Manuel María Arias Domínguez (born 26 April 1956), better known as Imanol Arias, is a Spanish actor. In his career beginnings, Arias was a recurring face of Basque cinema. His career in the 21st-century is marked by his portrayal of Antonio Alcántara in television series Cuéntame cómo pasó from 2001 to 2023. In addition to his credits in Spanish film and television titles, Arias has also worked in the Argentine film industry.

Life and career

Manuel María Arias Domínguez was born in Riaño, province of León, on 26 April 1956 but soon moved to Ermua, Biscay, where he was raised. Imanol Arias began his career with a travelling theatre group performing in the Basque Country of northern Spain. He debuted on television in 1976. He made his big screen debut in La Corea. In 1987 he won the prize at the San Sebastian Film Festival for the role of Eleuterio Sánchez in El Lute: Run for Your Life (1987). Since 1976 he has appeared in some seventy different films and television series. In 1996 he made his directorial film debut in Un asunto privado. He had previously directed a television show in 1989. From 1984 to 2009, he was in a non-marital relationship with actress Pastora Vega, whom with he had two children. Between 2001 and 2023, he starred in the Televisión Española prime-time series Cuéntame cómo pasó as Antonio Alcántara, the father of a Spanish middle-class family during the years of the rule of Francisco Franco, the transition to democracy, and the current democracy. In 2013 Arias worked on the Spanish dubbing of the video game Battlefield 4 as Captain Roland Garrison. At Gijón International Film Festival in 2014, he received the Nacho Martinez Award. Imanol Arias is Ambassador for UNICEF. On 7 April 2016, Imanol Arias was accused of tax evasion and money laundering in the Panama Papers scandal as the owner of an offshore company, Trekel Trading Limited, based on the island nation of Niue that held a bank account under his complete control at the Swiss bank Banque Franck SA. In June 2024, Arias paid €275,000 in order to settle his debts with the tax office and avoid going to trial on tax evasion charges.

Filmography

Television

Accolades