Manuel Pérez "Manny" Batista (born May 5, 1969) is a Dominican American actor who has appeared in the television series Third Watch and in the film Washington Heights. He is the cousin of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Junot Diaz.[1]

Manny Pérez
Pérez in 2010
Born
Manuel Pérez Batista

(1969-05-05) May 5, 1969 (age 54)
Years active1993–present

Life and career edit

Pérez was born in Baitoa, Santiago, Dominican Republic and currently lives in Washington Heights, Manhattan.[2]

Pérez is one of 11 siblings. By the time Pérez finished high school he knew that he wanted to be an actor so he moved to New York City where he majored in drama at Marymount Manhattan College, graduating in 1992.

He studied at Ensemble Studio Theatre and is a member of the LAByrinth Theatre Company, in New York City.

Following his performance on the film Washington Heights (which he also co-wrote and produced), Pérez garnered praise from many critics.

The New York Times stated, "Mr. Perez has charisma to burn." He won the 2002 Best Actor Award at The Milan International Film Festival in Italy for his performance in Washington Heights.

At the Santo Domingo Invita show, he was honored as one of the most prominent Dominican actors in the United States.

In November 2007, Pérez was honored in the Dominican Film Festival held in Puerto Plata along with Dania Ramirez for his humanitarian work in the Dominican Republic. When Pérez received the award, he said that his first pair of shoes were given to him at the age of five by his father and that he only wore them to go to Mass on Sundays. Pérez also said that when he first came to the United States, he gained a great deal of weight from what was later discovered to be hookworms in his stomach, which had first infected his feet after he walked the streets barefoot. Pérez donated 10,000 shoes to families who lost everything after Hurricane Noel swept across the Dominican Republic.

In 2012 he was elected by Luz García's Noche de Luz programme as a "Summer's Hot Body".[3][4]

Filmography edit

Films and television series that Pérez has appeared in include:[5]

Year Title Role
2002-2021 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Sergeant Hagen / Angel Perez / DEA Agent / CSU Technician
2021 Night of the Sicario Leon Ramirez
2020 Big Dogs Santiago (8 Episodes)
2019 Bull Trent Bolton (Season 3 Episode 19 "Bounty"
2018 Veneno Jack Veneno
2017 Colao Antonio
2016 The Blacklist Johan Halbeck (1 episode)
2016 Luke Cage Lieutenant Perez (3 episodes)
2013 Homeland "El Niño" (2 episodes)
2012 El Rey de Najayo (film) Julián López
2010 Forged Chuco
2010 Criminal Minds Manny
2010 Cold Case Tut (1 episode)
2009 La Soga (film) Luisito
2009 A Kiss of Chaos Tony
2008 Nothing like the Holidays Alexis
2008 Last Call Javier
2008 Pride and Glory "Coco" Dominguez
2008 Canterbury's Law Hector Monteiros (1 episode)
2007 The Ministers Detective Manso
2007 Rockaway (film) Antwan
2007 Illegal Tender Wilson DeLeon Sr.
2007 Tracks of Color George Martinez
2007 Amexicano Diego
2007 Where God Left His Shoes Luis
2006-2007 Rescue Me Detective Luis (5 episodes)
2006 Yellow Angelo
2006 El Cantante Eddie
2006 Bella Manny
2005 Night Stalker Caleca (1 episode)
2005 Third Watch Manny Santiago (10 episodes)
2004 Dragnet Sergio (1 episode)
2004 CSI: Miami Manny Orantes (1 episode)
2004 The Breakup Artist Carlos
2003 Party Monster Johnny
2002 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Jorge Galvez (1 episode)
2002 Washington Heights Carlos
2002 King Rikki Jorge Ortega
2001-2002 100 Centre Street Ramon Rodriguez (18 episodes)
2000 Brother Mexican Mafia Hitman
2000 Dinner Rush Gabriel
1999 Rude Awakening Jesus (2 episodes)
1999 On the Q.T. Aurelio
1998 Brooklyn South Estefan (1 episode)
1998 Neto's Run Neto
1998 Chick Flick Unknown
1997 Stick Up Eddie
1996 Sleeping Together Carlos
1996 Bullet "Flaco"
1996 Courage Under Fire Jenkins
1994-1996 New York Undercover Tony (2 episodes)
1995 NYPD Blue Tonio (1 episode)
1994 Crooklyn Hector
1993 Nyû Yôku no koppu Tito

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Home".
  2. ^ Guzman, Sandra. "'MANNY' OF THE YEAR: DOMINICAN ACTOR PEREZ IS SET TO STAR IN A DOZEN (!) NEW MOVIES" Archived 2007-12-18 at the Wayback Machine, The New York Post, August 8, 2007. Accessed September 23, 2007. "Perez, who moved to Providence, Rhode Island at the age of 10, most of his family still lives there, decided long ago that he was not moving to Los Angeles to make it. He lives in and loves Washington Heights."
  3. ^ "Luz García devela los Cuerpos Hot 2012" (in Spanish). Sociales y Turismo. 16 August 2012. Archived from the original on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2013. La productora de televisión Luz García, develó ante los medios de comunicación dominicanos los ganadores de la tercera entrega de los "Cuerpos Hot del Verano 2012" durante un cóctel llevado a cabo en M Kitchen. Los ganadores fueron: Jenny Blanco, Joseguillermo Cortines, Irvin Alberti, Yuvelkys Peralta, Manny Pérez, Dalia Fernández, Martha González y Lisbeth Santos. (...)
  4. ^ "Los 7 Cuerpos Hot 2013" (in Spanish). Noche de Luz. Archived from the original on 2 July 2014. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  5. ^ Manny Pérez, Internet Movie Database. Accessed September 23, 2007.

External links edit