Michael Peña

MICHAEL PEÑA has distinguished himself in Hollywood as an actor with a wide range of performances who has worked with an impressive roster of award winning directors. Peña earned notable recognition for his performance in Paul Haggis’ provocative Oscar® winning film CRASH, alongside Don Cheadle, Matt Dillon and Terrence Howard. Critically acclaimed for the film’s interpretation of complex race relations in contemporary America, Peña has garnered multiple best ensemble nominations for his role as Daniel the locksmith, winning awards from the Screen Actors Guild and the Broadcast Film Critics Association for the cast’s performance.

Peña was seen in TOWER HEIST, directed by Brett Ratner and starring Ben Stiller. Set in present day New York, he plays the comedic elevator attendee in this Universal feature alongside Matthew Broderick, Casey Affleck, Eddie Murphy, and Alan Alda. He also guest starred in this season of the popular HBO comedy EASTBOUND AND DOWN.

Other credits include Werner Herzog and David Lynch's psychological thriller MY SON, MY SON, WHAT HAVE YE DONE where he starred alongside Michael Shannon, Willem Dafoe and Chloe Sevigny. He also recently finished filming BATTLE: LOS ANGELES co-starring Aaron Eckhart, directed by Jonathan Liebesman and produced by Neil Moritz. Peña will next star in Lance Daly’s drama THE GOOD DOCTOR.

Peña’s film credits include THE LUCKY ONES co-starring Rachel McAdams and Tim Robbins, Jody Hill’s comedy OBSERVE AND REPORT with Seth Rogen and Robert Redford’s political drama LIONS FOR LAMBS alongside Tom Cruise and Meryl Streep.

Peña’s other credits include Oliver Stone’s WORLD TRADE CENTER, which chronicled the heroism of American servicemen in the direct aftermath of the September 11th attacks; Clint Eastwood’s MILLION DOLLAR BABY; Matthew Ryan Hoge’s THE UNITED STATES OF LELAND; Gregor Jordan’s BUFFALO SOLDIERS; Antoine Fuqua’s SHOOTER, and Alejandro González Iñárritu’s BABEL.

On television, Peña was seen starring in the HBO film WALKOUT. Based on the true story of a young Mexican American high school teacher who helped stage a massive student walkout in the mid-1960s, Pena received an Image Award for Best Actor in the television category for his performance. He also guest appeared on the F/X drama THE SHIELD for its fourth season as one of the central leads opposite Glenn Close and Anthony Anderson. Other television credits include Steven Spielberg’s NBC series SEMPER FI.

Raised in Chicago, Peña began acting when he beat out hundreds of others in an open call for a role in Peter Bogdonovich’s TO SIR, WITH LOVE 2 starring Sidney Poitier.

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