Known for movies

Short Info

Net Worth$5 million
Date Of BirthJanuary 13, 1976
SpouseBrie Shaffer
FactHe has worked with 4 directors who have won a Best Director Oscar: Clint Eastwood, Oliver Stone, Alejandro G. Iñárritu, and Robert Redford.


Michael Peña was born on January 13, 1976, in Chicago, Illinois. His parents, Nicolasa and Eleuterio Peña, were both Mexican immigrants. He has three sisters and one brother. Peña was raised in the Humboldt Park neighborhood on the city’s West Side. He attended Catholic schools before enrolling at Lane Tech High School.

Peña began his acting career in the early 1990s, appearing in small roles on television shows such as “ER” and “NYPD Blue.” His big break came in 2002, when he was cast as Miguel Alvarez in the HBO series “The Shield.” Peña’s performance earned him critical acclaim, and he went on to star in a number of films, including “Crash” (2004), “World Trade Center” (2006), “Babel” (2006), and “Observe and Report” (2009).

In 2011, Peña starred in the blockbuster film “Battle: Los Angeles.” He also had a role in the Academy Award-winning film “Birdman” (2014). More recently, Peña has appeared in the films “Ant-Man” (2015) and “Ant-Man and the Wasp” (2018). He will reprise his role as Luis in the upcoming Marvel Studios film “Avengers: Endgame” (2019).

Peña has been married to Brie Shaffer since 2006. The couple has two daughters.

Michael Peña is an American actor. He was born on January 13, 1976, in Chicago, Illinois, to Mexican immigrants Nicolasa and Eleuterio Peña. He has three sisters and one brother. Peña was raised in the Humboldt Park neighborhood of Chicago. He attended Catholic schools before enrolling at Lane Tech High School.

Peña began his acting career in the early 1990s, appearing in small roles on television shows such as “ER” and “NYPD Blue.” His big break came in 2002, when he was cast as Miguel Alvarez in the HBO series “The Shield.” Peña’s performance earned him critical acclaim, and he went on to star in a number of films, including “Crash” (2004), “World Trade Center” (2006), “Babel” (2006), and “Observe and Report” (2009).

In 2011, Peña starred in the blockbuster film “Battle: Los Angeles.” He also had a role in the Academy Award-winning film “Birdman” (2014). More recently, Peña has appeared in the films “Ant-Man” (2015) and “Ant-Man and the Wasp” (2018). He will reprise his role as Luis in the upcoming Marvel Studios film “Avengers: Endgame” (2019).

Peña has been married to Brie Shaffer since 2006. The couple has two daughters.

General Info

Full NameMichael Peña
Net Worth$5 million
Date Of BirthJanuary 13, 1976
Height1.7 m
ProfessionMusician, Voice Actor
EducationHubbard High School
NationalityAmerican

Family

SpouseBrie Shaffer
ChildrenRoman Peña
ParentsEleuterio Peña, Nicolasa Peña

Accomplishments

AwardsScreen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture, ALMA Award for Favorite Movie Actor, ALMA Award for Favorite TV Actor
Music GroupsNico Vega
NominationsIndependent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male, Gotham Independent Film Award for Best Ensemble Performance
MoviesAnt-Man, End of Watch, Fury, The Martian, War on Everyone, Shooter, The Vatican Tapes, American Hustle, Collateral Beauty, Gangster Squad, World Trade Center, 30 Minutes or Less, Observe and Report, Million Dollar Baby, Crash, Tower Heist, Battle: Los Angeles, Lions for Lambs, Frontera, The Lincoln ...
TV ShowsGracepoint, Chozen

Social profile links

Quotes

#Quote
1I've always noticed that girls cry way easier than guys do.
2I used to tour with this band. I was a drummer. I would tour a bunch for about 10 months out of the year and act for about two months. I would make what I needed from acting and would stretch it out.
3I grew up reading the newspapers, mostly the sports section. I was a wrestler and would check to see if I was ranked.
4It's so interesting to watch Ben Stiller work because he just knows what's funny.
5A good comic explores the imagination, but it's always got to have those notes of truth running through it.
6I want to do more sci-fi films. I want to play half-alien, half-illegal alien.
7I think writing is the most underrated thing in Hollywood.
8The joy of 'Crash' was that it was all about the work. It was my first real part. Before that, it was a line here and there, maybe a scene. 'Crash' was five scenes, a beautiful arc, a little vignette of my own. It really meant something.
9My first ten years in Hollywood were really tough. I'd be coaching friends who came to me for acting advice, and then they'd make it before I did. I'd still be helping them while they were on movie sets and I had four lines on a TV show.
10I guess people recognize me, but I'm not a household name. Two out of every five people who come up to me know my name. The one thing I don't want is to be followed by paparazzi.
11I'm just an actor. If it's drama, I add as much humor as the part will stand. And if it's a comedy, add as much drama as you can, so it balances out; you don't wanna be too serious.

Facts

#Fact
1He has worked with 4 directors who have won a Best Director Oscar: Clint Eastwood, Oliver Stone, Alejandro G. Iñárritu, and Robert Redford.
2He appeared in 5 movies nominated for the Best Picture Academy Award - Million Dollar Baby (2004), Crash (2005), Babel (2006), American Hustle (2013), and The Martian (2015) - with the first two movies winning consecutively.
3Used to skateboard at the time he was in high school at Chicago.
4Michael welcomed his first child, a boy named Roman, with his wife, Brie Shaffer, in September 2008.
5Is Mexican-American.
6One of his first jobs was working in a bank.
7Has a brother.

Pictures

Movies

Actor

TitleYearStatusCharacter
NYPD Blue1997-2004TV SeriesWilmer Lopez / Ferd
ER2003TV SeriesPolice Officer
The Twilight Zone2003TV SeriesNoah
Love Object2003Ramirez
The United States of Leland2003Guillermo
Andy Richter Controls the Universe2002TV SeriesPatrick
American Family2002TV Series
Men, Women & Dogs2001TV SeriesMiguel
Roswell2001TV SeriesFly
Buffalo Soldiers2001Garcia
Semper Fi2001TV MovieDouglas Cepeda
The District2000TV SeriesSante
Gone in Sixty Seconds2000Ignacio (as Michael A. Pena)
Felicity1999-2000TV SeriesBrian Burke
Bellyfruit1999Oscar
Profiler1999TV SeriesAlex Lopez
Moesha1999TV SeriesAlejandro
7th Heaven1998TV SeriesRoger
La Cucaracha1998Orderly
The Sentinel1998TV SeriesJohnny
Boogie Boy1998Drug Dealer
Homicide: Life on the Street1998TV SeriesLuis Carrenza
Sports Theater with Shaquille O'Neal1997TV SeriesFelipe Galan
Touched by an Angel1997TV SeriesRay Estes
Star Maps1997Star Map Boy
My Fellow Americans1996Ernesto
Pacific Blue1996TV SeriesRabbit
Running Free1994Bunk
Ant-Man and the Wasp2018announcedLuis
A Wrinkle in Time2018filmingRed
Murder on the Orient Express2017filmingMarquez
My Little Pony: The Movie2017post-production voice
The Lego Ninjago Movie2017post-productionKai (voice)
CHiPs2017completedFrank 'Ponch' Poncherello
Horse Soldiersfilming
Collateral Beauty2016Simon
Morris & the Cow2016TV MovieIll Mil (voice)
War on Everyone2016Bob Bolaño
Lego Marvel's Avengers2016Video GameLuis (voice, uncredited)
Ares III: Farewell2016Video shortRick Martinez
Ares III: The Right Stuff2016Video shortRick Martinez
Hell and Back2015Abigor the Demon (voice)
Bill Buddy2015ShortManny
The Martian2015Rick Martinez
Vacation2015/INew Mexico Cop
The Vatican Tapes2015Father Lozano
Ant-Man2015Luis
Gracepoint2014TV Mini-SeriesMark Solano
Fury2014Trini 'Gordo' Garcia
Frontera2014Miguel
Chozen2014TV SeriesRicky
Cesar Chavez2014Cesar Chavez
American Hustle2013Paco Hernandez / Sheik Abdullah
Turbo2013Tito (voice)
American Dad!2011-2013TV SeriesMaguerite
Gangster Squad2013Officer Navidad Ramirez
The List2013TV MovieDeputy U.S. Marshal Soto
End of Watch2012Mike Zavala
Tower Heist2011Enrique Dev'Reaux
30 Minutes or Less2011Chango
The Good Doctor2011/IJimmy
The Lincoln Lawyer2011Jesus Martinez
Battle Los Angeles2011Joe Rincon
Eastbound & Down2010TV SeriesMr. Cisneros
Everything Must Go2010Frank Garcia
My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done2009Detective Vargas
Observe and Report2009Dennis
My Name Is Earl2008TV SeriesCircus
The Lucky Ones2008TK
Lions for Lambs2007Ernest Rodriguez
Shooter2007/INick Memphis
World Trade Center2006Will Jimeno
Babel2006/IJohn - Border Patrol
Fifty Pills2006Eduardo
Walkout2006TV MovieSal Castro
Untitled David Diamond/David Weissman Project2005TV MovieScott
Sueño2005Jimmy
Little Athens2005Carlos
The Shield2005TV SeriesArmando Renta
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation2005TV SeriesJuanito Concha
Million Dollar Baby2004Omar
Crash2004/IDaniel
The Calcium Kid2004Jose Mendez

Producer

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Underwater Dreams2014Documentary executive producer

Thanks

TitleYearStatusCharacter
The Lowrider2007Short special thanks

Self

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Made in Hollywood2011-2016TV SeriesHimself
The Long Way Home: Making the Martian2016DocumentaryHimself
Días de cine2016TV SeriesHimself
14th Annual VES Awards2016VideoHimself
Making of an Ant-Sized Heist: A How-To Guide2015Video shortHimself
Jimmy Kimmel Live!2014-2015TV SeriesHimself / Himself - Fury
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon2015TV SeriesHimself
CollegeHumor Originals2015TV SeriesHimself
Fury: Blood Brothers2015Video shortHimself
Fury: Director's Combat Journal2015Video shortHimself
Taming the Beasts: How to Drive, Fire and Shoot Inside a 30-Ton Tank2015Video shortHimself
Janela Indiscreta2014TV SeriesHimself
Le grand journal de Canal+2014TV Series documentaryHimself
Sunday Brunch2014TV SeriesHimself - Guest
Extra2014TV SeriesHimself - Fury
Good Morning America2014TV SeriesHimself - Guest
Random Pop2014TV SeriesHimself
Entertainment Tonight2014TV SeriesHimself - Fury
The Queen Latifah Show2014TV SeriesHimself - Fury
Ellen: The Ellen DeGeneres Show2014TV SeriesHimself
Mario Lopez: One on One2014TV SeriesHimself
Underwater Dreams2014DocumentaryNarrator
The Making of American Hustle2014ShortHimself
19th Annual Critics' Choice Movie Awards2014TV SpecialHimself - Winner
CQC: Custe o Que Custar2013TV SeriesHimself
The 2013 Film Independent Spirit Awards2013TV SpecialHimself - Nominee
The Making of 'End of Watch'2013Video shortHimself
The Hollywood Fast Lane2013TV SeriesHimself - Interviewee
2012 ALMA Awards2012TV SpecialHimself
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon2011-2012TV SeriesHimself - Guest
Sidewalks Entertainment2012TV SeriesHimself - Guest
2011 ALMA Awards2011TV SpecialHimself
Up Close with Carrie Keagan2007-2011TV SeriesHimself
Attack of the Show!2011TV SeriesHimself
10 Minutes2010ShortHimself
Reel Comedy2009TV SeriesHimself
Deep Inside2009TV SeriesHimself
Tavis Smiley2008TV SeriesHimself
Lions for Lambs: World Premiere Special2007TV Movie documentaryHimself
Survival of the Fittest: The Making of 'Shooter'2007Video documentary shortHimself
Planet Voice2007TV SeriesHimself
Weekend Sunrise2007TV SeriesHimself
The Making of 'World Trade Center'2006Video documentaryHimself
Charlie Rose2006TV SeriesHimself - Guest
2006 ALMA Awards2006TV SpecialHimself
Crash: L.A. - The Other Main Character2006Video shortHimself
Crash: Unspoken2006Video shortHimself
2005 BAFTA/LA Cunard Britannia Awards2005TV Movie documentaryHimself

Archive Footage

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Ares III: The Untold Story2016Video documentary shortRick Martinez
Entertainment Tonight2014TV SeriesHimself - Fury
Extra2014TV SeriesHimself - Fury
Oscar, que empiece el espectáculo2008TV Movie documentaryDaniel (uncredited)
Irak-Afganistán, la guerra llega al cine2008TV Movie documentaryErnest Rodríguez
San Sebastián 2006: Crónica de Carlos Boyero2006TV Movie documentaryWill Jimeno

Awards

Won Awards

YearAwardCeremonyNominationMovie
2014ALMA AwardALMA AwardsSpecial Achievement in FilmCesar Chavez (2014)
2014COFCA AwardCentral Ohio Film Critics AssociationBest EnsembleAmerican Hustle (2013)
2014Gold Derby AwardGold Derby AwardsEnsemble CastAmerican Hustle (2013)
2014Imagen AwardImagen Foundation AwardsBest Actor/Supporting Actor - Feature FilmCesar Chavez (2014)
2014ActorScreen Actors Guild AwardsOutstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion PictureAmerican Hustle (2013)
2014Seattle Film Critics AwardSeattle Film Critics AwardsBest Ensemble CastAmerican Hustle (2013)
2013NYFCO AwardNew York Film Critics, OnlineBest EnsembleAmerican Hustle (2013)
2007Black ReelBlack Reel AwardsNetwork/Cable - Best Supporting ActorWalkout (2006)
2006ALMA AwardALMA AwardsOutstanding Actor in a Motion PictureCrash (2004)
2006Gold Derby TV AwardGold Derby AwardsTV Movie/Mini Supporting ActorWalkout (2006)
2006Gold Derby AwardGold Derby AwardsEnsemble CastCrash (2004)
2006Imagen AwardImagen Foundation AwardsBest Actor - TelevisionWalkout (2006)
2005ACCAAwards Circuit Community AwardsBest Cast EnsembleCrash (2004)

Nominated Awards

YearAwardCeremonyNominationMovie
2013Independent Spirit AwardIndependent Spirit AwardsBest Supporting MaleEnd of Watch (2012)
2013MTV Movie AwardMTV Movie AwardsBest Latino ActorEnd of Watch (2012)
2011ALMA AwardALMA AwardsFavorite Movie ActorBattle Los Angeles (2011)
2007ALMA AwardALMA AwardsOutstanding Actor - Motion PictureWorld Trade Center (2006)
2007ALMA AwardALMA AwardsOutstanding Actor - Television Series, Mini-Series or Television MovieWalkout (2006)
2005Gotham Independent Film AwardGotham AwardsBest Ensemble PerformanceCrash (2004)

Source: IMDb, Wikipedia

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