Tony Plana

Tony Plana

Keynote Speaker: Actor & Director Known for "Ugly Betty;" Supporter of Comprehensive Immigration Reform; Advocate for Alzheimer's Disease

Tony Plana Biography

José Antonio Plana, better known as Tony Plana, is a Cuban-American actor and director. He is known for having played 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."

While he is 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. He has created and directed a number of productions of the works of Shakespeare for minority audiences and he has been active in both 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. He originated the role of Rudy in the L.A. production of the Luis Valdez play "Zoot Suit," going on to play Rudy in the film version as well.

Plana has acted, directed and written for television in series, mini-series, 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."

Plana has acted in films such as "An Officer and a Gentleman," "Three Amigos," "Goal!," "Lone Star," and others. In 2011, Plana guest-starred in "Desperate Housewives" as Gabrielle Solis's abusive stepfather, Alejandro Perez. He also directed "Witch's Lament," a "Desperate Housewives" episode in the show's eighth season. In 2011, he appeared in "Body of Proof" in the episode "Helping Hand."

Plana, during his acting career, participated in the web series "Los Americans," which is characterized by having a multigenerational outlook and focusing a middle-class family living in Los Angeles.

Plana teaches acting at California State University, Dominguez Hills, and Rio Hondo College. In 2012, he served as an official judge for the Noor Iranian Film Festival.

Plana, who was born in Havana, Cuba, is a graduate of Loyola Marymount University and was trained in acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London.

Plana is an advocate for comprehensive immigration reform in the U.S. He is also an advocate for Alzheimer's disease awareness and prevention. His mother, Conchita, a former banker, suffers from the heartbreaking disease.

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Tony Plana and other top speakers and celebrities.

Tony Plana Speaking Topics

Latino Today

My Journey from Cuba to My Life as an Actor

Alzheimer's Disease

Finding Help and Hope

Teaching Our Teachers

The Power of Theater in the Classroom

Tony Plana Videos

Tony Plana talks with our own Sonia Tello
Tony Plana INTERVIEW BY LEILA CIANCAGLINI FROM ...
Tony Plana at NHMC's The Impact Awards

How do I book Tony Plana to speak at my event?

Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Tony Plana for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Tony Plana, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Tony Plana or any other speaker of your choice.

How much does it cost to book Tony Plana for a speaking engagement?

Speaking fees for Tony Plana, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fee for a virtual event is $20,000 - $30,000. For the most current speaking fee to hire Tony Plana, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

What topics does Tony Plana speak about?

Tony Plana is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Television & Film, Diversity & Inclusion, Celebrity Chef, Performing Arts, Acting, Health, Mental Health, Family & Parenting, Immigration, Entertainers, Political, Hispanic Heritage, College, Government, Black History Month, Disability, LGBTQ, Asian & Pacific Heritage, Education, Literary, Celebrity and Culture.

Where does Tony Plana travel from?

Tony Plana generally travels from Los Angeles, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.

Who is the agent for Tony Plana?

AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Tony Plana for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Tony Plana for your next private or corporate function.

What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Tony Plana or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.


Tony Plana is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Television & Film, Diversity & Inclusion and Celebrity Chef. The estimated speaking fee range to book Tony Plana for virtual events is $20,000 - $30,000. Please contact us for live event fees. Tony Plana generally travels from Los Angeles, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are America Ferrera, Cynthia Nixon and Hill Harper. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Tony Plana for an upcoming event.

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 02/10/2024.

Tony Plana Speaking Topics

  • Latino Today

    My Journey from Cuba to My Life as an Actor

  • Alzheimer's Disease

    Finding Help and Hope

  • Teaching Our Teachers

    The Power of Theater in the Classroom

Tony Plana Videos

Tony Plana talks with our own Sonia Tello
Tony Plana INTERVIEW BY LEILA CIANCAGLINI FROM ...
Tony Plana at NHMC's The Impact Awards
TONY PLANA RED CARPET INTERVIEW with Marabina Jaimes ...
Celebrity Ghost Stories - Tony Plana - Cannibalistic Entity

Tony Plana News

  • How do I book Tony Plana to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Tony Plana for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Tony Plana, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Tony Plana or any other speaker of your choice.
  • How much does it cost to book Tony Plana for a speaking engagement?

    Speaking fees for Tony Plana, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fee for a virtual event is $20,000 - $30,000. For the most current speaking fee to hire Tony Plana, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Tony Plana speak about?

  • Where does Tony Plana travel from?

    Tony Plana generally travels from Los Angeles, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.
  • Who is the agent for Tony Plana?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Tony Plana for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Tony Plana for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Tony Plana or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
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