There are actors that you remember once and for all. This refers to one of the "universal soldiers" of American cinema - Michael Peigne. Why universal? Because the range of his roles is so wide that you no longer understand - Peña is in front of you or someone else, so skillfully he reincarnates.
Most of the films with his participation cannot be called Oscar-winning or stellar, but they are definitely remembered, and both viewers and critics talk about them. Moreover, the diversity of the films in which the actor is filmed ensures that viewers of different tastes and social strata are interested in them.
Biography of the actor
Michael Anthony Peña was born in 1976 in Chicago in a family of Mexican immigrants. After arriving from Mexico, his mother became a social worker, and his father became a factory worker. Since childhood, the boy dreamed of becoming an actor.
Like all ordinary children, Michael graduated from high school and then moved to Hubbard High School - a school for gifted and motivated students. This education was enough for him to get a job at a bank. Like all aspiring actors, he had to earn his living. There is no other way to get into the cinema.
Michael constantly went to auditions in the hope that he would be noticed and invited to the shooting. This happened in 1994, when he got the role of Bank in the movie "Free Hunter". This film was followed by a number of soap operas, but Peña's partners were real celebrities: in "Seventh Heaven" he starred with Jessica Biel, in "Slaughter Section" with Daniel Baldwin, in "Killer Profile" - with Julian McMahon.
Film career
The young actor learned a lot during the time that he was next to these stars, and became more confident and relaxed. In 2000, he starred in a film that is still watched with pleasure by viewers around the world - the action movie Gone in 60 Seconds with Nicolas Cage and Angelina Jolie in the lead roles. A dramatic plot, charismatic actors, a chase with the participation of the police, a real threat to the lives of loved ones - all this could not leave indifferent any spectator, and the film became a cult.
Six years later, he will meet with Cage again on the set of the disaster film "Twin Towers", where they played cops rescuing people after an explosion. This is the story of 9/11 that horrified the whole world. Peña's partner was Maggie Gyllenhaal, she played his wife.
The acting world is very small, and now Michael is filming with the brother of his on-screen wife - Jake Gylenhall in "Slaughter Department", and a little later - in "Patrol". Here Peña again plays the role of a policeman. Apparently, the directors see him as a kind of brutal character capable of courageous deeds. Indeed, the film turned out to be interesting: it touched on the topic of male friendship, pride and selfhood, which lead to dramatic consequences, which often happens in life.
Peña's filmography
In 2004, a real breakthrough happened in the actor's career: he played the main role in "Collision". This is a drama that reveals the problems of modern society: racial, religious, moral, philosophical, legal and others. The film won three Oscars, two Golden Globe nominations, and two British Academy Awards. And Peña himself received the ALMA Awards.
This is what happens in the fate of actors: one day you wake up famous because the audience liked your work. And then it turns out that the critics also appreciated the contribution of the entire group to the creation of the film project, and this is doubly pleasant. True, such moments happen quite rarely, but once is enough to feel like on top of Olympus.
In general, Peigne in his cinematic everyday life was very lucky with partners on the set. For example, in 2004 he co-starred with Clint Eastwood and Morgan Freeman in the sports drama Million Dollar Baby. This is the tragic story of an athlete who decided to become a professional boxer, achieved success, and then was injured and, because of this, could no longer compete. The dramatic finale of the story caused an ambiguous reaction from the audience, but did not leave anyone indifferent.
Another Oscar-winning film in which Peña starred is the drama Babylon (2006). The main character here was played by Brad Pitt, who for the sake of this project refused all other proposals. Apparently, not in vain, because the picture was highly appreciated by BAFTA, the American Film Academy, various guilds of actors, and also received recognition at the Cannes Film Festival. Peña played the border guard here.
In general, he played many roles of the military, police and the like. For example, in the films "War Against All", "The Martian" (astronaut), "Shooter", "California Highway Patrol" and others.
The best films in the portfolio of Michael Peña: "The Martian", "Shooter", "Patrol", "Fury", "Ant-Man". Best TV Shows: "Narco: Mexico", "Ambulance", "Slaughter Department", "Shield", "C. S. I. Crime scene".
The last work of the actor - a role in the family film "Dora and the Lost City." This is an interesting adventure picture, which combines several motives at once: the theme of friendship and love, the theme of human socialization in society and the theme of our past - lost civilizations. The film has already grossed a decent box office and has received favorable reviews from viewers.
Personal life
Like many actors, Michael Peña married his co-star, actress Bree Shaffer. His wife also writes various scripts. In 2008, a son was born into an artistic family, he was named Roman.
In the photographs, you can see that the husband is somewhat shorter than his wife, but both have happy faces, and this is most important.
In addition to cinema, Michael has other activities: he plays bass in a band, boxing and playing golf. The set is quite decent for a person of such a profession.
