Michael Peña

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Birthday:

13 January 1976, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Height:

170 cm

Peña was born and raised in Chicago, to Nicolasa, a social worker, and Eleuterio Peña, who worked at a button factory. His parents were originally from Mexico, his mother from Charcas in San Luis Potosí and his father from Villa Purificación in Jalisco. After graduating from high school, he went to an open casting call for the Peter Bogdanovich feature To Sir, with Love II (1996), and to his surprise, beat out hundreds of other young men for a role. After relocating to Los Angeles Peña quickly booked a succession of roles in features including Star Maps, My Fellow Americans (1996) (opposite Jack Lemmon and James Garner), La Cucaracha (1998) (winner of the Best Picture in the Austin Film Festival), Bellyfruit (1999), and the Disney/Jerry Bruckheimer feature Gone in Sixty Seconds (2000).Michael Peña resides in Los Angeles where he plays bass guitar with his band, plays golf and boxes for relaxation. Show less «

I'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 bala...Show more »

I'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. Show less «

I 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'...Show more »

I 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. Show less «

My 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 ...Show more »

My 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. Show less «

The 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. ...Show more »

The 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. Show less «

I think writing is the most underrated thing in Hollywood.

I want to do more sci-fi films. I want to play half-alien, half-illegal alien.

A good comic explores the imagination, but it's always got to have those notes of truth running through it.

It's so interesting to watch Ben Stiller work because he just knows what's funny.

I grew up reading the newspapers, mostly the sports section. I was a wrestler and would check to see if I was ranked.

I 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 wou...Show more »

I 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. Show less «

I've always noticed that girls cry way easier than guys do.