Tony Plana hosted Legally Brown for Showtime and although he is a seasoned actor and not know for his stand-up comedy Tony played the consummate comedy host for this poke at immigration and the Arizona immigration law. Plana recently starred as Ignacio Suarez, the widowed father to America Ferrera’s Ugly Betty, in ABC’s landmark, groundbreaking hit series for which he received the 2006 Golden Satellite Award from the International Press Academy and an Alma Award nomination for best supporting actor in a television comedy. It is the first Spanish series to be adapted to English for a major American network and has received the highest ratings and the most critical acclaim of any Latino-based show in the history of television. Early into its first season, Ugly Betty has already garnered Peoples Choice and Screen Actors Guild nominations and Alma, NAACP, Writers Guild, Directors Guild, Art Directors Guild, Best Family Series, Golden Satellite and Golden Globe Awards. Previously, he also starred in Showtime’s original series, Resurrection Boulevard, and was nominated for two Alma Awards for best actor. Resurrection Boulevard was the first series to be produced, written, directed and starring Latinos, the first of its kind to be renewed for three seasons on a television network, and the most awarded series in Showtime’s history including an Alma Award for the best television series of 2002. Tony Plana was educated at Loyola High School, Los Angeles and Loyola-Marymount University, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree through the Honors Program in Literature and Theatre Arts, graduating magna cum laude. He received professional training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, England.
