| BIO Tony Plana as Ignacio |
BIO Tony Plana as Ignacio
BIO Tony Plana as Ignacio
In the Ugly Betty tv show Ignacio Suarez (Tony Plana) is the father of both Betty and her sister Hilda, and grandfather to Hilda’s son Justin. Ignacio used to be a amateur boxer in Mexico and is known to be a excellent cook. Ignacio supports Betty in her job at MODE, even though both he and Hilda worry that she won’t survive in the world of fashion.
Tony Plana was educated at Loyola-Marymount University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree through the Honors Program in Literature and Theater Arts, graduating magna cum laude. He received his professional training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, England.
Plana also starred as the widowed, Mexican-American patriarch, Roberto Santiago, in Showtime’s landmark, groundbreaking hit series Resurrection Boulevard for which he received 2001 & 2002 ALMA award nominations for best actor. It was the first English speaking weekly series in the history of television to be produced, written, directed and starring Latinos. Resurrection Boulevard was the first of its kind to be renewed for three seasons on a television network.
Plana is also the co-founder and executive artistic director of the East L.A. Classic Theatre, a group comprised primarily of Hispanic American theatre professionals. The East L.A. Classic Theatre is dedicated to serving the Latino community through educational outreach programs to primary and secondary schools and through Bi-lingual productions of traditional and contemporary classics.
Plana is the proud father of Alejandro and Isabel and has been happily married to actress Ada Maris who starred in Nurses on NBC and Nickelodeon’s The Brothers Garcia.
