Tony Plana

Tony Plana (also credited as Jose Antonio Plana) is a Cuban-born American screen and stage artist whose career spans film, television, and theater, along with work as a director. Born on April 19, 1952, in Havana, Cuba, Plana built a reputation for bringing authority, warmth, and edge to character-driven roles across multiple genres.

He is widely recognized for his television work, notably as Ignacio Suarez, the devoted father at the heart of the hit series Ugly Betty. That performance helped introduce Plana to a broad mainstream audience and underscored his ability to anchor family stories with humor and emotional weight.

On the big screen, Plana’s credits include memorable turns in major titles such as JFK (Carlos Bringuier), Primal Fear (Martinez), and An Officer and a Gentleman (Emiliano Della Serra). He also appears in Havana as Julio Ramos and in action fare like Half Past Dead, where he plays Warden El Fuego.

Whether portraying law enforcement, political figures, or everyday working men—seen in roles like Officer Tom in Every Dog Has Its Day—Plana remains a versatile presence whose performances reflect decades of craft and range.