Biography
Manny Perez
“Perez, puts plenty of guts into his script and performance”, (La Soga) - Todd McCarthy of Variety.
“Manny Perez, is terrific”, (Bella) - Roger Friedman of Fox News.
“Mr. Perez has charisma to burn”, (Washington Heights) - Stephen Holden of The New York Times.
“Perez has fire and verve in him and an impressive screen presence”. “Exceptional performance”. (Washington Heights) - Stanley Kauffmann of The New Republic.
Manny Perez is becoming one of the most recognizable Latino Actors in Hollywood. He has embarked into the most pivotal steps in his career. In the past few years he had co-starred in over a dozen films; in major and independent releases, such as “El Cantante”, “Bella”, “Illegal Tender”, “Pride & Glory”, “The Ministers”, “Nothing Like The Holidays”, “Yellow”, “Amexicano”, “Where God Left His Shoes” and many others. He also won an Alma Award in 2008, for his performance in the film “Bella”.
Manny is well known on the small screen as well, most notable in critics’ favorite Sidney Lumet’s “100 Centre Street” with Alan Arkin for the A&E Network, as well as John Well’s “Third Watch” for NBC. He also had a recurring role in Denis Leary’s highly acclaimed “Rescue Me” on the F/X channel.
Manny Perez first got the industry’s attention when he co-wrote, produced and starred in the critically acclaimed film “Washington Heights”. An independent film set in his neighborhood, Manny’s performance in the film garnered the praise of many film critics including Stephen Holden from the New York Times. The film was awarded an honorable mention for best acting at the TriBeca Film Festival that year. Later the multi-talented Mr. Perez received great acclaim for the film when he was awarded the “Best Actor” award at The Milan International Film Festival.
His recent project “La Soga”, which had its world premiered at The Toronto International Film Festival this past September to standing ovations, sold-out shows and stellar reviews was produced, written and starred Perez. It was the first Dominican film EVER to have screened at the prestigious festival.
Perez continues to write and co-write other scripts for future projects. This past February of 2009, Perez co-wrote, associate produced and starred in the film titled, “Forged”, shot completely in Scranton, PA.
Manny is one of eleven siblings, born in a small town in the Dominican Republic. At the age of 10, he and his family moved to Providence, Rhode Island. By the time he was done with high school, Manny knew the stage was his natural home. He moved to New York majoring in drama at Marymount Manhattan College.
With all the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, Manny has maintained loyal to his roots in the Latin community, both in the US and the Dominican Republic. He is the classic example of someone who has made the American dream happen. This kind of cavalier attitude is the reason he was honored by El Diario newspaper with the “EL Award”, as one of the most prominent Latinos in New York. He recently received the Tony Bennett Excellence in Media Award, the Perry Ellis Humanitarian Award, and given the Key to the City from his hometown in Providence, Rhode Island. He was also honored with the Humanitarian Award in his native country of Dominican Republic for all of his charitable work during the devastation of Hurricane Noel.
All of his hard working ethics and talent has brought him to such great success which will continue to take him to greater heights as he continues his career.
He has been featured in various magazines, newspapers and entertainment shows.