Biography

Alfonso Illán "Life has been my biggest form of education."

Award-winning actor, filmmaker and activist Alfonso Illán was born in Santa Ana, California. Right after birth he moved to Magdalena, a small town in Jalisco, Mexico where he was raised by his grandmother. Growing up between México and Los Angeles, he was educated with a tremendous work ethic getting his first job at age 9.

Illán felt early on, that he was an artist. He had many creative ideas that he wanted to bring to life. He credits all the jobs he had as they made it clear acting was his vocation. During his high school years, he participated in runways, theatre, talent shows, sports and was considered the class clown - always trying to make others happy.

At the age 16, Illán saw a casting call on Spanish television from award-winning actor Edward James Olmos about feature film called Walkout. He skipped school that day so he could somehow participate in the film. He was heavily interested in politics at the time so this film had a strong impact in him. Based on a true story, Walkout is the story of Mexican-American student activist Paula Crisostomo who tired of being treated unequally, decides to take action and stage a walkout at five East Los Angeles high schools in 1968, to protest educational conditions and complain of anti-Mexican educational bias along with some 10,000 students. He was but an extra in the film, but it ignited even a bigger flame inside Illán and his desire to make meaningful content that brings about change.

Illán had the honor to work alongside some of the most influential activists including civil and labor rights icon Dolores Huerta. It was Ms. Huerta who gave him the courage to organize and lead his own protest in 2007 while still in high school.

As an actor and filmmaker, his goal is to continue to be a well-respected performer who will stay in people's lives forever, not because of fame, but because of the quality and meaning of his work.

Television credits include: Family Business (BET), The House with a Clock in its Walls with Jack Black (Promo), Criminal Minds (CBS), Cold Case, (WB), Lincoln Heights (ABC Family) and Shameless (Showtime.)

Film credits include: Walkout (Esparza, Katz, Olmos), Slipping Into Darkness (HBO), Contracorriente (Red Crew Films), Operation Terror (Arthur Oliver Productions) and the new installment of The Purge (Blumhouse Productions.)

Theater credits include: Frida Sufrida (Casa 0101), Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of The Moon (Berubian Productions) and Romeo and Juliet (Verdugo Hills Theater)

Illan also has an extensive commercial reel for brands like Microsoft, Anheuser-Bush, Universal Studios, Buchanan's Whiskey, Holonis, Dominos, Subway & AT&T.

Awards: Best Actor, Frida Sufrida (Casa 0101), Slipping Into Darkness, First Prize, Latino International Film Festival 2019. Alfonso Illán is represented by Buchwald, Kontakto & Espada PR.
- IMDb mini biography by: Espada PR