Actor Manny Perez - DIFF 2007 JetBlue Humanitarian Award Recipient

Manny Perez is becoming one of the most recognizable Latino Actors in Hollywood.  He has embarked into the most pivotal steps in his career.  He will be co-starring in numerous films; in major and independent releases scheduled for 2007-2008.

Definitely making an unmistakable presence that lit up the screens during summer '07, Manny appeared in the critically acclaimed film El Cantante starring opposite Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony and in Universal's Pictures release Illegal Tender starring opposite Tego Calderon and Rick Gonzalez. Manny Perez wrapped up the summer in Sony Screen Gem's Yellow starring opposite Roselyn Sanchez.

He was equally visible in the Toronto Film Festival People's Choice Award winner and the box office hit Bella starring opposite Eduardo Verastegui and Tammy Blanchard during fall of '07.

Making another unmistakable presence for Fall/Winter 2008, Manny will star in four films to hit the big screens, first in Amexicano opposite with Jennifer Pena, which premiered at The Tribeca Film Festivals in 2007 obtaining great reviews. Secondly, the highly anticipated action drama Pride & Glory opposite Collin Farrell and Ed Norton, with a slated release date for Oct. 24th., Thirdly in Nothing like the Holiday's, working opposite John Lequizamo's and Debra Messing, release date for Nov. 14th, and ending the year towards a Holiday release in Where God Left His Shoes, once again starring opposite John Lequizamo.  

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 has recurring roles in Denis Leary's highly acclaimed "Rescue Me" on the F/X channel, and NBC's "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit".

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 in 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 as one of the most prominent Dominican actors in the US by The Santo Domingo Invita: All Star event at the Radio City Music Hall and recently receiving the Tony Bennett Excellence in Media Award, the Perry Ellis Humanitarian Award, given the Key to the City from his hometown in Providence, Rhode Island and the great honor of receiving the Humanitarian Award in his native country Dominican Republic for all of his charitable work during the  devastation of Hurricane Noel. Manny Perez is the first Latino in the entertainment industry to have 3 feature films that he has starred in, be nominated for a 2008 Alma Award in the “Outstanding Performance of A Lead Latino Cast in a Motion Picture” category. 

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.