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Tony Plana
ACTOR

Tony Plana

Known for Law & Order: Special Victims Unit · The Blacklist · Marvel's The Punisher

Tony Plana (born April 19, 1952) is a Cuban American stage, film and television actor and director, best known for playing Ignacio Suarez, the father of the leading character on the television show "Ugly Betty".

Snapshot 2026-10-15

Born
Apr 19, 1952
Birthplace
Havana, Cuba
Known For
Acting

Biography

Tony Plana (born April 19, 1952) is a Cuban American stage, film and television actor and director, best known for playing Ignacio Suarez, the father of the leading character on the television show "Ugly Betty".

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Known For

TVLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit
Law & Order: Special Victims UnitFather Menendez · 1999
★ 8.0
TVThe Blacklist
The BlacklistMr. Diaz · 2013
★ 7.6
TVMarvel's The Punisher
Marvel's The PunisherRafael Hernandez · 2017
★ 8.2
TVSeinfeld
SeinfeldManny · 1989
★ 8.2
TVOnly Murders in the Building
Only Murders in the BuildingGeorge · 2021
★ 8.4
TVPerson of Interest
Person of InterestJ.P. Suarez · 2011
★ 8.1
TVCastle
CastleFather Arguello · 2009
★ 8.0
TVDesperate Housewives
Desperate HousewivesAlejandro · 2004
★ 7.9

Filmography

Movies

The Boss' SonJuan
1978
The Streets of L.A.Alberto "Toto" Corona
1979
First FamilyWhite House Gardener
1980
Madame XSenor Rueda
1981
Zoot SuitRudy
1981
An Officer and a GentlemanEmiliano Della Serra
1982
Deal of the CenturyChicano Man
1983
El NorteCarlos the Bus Boy
1983
Listen to Your HeartJulio
1983
NightmaresFather Luis Del Amo (segment "The Benediction")
1983
Valley GirlLow Rider
1983
What's Up, Hideous Sun DemonOfficer Ignatz
1983
Godzilla 1985Goro Maki (voice) (uncredited)
1985
LatinoRuben
1985
SalvadorMajor Maximilliano Casanova
1986
The Best of TimesChico
1986
¡Three Amigos!Jefe
1986
Born in East L.A.Feo
1987
DisorderliesMiguel
1987
The Gambler: The Legend Continues
1987
Break of DawnRodriguez
1988
Buy & CellRaoul
1989
RomeroFather Manuel Morantes
1989
The Case of the Hillside StranglersMike Hernandez
1989
HavanaJulio Ramos
1990
In the Line of Duty: A Cop for the KillingMario Portillo Grande
1990
So Proudly We HailFBI Agent Alonso
1990
Sweet 15Samuel Dela Cruz
1990
The RookieMorales
1990
JFKCarlos Bringuier
1991
Keeper of the CityGunman
1991
One Good CopBeniamino
1991
Live WireAl-Red
1992
The Panama DeceptionEnglish Voice-over
1992
Father & Son: Dangerous RelationsTorres
1993
The Sinner in the Mask
1993
A Million to JuanJorge
1994
A Million to JuanAssociate Producer
1994
The Burning SeasonGalvao
1994
NixonManolo Sanchez
1995
Silver StrandRichie Guttierez
1995
BB
Bad BusinessTony
1996
Death in GranadaLorca's Friend Marcos
1996
Lone StarRay
1996
Peacock Blues
1996
Primal FearMartinez
1996
Canción desesperada
1997
Down for the BarrioCesar
1997
One Eight SevenGarcia
1997
Santa FeChief Gomez
1997
Sub DownLt. Commander Melges
1997
Every Dog Has Its DayOfficer Tom
1998
Shadow of DoubtDetective Krause
1998
The Wonderful Ice Cream SuitVictor Medina
1998
Hard Time: Hostage HotelMayor
1999
JusticeOrlando Reyes
1999
Let the Devil Wear BlackTall
1999
My Little Assassin
1999
KnockoutChuck Alvarado
2000
Noriega: God's FavoriteColonel Diaz-Herrera
2000
The Princess and the Barrio BoyRamon Torres
2000
The Princess and the Barrio BoyStory
2000
The Princess and the Barrio BoyDirector
2000
Vegas, City of DreamsCaptain Martin
2001
FidelGen. Fulgencio Battista
2002
Half Past DeadWarden El Fuego
2002
Goal!Hernan Muñez
2005
Vampire BatsSheriff Herbst
2005
A1
Arte 1 Documenta
2006
SlayerJavier
2006
Half Past Dead 2Warden El Fuego
2007
The Dead OneAparicio
2007
Towards DarknessCarlos Gutierrez
2007
MS
Marina's Secret World
2008
Life Is Hot in CracktownLou
2009
Flowers for NormaOlder Gentleman #1
2010
Legally BrownSelf - Host
2011
The Man Who Shook the Hand of Vicente FernandezDr. Dominguez
2012
AM
A Miracle in Spanish HarlemMariano
2013
Jodi Arias: Dirty Little SecretProsecutor Martinez
2013
Meddling MomLuis
2013
Pain & GainCaptain Lopez
2013
America AdriftWilliam Fernandez
2016
Butterfly CaughtMichael Channis (Acting Coach)
2017
Roman J. Israel, Esq.Jessie Salinas
2017
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Wildlands: War Within The CartelEl Cardenal
2017
BombshellGeraldo Rivera
2019
SenecaFather Ruben
2019
Wasp NetworkLuis Posada Carriles
2020
A Snowy Day in OaklandJesus Salgado
2023
Holy CashActor
2024
Union of KingsJorge de Armas
2024
Office RomanceFrancisco Alberto
2026
TL
These Little Ones Perish

Television

Quincy, M.E.1 eps
1976
What's Happening!!Amid · 1 eps
1976
Falcon CrestSal Tortino · 2 eps
1981
Hill Street Blues2 eps
1981
American PlayhouseCarlos the Bus Boy · 1 eps
1982
American PlayhouseGene Rodriguez · 1 eps
1982
Cagney & LaceyFreddie · 1 eps
1982
Remington SteeleHector Sanchez · 1 eps
1982
T. J. HookerChuy Vallestero · 1 eps
1982
HunterVern · 1 eps
1984
HunterOtero · 1 eps
1984
HunterD.A. · 1 eps
1984
Miami ViceErnesto Guerrero · 1 eps
1984
Miami ViceCinco · 1 eps
1984
Murder, She WroteDesi Ortega · 1 eps
1984
The EqualizerAntonio Cruz · 1 eps
1985
The Golden GirlsAlvarez · 1 eps
1985
It's Garry Shandling's ShowJorge Herrera · 1 eps
1986
L.A. LawRoberto Rivera · 1 eps
1986
21 Jump StreetRobert Mendez · 1 eps
1987
Beauty and the BeastLouis Horner · 2 eps
1987
CoachAlbert · 1 eps
1989
SeinfeldManny · 1 eps
1989
SnoopsEduardo Montoya · 1 eps
1989
Drug Wars: The Camarena StoryPavon Reyes · 3 eps
1990
VC
Veronica Clare9 eps
1991
Bakersfield P.D.Luke Ramirez · 17 eps
1993
Dave's WorldJuan Gallegos · 1 eps
1993
Star Trek: Deep Space NineAmaros · 2 eps
1993
ERPriest · 1 eps
1994
One West Waikiki1 eps
1994
500 Nations8 eps
1995
JAGColonel Okarman · 1 eps
1995
Murder OneJulio Salazar · 1 eps
1995
Santo BugitoPaco (voice) · 2 eps
1995
The Drew Carey ShowAndrew Rodriguez · 1 eps
1995
Nash BridgesRoscoe Skirt · 1 eps
1996
The PretenderDet. Guerra · 1 eps
1996
Ally McBealJudge Warren Figueroa · 1 eps
1997
Beyond Belief: Fact or FictionDavid Sanders (segment "The Unknown Patient") · 1 eps
1997
Brooklyn SouthLieutenant Casisas · 1 eps
1997
GunInnez · 1 eps
1997
Total Security13 eps
1997
Martial LawChava Rocha · 1 eps
1998
Law & Order: Special Victims UnitFather Menendez · 1 eps
1999
The West WingMickey Troop · 2 eps
1999
Clifford the Big Red DogVictor / Pedro (voice) · 1 eps
2000
CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationElindio Zapata · 1 eps
2000
Resurrection Blvd.Roberto Santiago · 53 eps
2000
24Omar · 5 eps
2001
The Division1 eps
2001
Greetings from TucsonDirector
2002
John DoeCaptain Ruiz · 2 eps
2002
Less than PerfectOwl Inspector · 1 eps
2002
MonkCpt. Alameda · 1 eps
2002
Desperate HousewivesAlejandro · 3 eps
2004
Desperate HousewivesDirector
2004
Commander in ChiefPete Ragone · 2 eps
2005
The CloserAlonzo Lopez · 1 eps
2005
PsychPablo Nuñez · 1 eps
2006
Ugly BettyIgnacio Suarez · 85 eps
2006
CastleFather Arguello · 1 eps
2009
Celebrity Ghost StoriesSelf · 1 eps
2009
Blue BloodsPresident Velverde · 1 eps
2010
Law & Order: LAJorge Gomez · 1 eps
2010
Body of ProofArmando Rosas · 1 eps
2011
Harry's LawJudge Tomás Garcia · 1 eps
2011
Person of InterestJ.P. Suarez · 1 eps
2011
BlueStribling · 1 eps
2012
ElementaryGeneral Howard Alvero · 2 eps
2012
Alpha HouseBenito 'Benny' Lopez · 6 eps
2013
The BlacklistMr. Diaz · 2 eps
2013
The FostersVictor Gutierrez · 5 eps
2013
Jane the VirginFather Ortega · 1 eps
2014
Madam SecretaryEd Parker · 12 eps
2014
The AffairBen Cruz · 1 eps
2014
SuperstoreRon Sosa · 3 eps
2015
ColonyProxy Alcala · 4 eps
2016
Lethal WeaponRonnie Delgado · 7 eps
2016
ShooterGuitierez · 1 eps
2016
StartUpAdolfo Morales · 15 eps
2016
Marvel's The PunisherRafael Hernandez · 8 eps
2017
One Day at a TimeBerto Riera · 4 eps
2017
Room 104Bracamonte · 1 eps
2017
The Good FightOscar Rivi · 5 eps
2017
Mayans M.C.Devante · 7 eps
2018
David Makes ManJoe Padilla · 7 eps
2019
EvilChet Garcia · 1 eps
2019
Playing with FirePeter · 10 eps
2019
Victor and ValentinoEl Pintor (voice) · 1 eps
2019
Connecting...Ramon · 1 eps
2020
DeputyJorge Reyes · 2 eps
2020
Madagascar: A Little WildPedro (voice) · 4 eps
2020
Only Murders in the BuildingGeorge · 1 eps
2021
The Legend of Vox MachinaKamaljiori (voice) · 1 eps
2022
Not Dead YetCarlos Garza · 1 eps
2023
White House PlumbersRolando 'Musculito' Martinez · 5 eps
2023
Breaking Bear(voice) · 8 eps
2026
R.J. DeckerBaltazar Cruz · 1 eps
2026

Photos

Tony Plana photo
Tony Plana photo
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