Otto Sanchez
Encyclopedia
Otto Sanchez is an American actor best known for playing Carmen Guerra
in the HBO prison drama Oz
. He also played the role of Otto in the short-lived drama Kidnapped
. He appeared as a supporting character in Bad Boys 2. He played the lead role of Paul in the film Push which won awards at The Long Island Film Festival. He has also been seen in NBC's Law & Order
, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
, Law & Order: Criminal Intent
, Third Watch
, 100 Centre Street
, Burn Notice
and most recently Blue Blood
.
, Queens. He was the youngest of the 2 boys and 2 girls.
Otto's passion for painting was his first connection into the arts. After pursuing Advertising Design at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, 1987 to 1989, then fine arts at the Columbus College of Art and Design, in Columbus, Ohio, on a scholarship, his passion shifted into theater. Returning to New York City in 1991, he studied acting under Jeanne Kaplan and Austin Pendleton
at HB Studio. In 1996 he landed his breakthrough role Carmen "Chico" Guerra on the HBO series Oz.
by Tom Dicillo
.
TV credits: Danny Santos in "[Canterbury's Law]] (with Julianna Margulies), Deputy Sheriff Rick Silo opposite Academy Award-winner Melissa Leo
The Fighter
in Criminal Minds
.
Sanchez made a guest appearance on Curb Your Enthusiasm and 100 Centre St.
TV pilots: Denis Leary
and Peter Tolan's NBC police dramedy
Fort Pit as Tommy Cruz, and Mark Rosner's TNT TV drama The Line
as Christian Diaz.
Sanchez has also appeared on stage. His last part was in November 2008, in the world premiere of Beau Willimon
's political play Farragut North (now adapted into the film Ides of March
) directed by Doug Hughes
(Doubt) at the Atlantic Theater company
in New York City in the dual role of Frank/Waiter opposite John Gallagher, Jr.
"In one of the play's sharpest moments a waiter played by Otto Sanchez earnestly tells Stephen about his hard-luck American life, and you can see Stephen (John Gallagher, Jr.) translating it into a stump-speech anecdote in his head." — Ben Brantley, NY Times.
In 2004 he co-starred opposite John Ventimiglia
of The Sopranos
in the role of Wallace, in the Off-Broadway play Ponies, produced by Emmy award-winner [Michael Imperioli]] at Studio Dante in New York City.
Otto's recent film projects include The Moment I Died with Colleen Divincentis and Jocelyn Druyan, directed and written by Vincent Zambrano.
Carmen Guerra
Carmen "Chico" Guerra is a fictional character on the HBO series Oz, played by Otto Sanchez.-Character overview:Prisoner #96G522. Convicted June 4, 1996 - Murder in the first degree...
in the HBO prison drama Oz
Oz (TV series)
Oz is an American television drama series created by Tom Fontana, who also wrote or co-wrote all of the series' 56 episodes . It was the first one-hour dramatic television series to be produced by premium cable network HBO. Oz premiered on July 12, 1997 and ran for six seasons...
. He also played the role of Otto in the short-lived drama Kidnapped
Kidnapped (2006 TV series)
Kidnapped is an American television drama series from Sony Pictures Television which aired on NBC from September 20, 2006, to August 11, 2007...
. He appeared as a supporting character in Bad Boys 2. He played the lead role of Paul in the film Push which won awards at The Long Island Film Festival. He has also been seen in NBC's Law & Order
Law & Order
Law & Order is an American police procedural and legal drama television series, created by Dick Wolf and part of the Law & Order franchise. It aired on NBC, and in syndication on various cable networks. Law & Order premiered on September 13, 1990, and completed its 20th and final season on May 24,...
, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is an American police procedural television drama series set in New York City, where it is also primarily produced...
, Law & Order: Criminal Intent
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
Law & Order: Criminal Intent is an American police procedural television drama series set in New York City, where it was also primarily produced. Created and produced by Dick Wolf and René Balcer, the series premiered on September 30, 2001, as the second spin-off of Wolf's successful crime drama...
, Third Watch
Third Watch
Third Watch is an American television drama series which first aired on NBC from 1999 to 2005 for a total of 132 episodes, broadcast in 6 seasons of 22 episodes each....
, 100 Centre Street
100 Centre Street
100 Centre Street is an American legal drama created by Sidney Lumet and starring Alan Arkin.-Premise:The show takes its name for the street address of the criminal division of the New York Supreme Court for New York County. The show aired in the United States on the A&E Network cable television...
, Burn Notice
Burn notice
A burn notice is an official statement issued by one intelligence agency to other agencies. It states that an individual or a group is unreliable for one or more reasons...
and most recently Blue Blood
Blue blood
Blue blood may refer to:* Nobility or social prominence- Music :* "Blue Blood", a song by Foals from the album Total Life Forever* Blue Blood, an EP by Atrocity* Blue Blood , 2001...
.
Early life
Sanchez, a native New Yorker, was raised by his mother, Violeta Zoila Carbajal in Jackson HeightsJackson Heights
Jackson Heights may refer to:*Jackson Heights, Queens, an area within the Queens section of New York City*Jackson Heights , a residential neighborhood within the East Tampa district of the City of Tampa, Florida, United States...
, Queens. He was the youngest of the 2 boys and 2 girls.
Otto's passion for painting was his first connection into the arts. After pursuing Advertising Design at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, 1987 to 1989, then fine arts at the Columbus College of Art and Design, in Columbus, Ohio, on a scholarship, his passion shifted into theater. Returning to New York City in 1991, he studied acting under Jeanne Kaplan and Austin Pendleton
Austin Pendleton
Austin Pendleton is an American film, television, and stage actor, a playwright, and a theatre director and instructor.-Life and career:...
at HB Studio. In 1996 he landed his breakthrough role Carmen "Chico" Guerra on the HBO series Oz.
Credits
Other film credits include: Negrito in Kill the Poor]]. "Ping Pong" in Double WhammyDouble Whammy
Double Whammy is a 2001 comedy/drama film. Although intended to be released in theaters, it was ultimately distributed direct-to-video.-Plot:Ray Pluto has horrid memories of watching his wife and child die in a traffic accident...
by Tom Dicillo
Tom DiCillo
Thomas A. "Tom" DiCillo is an American film director, screenwriter and cinematographer.-Early life:He was born in Camp Le Jeune, North Carolina. His father was Italian and his mother was from New England...
.
TV credits: Danny Santos in "[Canterbury's Law]] (with Julianna Margulies), Deputy Sheriff Rick Silo opposite Academy Award-winner Melissa Leo
Melissa Leo
Melissa Chessington Leo , is an American actress. After appearing on several television shows and films in the late '80s, her breakthrough role came in 1993 as Det. Sgt. Kay Howard on the television series Homicide: Life on the Street for the show's first five seasons from 1993 – 1997...
The Fighter
The Fighter
The Fighter is a 2010 biographical sports drama film directed by David O. Russell, and starring Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Melissa Leo and Amy Adams. The film centers on the life of professional boxer "Irish" Micky Ward and his older half-brother Dicky Eklund . The film also stars Amy Adams as...
in Criminal Minds
Criminal Minds
Criminal Minds is an American police procedural drama that premiered September 22, 2005, on CBS. The series follows a team of profilers from the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit based in Quantico, Virginia. The BAU is part of the FBI National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime...
.
Sanchez made a guest appearance on Curb Your Enthusiasm and 100 Centre St.
TV pilots: Denis Leary
Denis Leary
Denis Colin Leary is an Irish-American actor, comedian, writer and director. Leary is known for his biting, fast paced comedic style and chain smoking...
and Peter Tolan's NBC police dramedy
Comedy-drama
Comedy-drama is a genre of theatre, film and television programs which combines humorous and serious content.-Theatre:Traditional western theatre, beginning with the ancient Greeks, was divided into comedy and tragedy...
Fort Pit as Tommy Cruz, and Mark Rosner's TNT TV drama The Line
The Line
"The Line" is the sixth episode of the second season of the NBC science fiction drama series Heroes. It aired on October 29, 2007 in the USA.-Plot:...
as Christian Diaz.
Sanchez has also appeared on stage. His last part was in November 2008, in the world premiere of Beau Willimon
Beau Willimon
Beau Willimon is a playwright, whose works have been developed and performed at MCC Theater, Ars Nova, HERE Arts Center, the Phoenix Theatre in Arizona, and the Battersea Arts Centre in London....
's political play Farragut North (now adapted into the film Ides of March
Ides of March
The Ides of March is the name of the 15th day of March in the Roman calendar, probably referring to the day of the full moon. The word Ides comes from the Latin word "Idus" and means "half division" especially in relation to a month. It is a word that was used widely in the Roman calendar...
) directed by Doug Hughes
Doug Hughes
Douglas Hughes is an American theatre and film director. He is the son of acting couple Barnard Hughes and Helen Stenborg.-References:-External links:...
(Doubt) at the Atlantic Theater company
Atlantic Theater Company
Atlantic Theater Company is an Off-Broadway non-profit theater, whose mission is to produce great plays "simply and truthfully utilizing an artistic ensemble." The company was founded in 1985 by David Mamet, William H. Macy, and 30 of their acting students from New York University, inspired by the...
in New York City in the dual role of Frank/Waiter opposite John Gallagher, Jr.
"In one of the play's sharpest moments a waiter played by Otto Sanchez earnestly tells Stephen about his hard-luck American life, and you can see Stephen (John Gallagher, Jr.) translating it into a stump-speech anecdote in his head." — Ben Brantley, NY Times.
In 2004 he co-starred opposite John Ventimiglia
John Ventimiglia
John Ventimiglia is an American actor, known for his role as Artie Bucco on the HBO television series The Sopranos. He has had parts in feature films such as Cop Land, Jesus' Son, and Mickey Blue Eyes and has appeared in numerous television shows including Law & Order and NYPD Blue...
of The Sopranos
The Sopranos
The Sopranos is an American television drama series created by David Chase that revolves around the New Jersey-based Italian-American mobster Tony Soprano and the difficulties he faces as he tries to balance the often conflicting requirements of his home life and the criminal organization he heads...
in the role of Wallace, in the Off-Broadway play Ponies, produced by Emmy award-winner [Michael Imperioli]] at Studio Dante in New York City.
Otto's recent film projects include The Moment I Died with Colleen Divincentis and Jocelyn Druyan, directed and written by Vincent Zambrano.