| Hunter | 1985-1990 | TV Series | D.A. / Vern, Mechanic / Otero |
| So Proudly We Hail | 1990 | TV Movie | FBI Agent Alonso |
| Why Me? | 1990 | Benjy Klopzik |
| Drug Wars: The Camarena Story | 1990 | TV Mini-Series | Pavon Reyes |
| Falcon Crest | 1989 | TV Series | Sal Tortino |
| 21 Jump Street | 1989 | TV Series | Robert Mendez |
| Romero | 1989 | Father Manuel Morantes |
| L.A. Law | 1989 | TV Series | Roberta Rivera |
| The Equalizer | 1989 | TV Series | Antonio Cruz |
| The Case of the Hillside Stranglers | 1989 | TV Movie | Mike Hernandez |
| Break of Dawn | 1988 | TV Movie | Rodriguez |
| Miami Vice | 1984-1988 | TV Series | Ernesto Guerrero / Cinco |
| Kenny Rogers as The Gambler, Part III: The Legend Continues | 1987 | TV Movie |
| Buy & Cell | 1987 | Raoul |
| Born in East L.A. | 1987 | Feo |
| Disorderlies | 1987 | Miguel |
| It's Garry Shandling's Show. | 1987 | TV Series | Jorge Herrera |
| ¡Three Amigos! | 1986 | Jefe |
| Salvador | 1986 | Major Maximiliano 'Max' Casanova |
| The Best of Times | 1986 | Chico |
| Latino | 1985 | Ruben |
| Godzilla 1985 | 1984 | Goro Maki (voice, uncredited) |
| City Limits | 1984 | Ramos |
| Hill Street Blues | 1981-1984 | TV Series | Roland Maxwell - B.E. / Murderer / Kevin Herman Dracula |
| T.J. Hooker | 1984 | TV Series | Chuy Vallestero |
| What's Up, Hideous Sun Demon | 1983 | Officer Ignatz |
| Deal of the Century | 1983 | Chicano Man |
| Sadat | 1983 | TV Movie | Dentist |
| El Norte | 1983 | Carlos the Bus Boy |
| Nightmares | 1983 | Father Luis Del Amo (segment "The Benediction") |
| Valley Girl | 1983 | Low Rider |
| Remington Steele | 1983 | TV Series | Hector Sanchez |
| Seven Brides for Seven Brothers | 1983 | TV Series | Carlos |
| Listen to Your Heart | 1983 | TV Movie | Julio |
| Cagney & Lacey | 1982 | TV Series | Freddie |
| An Officer and a Gentleman | 1982 | Emiliano Della Serra |
| Love & Money | 1982 | National Guard General |
| Zoot Suit | 1981 | Rudy |
| House Calls | 1981 | TV Series | Danny Gomez |
| Madame X | 1981 | TV Movie | Senor Rueda |
| Circle of Power | 1981 | Reza Haddad |
| First Family | 1980 | White House Gardener |
| Seed of Innocence | 1980 | uncredited |
| Barnaby Jones | 1979 | TV Series | Peter Sinestra |
| Quincy M.E. | 1979 | TV Series | Jorge |
| The Streets of L.A. | 1979 | TV Movie | Alberto 'Toto' Corona |
| The Paper Chase | 1979 | TV Series | Marcos |
| The Boss' Son | 1978 | Juan |
| What's Happening!! | 1978 | TV Series | Amid |
| Year | Award | Ceremony | Nomination | Movie |
|---|
| 2009 | ALMA Award | ALMA Awards | Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series | Ugly Betty (2006) |
| 2009 | Teen Choice Award | Teen Choice Awards | Choice TV Parental Unit | Ugly Betty (2006) |
| 2008 | Actor | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series | Ugly Betty (2006) |
| 2007 | ALMA Award | ALMA Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actor - Television Series, Mini-Series or Television Movie | Ugly Betty (2006) |
| 2007 | Gold Derby TV Award | Gold Derby Awards | Ensemble of the Year | Ugly Betty (2006) |
| 2007 | Imagen Award | Imagen Foundation Awards | Best Supporting Actor - Film | Goal! (2005) |
| 2007 | Actor | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series | Ugly Betty (2006) |
| 2002 | ALMA Award | ALMA Awards | Outstanding Actor in a Television Series | Resurrection Blvd. (2000) |
| 2001 | ALMA Award | ALMA Awards | Outstanding Actor in a New Television Series | Resurrection Blvd. (2000) |
| 1996 | NCLR Bravo Award | NCLR Bravo Awards | Outstanding Actor in a Feature Film | Lone Star (1996) |