Manny Perez

Rough-hewn Dominican-American actor Manny Perez fit the bill in Hollywood for Hispanic characterizations -- particularly those of thugs and hoods -- and thus tackled many parts that traded on his ethnicity, to such a degree that he soon chalked up dozens of Latino roles in many genres. Key projects included the Gulf War drama Courage Under Fire (1996), the inner-city drama Washington Heights (2002, which Perez starred in and produced), and the musical Yellow (2006). At the same time, Perez evinced versatility and flexibility that stretched him beyond Hollywood confines; for instance, he was one of the only non-Japanese actors in the ultraviolent 2000 crime picture Brother, helmed by and starring "Beat" Takeshi Kitano, and also played Johnny in the controversial 2003 independent film Party Monster, about the bizarre life and downfall of flamboyant New York City club promoter Michael Alig (Macaulay Culkin). In 2007, Perez starred opposite Wanda De Jesus in the Mafia-themed crime thriller Illegal Tender, directed by Franc Reyes.

~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide