José Antonio Plana (born April 19, 1952) 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 for voicing Manuel "Manny" Calavera in the video game Grim Fandango.
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Early life and education
José Antonio Plana was born on April 19, 1952, in Havana, Cuba. His family moved to Miami in 1960. Plana is a graduate of Loyola Marymount University and was trained in acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London.
Career
While 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. In 1995, he founded East L.A. Classic Theatre and over the course of a decade, Plana created and directed a number of Shakespeare productions for minority audiences. He has been active in 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. Plana originated the role of Rudy in the Los Angeles production of Luis Valdez's play Zoot Suit, going on to play Rudy in the film version.
Plana has acted, directed and written for television in series, miniseries, 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, and Cagney & Lacey. He also directed Witch's Lament, a Desperate Housewives episode in the show's eighth season.
Plana has acted in films such as An Officer and a Gentleman, Three Amigos, Goal!, and Lone Star. 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. That same year, he appeared in Body of Proof, in the episode "Helping Hand".
Plana participated in the web series Los Americans (2011), about a middle-class family in Los Angeles.
Plana teaches acting at California State University, Dominguez Hills and Rio Hondo College. In 2012, he served as a judge for the Noor Iranian Film Festival.
Politics
Plana volunteers 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.
Filmography
Voice acting
Video games
1998: Grim Fandango – Manuel "Manny" Calavera
2017: Ghost Recon Wildlands – El Cardenal
Other voice roles
2003: Cuba Libre – Narrator
2003: Hiroshima – Radio play based on the book by John Hersey, adapted by John Valentine
