---
name: "Michael Peña"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/michael-pena"
fi1m_id: "michael-pena"
imdb_id: "nm0671567"
tmdb_id: 454
wikidata_id: "Q359488"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "13 January 1976"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 13
average_fi1m_score: 65
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 13
updated: "2026-10-23T04:14:50.733718+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Michael Peña

## Identity

Michael Peña

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/michael-pena
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** michael-pena
- **IMDb ID:** nm0671567
- **TMDB ID:** 454
- **Wikidata ID:** Q359488
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Pe%C3%B1a, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q359488, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0671567/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/454

Actor. Born 13 January 1976 in Chicago, Illinois, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 13 January 1976, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- **Active:** 2000–present
- **Also known as:** Michael Pena, Michael Anthony Peña
- **Frequently works with:** [David Ayer](https://film.one/person/david-ayer.md), [Evangeline Lilly](https://film.one/person/evangeline-lilly.md), [Kevin Feige](https://film.one/person/kevin-feige.md), [Michael Douglas](https://film.one/person/michael-douglas.md), [Paul Rudd](https://film.one/person/paul-rudd.md), [Peyton Reed](https://film.one/person/peyton-reed.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 65, as actor, over 13 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 2000s 64 (5), 2010s 71 (5), 2020s 58 (3)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 65 to 66 across 13 titles
- **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 8 at 60–79, 3 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 10 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 7, Action 6, Crime 4, Science Fiction 4, Adventure 3, Comedy 2
- **Screen time:** 23 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $3,023m across 11 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Pe%C3%B1a, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q359488, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0671567/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/454

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*The Martian*](https://film.one/film/the-martian.md) (82), [*American Hustle*](https://film.one/film/american-hustle.md) (72), [*Crash*](https://film.one/film/crash-2005.md) (54)
- **Disney+:** [*Ant-Man and the Wasp*](https://film.one/film/ant-man-and-the-wasp.md) (68), [*Ant-Man*](https://film.one/film/ant-man.md) (67), [*Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die*](https://film.one/film/good-luck-have-fun-dont-die.md) (64)
- **Apple TV:** [*Million Dollar Baby*](https://film.one/film/million-dollar-baby.md) (86), [*A Working Man*](https://film.one/film/a-working-man.md) (41)
- **Peacock:** [*All Her Fault*](https://film.one/tv/all-her-fault.md) (68)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Michael Peña

> Michael Peña is a welcome presence when a drama needs someone tired, decent and believable. We value that steadiness, and the fast-talking comedy that keeps him from being confined to the sensible supporting part.

In *All Her Fault* (2025), Michael Peña’s Detective Alcaras seems to be the only person in the house who is not performing. Jake Lacy’s Peter takes charge and corrects his wife; Alcaras is tired, decent and there to investigate. We felt relieved by him, because that decency gave us someone to trust among people busy making a bad situation harder. Peña is particularly useful in an ensemble like this: he can hold our attention without demanding that everyone else stop.

The early work was restricted by gangster roles and other stereotypes; supporting parts in *Million Dollar Baby* (2004) and *Crash* (2004) widened the possibilities. As Omar in the former, he belongs to an ensemble led by Clint Eastwood, Hilary Swank and Morgan Freeman. Eastwood’s boxing drama occasionally labours its sadness, but the affection between its characters makes that forgivable. We recommend the film warmly without claiming that Peña’s smaller part explains why it works. *Crash* brought particular attention to his emotional depth.

*End of Watch* (2012) gave him Mike Zavala, a grounded policeman, while Luis in *Ant-Man* (2015) made fuller use of his comic timing. The quick storytelling of the lighter work is a fair distance from Alcaras’s weary calm. We would not want dependable decency to become the only thing asked of him. Playing Kiki Camarena in *Narcos: Mexico* (2018) and taking a leading role in *A Million Miles Away* (2023) are further reasons not to file him away as a useful supporting actor.

The limits are clear in *All Her Fault*. Sarah Snook’s frightened, level-voiced mother carries the eight-part kidnap mystery, and the first four episodes are compulsive before the coincidences become harder to accept. Peña makes Alcaras’s decency clear without turning him into another person demanding attention, which is a considerable service in this particular household. The cast gives us reasons to continue even when the mystery has begun explaining itself rather too earnestly. Try it for the actors if the genre appeals; do not expect Alcaras to repair the writing.

## Biography

Michael Peña is an American actor. Born in Chicago, Illinois, he began appearing in films and television in the mid-1990s.

He is known for supporting roles in *Million Dollar Baby* (2004), *Crash* (2004), *Fury* (2014), *The Martian* (2015), *Ant-Man* (2015) and *Ant-Man and the Wasp* (2018). He played Detective Alcaras in the 2025 Peacock miniseries *All Her Fault*.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (13)

- *Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die* (2026), Fi1m 64, as Mark — [page](https://film.one/film/good-luck-have-fun-dont-die.md)
- *A Working Man* (2025), Fi1m 41, as Joe Garcia — [page](https://film.one/film/a-working-man.md)
- *All Her Fault* (2025), Fi1m 68, as Detective Alcaras — [page](https://film.one/tv/all-her-fault.md)
- *Ant-Man and the Wasp* (2018), Fi1m 68, as Luis — [page](https://film.one/film/ant-man-and-the-wasp.md)
- *Ant-Man* (2015), Fi1m 67, as Luis — [page](https://film.one/film/ant-man.md)
- *The Martian* (2015), Fi1m 82, as Rick Martinez — [page](https://film.one/film/the-martian.md)
- *Fury* (2014), Fi1m 67, as Trini 'Gordo' Garcia — [page](https://film.one/film/fury-2014.md)
- *American Hustle* (2013), Fi1m 72, as Paco Hernandez / Sheik Abdullah — [page](https://film.one/film/american-hustle.md)
- *Eastbound & Down* (2009), Fi1m 78, as Mr. Cisneros — [page](https://film.one/tv/eastbound-and-down.md)
- *Babel* (2006), Fi1m 64, as John - Border Patrol — [page](https://film.one/film/babel.md)
- *Crash* (2005), Fi1m 54, as Daniel Ruiz — [page](https://film.one/film/crash-2005.md)
- *Million Dollar Baby* (2004), Fi1m 86, as Omar — [page](https://film.one/film/million-dollar-baby.md)
- *Gone in Sixty Seconds* (2000), Fi1m 40, as Ignacio — [page](https://film.one/film/gone-in-sixty-seconds.md)

## Complete filmography (102)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die* (2026), as Mark — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/good-luck-have-fun-dont-die.md)
- *All Her Fault* (2025), series, as Detective Alcaras — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/tv/all-her-fault.md)
- *A Working Man* (2025), as Joe Garcia — Fi1m 41, [page](https://film.one/film/a-working-man.md)
- *ASCO: Without Permission* (2025), Actor
- *Unstoppable* (2024), as Coach Bobby Williams
- *Landman* (2024), series, as Armando
- *A Million Miles Away* (2023), as José Hernández
- *Secret Headquarters* (2022), as Argon
- *Moonfall* (2022), as Tom Lopez
- *Bud* (2021), as Father
- *Tom & Jerry* (2021), as Terence Mendoza
- *Marvel Studios Legends* (2021), series, as Luis (archive footage) (uncredited)
- *Fantasy Island* (2020), as Mr. Roarke
- *Jexi* (2019), as Kai
- *Dora and the Lost City of Gold* (2019), as Cole - Dora's Father
- *The Mule* (2018), as Agent Treviño
- *Narcos: Mexico* (2018), series, as Enrique 'Kiki' Camarena
- *Next Gen* (2018), as Momo (voice)
- *Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan* (2018), series, as Domingo Chavez
- *Extinction* (2018), as Peter
- *Ant-Man and the Wasp* (2018), as Luis — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/film/ant-man-and-the-wasp.md)
- *A Wrinkle in Time* (2018), as Red
- *12 Strong* (2018), as Sam Diller
- *My Little Pony: The Movie* (2017), as Grubber (voice)
- *The Lego Ninjago Movie* (2017), as Kai (voice)
- *Dumpster Diving* (2017), as Miguel
- *CHiPs* (2017), as Frank 'Ponch' Poncherello · Executive Producer
- *Collateral Beauty* (2016), as Simon Scott
- *War on Everyone* (2016), as Bob Bolaño
- *Morris and the Cow* (2016), series, as Ill Mil (voice)
- *Hell and Back* (2015), as Abigor (voice)
- *The Martian* (2015), as Rick Martinez — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/the-martian.md)
- *Bill Buddy* (2015), as Manny
- *Vacation* (2015), as New Mexico Cop
- *The Vatican Tapes* (2015), as Père Lozano
- *Ant-Man* (2015), as Luis — Fi1m 67, [page](https://film.one/film/ant-man.md)
- *ARES: live* (2015), series, as Rick Martinez
- *Fury* (2014), as Trini 'Gordo' Garcia — Fi1m 67, [page](https://film.one/film/fury-2014.md)
- *Gracepoint* (2014), series, as Mark Solano
- *Frontera* (2014), as Miguel
- *Underwater Dreams* (2014), as Narrator (voice)
- *Cesar Chavez* (2014), as Cesar E. Chavez
- *Chozen* (2014), series, as Ricky
- *American Hustle* (2013), as Paco Hernandez / Sheik Abdullah — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/american-hustle.md)
- *Turbo* (2013), as Tito (voice)
- *Gangster Squad* (2013), as Navidad Ramirez
- *End of Watch* (2012), as Mike Zavala
- *Tower Heist* (2011), as Enrique Dev’Reaux
- *30 Minutes or Less* (2011), as Chango
- *Everything Must Go* (2011), as Frank Garcia
- *The Good Doctor* (2011), as Jimmy
- *The Lincoln Lawyer* (2011), as Jesus Martinez
- *Battle: Los Angeles* (2011), as Joe Rincon
- *My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done* (2010), as Detective Vargas
- *Observe and Report* (2009), as Dennis
- *Eastbound & Down* (2009), series, as Mr. Cisneros — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/eastbound-and-down.md)
- *The Lucky Ones* (2008), as T.K. Poole
- *The Miley and Mandy Show* (2008), series, Actor
- *Lions for Lambs* (2007), as Ernest Rodriguez
- *Shooter* (2007), as Nick Memphis
- *Babel* (2006), as John - Border Patrol — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/babel.md)
- *World Trade Center* (2006), as Will Jimeno
- *Fifty Pills* (2006), as Eduardo
- *Walkout* (2006), as Sal Castro
- *Sueno* (2005), as Jimmy
- *My Name Is Earl* (2005), series, as Circus — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/tv/my-name-is-earl.md)
- *Little Athens* (2005), as Carlos
- *Crash* (2005), as Daniel Ruiz — Fi1m 54, [page](https://film.one/film/crash-2005.md)
- *American Dad!* (2005), series, as Maguerite (voice)
- *Million Dollar Baby* (2004), as Omar — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/film/million-dollar-baby.md)
- *The Calcium Kid* (2004), as Jose Mendez
- *Love Object* (2004), as Ramirez
- *The United States of Leland* (2003), as Guillermo
- *Buffalo Soldiers* (2002), as Garcia
- *The Twilight Zone* (2002), series, as Noah
- *Andy Richter Controls the Universe* (2002), series, Actor
- *The Shield* (2002), series, as Armando Renta — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-shield.md)
- *Men, Women & Dogs* (2001), series, as Miguel
- *Semper Fi* (2001), as Douglas Cepeda
- *CSI: Crime Scene Investigation* (2000), series, as Juanito Concha
- *Gone in Sixty Seconds* (2000), as Ignacio — Fi1m 40, [page](https://film.one/film/gone-in-sixty-seconds.md)
- *Roswell* (1999), series, as Fly
- *Bellyfruit* (1999), as Oscar
- *Felicity* (1998), series, as Brian Burke
- *La Cucaracha* (1998), as Orderly
- *Boogie Boy* (1998), as Drug Dealer
- *Star Maps* (1997), as Star Map Boy
- *My Fellow Americans* (1996), as Ernesto
- *Profiler* (1996), series, as Alex Lopez
- *7th Heaven* (1996), series, as Roger
- *The Sentinel* (1996), series, as Johnny
- *Pacific Blue* (1996), series, as Rabbit
- *Moesha* (1996), series, as Alejandro
- *Touched by an Angel* (1994), series, as Ray Estes
- *ER* (1994), series, as Police Officer — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/er.md)
- *Running Free* (1994), as Bunk
- *Homicide: Life on the Street* (1993), series, as Luis Carranza — Fi1m 89, [page](https://film.one/tv/homicide-life-on-the-street.md)
- *Tumor*, Actor
- *Turpentine*, Actor
- *Incógnito*, as Frank Aguila
- *Judgment Day*, Actor
- *Subversion*, Actor

## Gallery

- ![Michael Peña](https://film.one/media/person/23916/gallery-d819d0e8c834.jpg) Michael Peña — Richard Sandoval, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/17/Actor_Michael_Pena.jpg/1280px-Actor_Michael_Pena.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Actors Michael Pena and John Travolta enjoys Game 5 of the 2016 World Series.](https://film.one/media/person/23916/gallery-e2966c10199d.jpg) Actors Michael Pena and John Travolta enjoys Game 5 of the 2016 World Series. — Arturo Pardavila III from Hoboken, NJ, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/94/Actors_Michael_Pena_and_John_Travolta_enjoys_Game_5_of_the_2016_World_Series._%2830565637262%29.jpg/1280px-Actors_Michael_Pena_and_John_Travolta_enjoys_Game_5_of_the_2016_World_Series._%2830565637262%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Actors Michael Pena and John Travolta enjoys Game 5 of the 2016 World Series.](https://film.one/media/person/23916/gallery-cf58520c48f9.jpg) Actors Michael Pena and John Travolta enjoys Game 5 of the 2016 World Series. — Arturo Pardavila III from Hoboken, NJ, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/18/Actors_Michael_Pena_and_John_Travolta_enjoys_Game_5_of_the_2016_World_Series._%2830565637262%29_%28cropped%29.jpg/1280px-Actors_Michael_Pena_and_John_Travolta_enjoys_Game_5_of_the_2016_World_Series._%2830565637262%29_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Actors Michael Pena and John Travolta enjoys Game 5 of the 2016 World Series.](https://film.one/media/person/23916/gallery-9c65b20fb98f.jpg) Actors Michael Pena and John Travolta enjoys Game 5 of the 2016 World Series. — Arturo Pardavila III from Hoboken, NJ, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d5/Actors_Michael_Pena_and_John_Travolta_enjoys_Game_5_of_the_2016_World_Series._%2830682694685%29.jpg/1280px-Actors_Michael_Pena_and_John_Travolta_enjoys_Game_5_of_the_2016_World_Series._%2830682694685%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Michael Peña](https://film.one/media/person/23916/gallery-1db9af1a9bbb.jpg) Michael Peña — Image via TMDB
- ![Michael Peña](https://film.one/media/person/23916/gallery-b1f2f62c1bd3.jpg) Michael Peña — Image via TMDB
- ![Michael Peña](https://film.one/media/person/23916/gallery-38e3cf3ab7f9.jpg) Michael Peña — Image via TMDB
- ![Diego Luna e Michael Peña, protagonisti di Narcos: Mexico a Lucca Comics & Games. Conferenza stampa in Camera di Commercio. (2018)](https://film.one/media/person/23916/gallery-64933d629216.jpg) Diego Luna e Michael Peña, protagonisti di Narcos: Mexico a Lucca Comics & Games. Conferenza stampa in Camera di Commercio. (2018) — Niccolò Caranti, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Diego_Luna_and_Michael_Pe%C3%B1a_-_Lucca_Comics_%26_Games_2018_01.jpg/1280px-Diego_Luna_and_Michael_Pe%C3%B1a_-_Lucca_Comics_%26_Games_2018_01.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Michael Peña](https://film.one/media/person/23916/gallery-aeaf9d003567.jpg) Michael Peña — Image via TMDB

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/michael-pena