Imanol Arias facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Imanol Arias
Arias in 2011
Born	Manuel María Arias Domínguez (1956-04-26) 26 April 1956 (age 69) Riaño, Spain
Occupation	Actor
Children	2

Manuel María Arias Domínguez (born April 26, 1956), known professionally as Imanol Arias, is a famous actor from Spain. He is one of the most recognized actors in his country.

Arias is best known for playing the father, Antonio Alcántara, in the popular Spanish TV series Cuéntame cómo pasó. He starred in the show from 2001 to 2023. Besides his work in Spain, he has also acted in movies made in Argentina.

Early Life and Start of Career

Imanol Arias was born in the town of Riaño, Spain, on April 26, 1956. When he was young, his family moved to the town of Ermua in the Basque Country region of Spain, which is where he grew up.

Arias started his acting career in a traveling theater group. They performed shows all around the Basque Country. He first appeared on television in 1976 and in his first movie, La Corea, that same year.

Rise to Fame

In the 1980s, Arias became a major star in Spanish cinema. He acted in many important films. One of his most famous roles was playing Eleuterio Sánchez in the movie El Lute: Run for Your Life (1987). For this role, he won the Best Actor award at the prestigious San Sebastian Film Festival.

Over his long career, Arias has appeared in about 70 different movies and TV shows. He even directed his own movie, Un asunto privado, in 1996.

The Role of a Lifetime: Cuéntame cómo pasó

From 2001 to 2023, Imanol Arias played Antonio Alcántara in the TV series Cuéntame cómo pasó. This show is one of the longest-running and most beloved series in Spanish television history.

The show tells the story of the Alcántara family. It follows their lives from the last years of Francisco Franco's government through Spain's change to a democracy. As the family's father, Arias's character became a symbol for a whole generation of Spaniards.

Other Work

Besides acting, Imanol Arias has used his fame to help others. He is an Ambassador for UNICEF, an organization that works to help children around the world.

He has also done voice acting. In 2013, he was the voice of Captain Roland Garrison in the Spanish version of the popular video game Battlefield 4.

Selected Film and TV Roles

Imanol Arias has had a very long and successful career. Here are some of his most well-known roles.

Notable Films

• Laberinto de pasiones (1982) - A film by the famous director Pedro Almodóvar.
• Demonios en el jardín (1982) - A drama about a family during the Spanish Civil War.
• Camila (1984) - An Argentine film that was nominated for an Academy Award.
• El Lute: Run for Your Life (1987) - He played the real-life fugitive Eleuterio Sánchez, which won him a major award.
• La flor de mi secreto (1995) - Another collaboration with director Pedro Almodóvar.
• Anacleto: agente secreto (2015) - A fun action-comedy where he played a secret agent.
• Legado en los huesos (2019) - A popular Spanish mystery thriller.

Television Series

• Anillos de oro (1983) - An early successful series about lawyers.
• Brigada Central (1989–1992) - A popular police drama where he played the main character.
• Querido maestro (1997) - A series where he played a teacher who moves to a small town.
• Cuéntame cómo pasó (2001–2023) - His most famous role, playing Antonio Alcántara for over 20 years.
• Velvet Colección (2017) - A series set in the world of fashion in the 1960s.

Awards and Recognition

Arias receiving a special award at the Valladolid International Film Festival (Seminci) in 2014.

Imanol Arias has received many awards for his acting. The Goya Awards are Spain's main national film awards, similar to the Oscars in the United States.

See also

In Spanish: Imanol Arias para niños