Fernando Colunga
Fernando Colunga Olivares (feɾˈnando koˈluŋɡa oliˈβaɾes; born 3 March 1966) is a Mexican actor known for his work in Mexican telenovelas. Colunga gained international fame for his role as Luis Fernando de la Vega[12] in the hit Mexican telenovela María la del Barrio. He is also widely recognized for portraying Manuel Fuentes-Guerra in the historical drama Amor real, set in mid-19th century post-independence Mexico.[2] In 2012, he starred as Jesús García in the romantic comedy telenovela Porque el amor manda.
Fernando Colunga

Publicity photograph/still · Public domain
- Name
- Fernando Colunga
- Born
- 3 March 1966
- Birthplace
- Mexico City, Mexico
- Occupation
- Actor
- Birth Name
- Fernando Colunga Olivares
- Nationality
- Mexico · United States
- Education
- Centro de Educación Artística de Televisa
- Known for
- María la del Barrio · Amor real · Porque el amor manda · Wild About Harry
- Honours
- Premios TVyNovelas
- Languages
- Spanish · English
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
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Documentary summary
Fernando Colunga Olivares (feɾˈnando koˈluŋɡa oliˈβaɾes; born 3 March 1966) is a Mexican actor known for his work in Mexican telenovelas. Colunga gained international fame for his role as Luis Fernando de la Vega[12] in the hit Mexican telenovela María la del Barrio. He is also widely recognized for portraying Manuel Fuentes-Guerra in the historical drama Amor real, set in mid-19th century post-independence Mexico.[2] In 2012, he starred as Jesús García in the romantic comedy telenovela Porque el amor manda.
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Note VALÉORINE
Fernando Colunga (born 1966) is a Mexican and American actor, civil engineer and film actor, among other activities. The actor was born Fernando Colunga Olivares in Mexico City.
Fernando Colunga studied at Centro de Educación Artística de Televisa. The actor lived in Miami.
Works include Amor real, María la del Barrio, Porque el amor manda and Wild About Harry. Languages used include English and Spanish. Fernando Colunga received Premios TVyNovelas.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 26 September 2026
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wikidata · Q836732 · wikipedia · Fernando Colunga
In this article
Biography
Biography
Colunga received his formal acting education at the Centro de Educación Artística (CEA), a drama school run by Televisa in Mexico City.
Fernando Colunga studied at Centro de Educación Artística de Televisa. The recorded working language is Spanish and English. Residence is recorded at Miami. Works named in the authority record are María la del Barrio, Amor real, Porque el amor manda and Wild About Harry. Distinctions recorded are Premios TVyNovelas.

Fernando Colunga durante una conferencia

Mexican actor Fernando Colunga in a publicity photograph taken by 1980s Italian magazine Tele Bolero.
Publicity photograph/still
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Fernando Colunga • Born — 3 March 1966 • Birthplace — Mexico City, Mexico • Citizenship[1] — * Mexico • United States • Occupation — Actor • Years Active — 1987–present • Birth Name — Fernando Colunga Olivares • Website — www.colungateam.com
Career
Career
Colunga worked as an actor in 1988, when he debuted twice as Eduardo Yañez's stuntman in the soap opera Dulce desafío. After that, he decided to start his acting career and enrolled in the Centro de Educación Artística de Televisa in 1990.[4] In his early career, he was known to many audiences for his role in the Mexican version of Sesame Street.[5] Colunga also starred in other shows, such as The Web, Marked Time, and All of It.[6] He starred in telenovelas, including Cenizas y diamantes, Madres egoístas and Maria Mercedes.[7] Carla Estrada offered him a role in the soap opera, Más allá del puente, together with Maria Sorté in 1993–1994.[8] After this telenovela, Colunga played a role in Marimar.[9] In 1994, the film Bésame en la boca featuring Colunga and Paulina Rubio, was shown in the cinema.[10] In 1995, Colunga played the role of Lieutenant Raul Gutierrez in Alondra, a period novel produced by Carla Estrada. He acted alongside Veronica Merchant, Gonzalo Vega, Ernesto Laguardia, Marga Lopez, Ana Colchero, Juan Manuel Bernal, Beatriz Sheridan, and Eric del Castillo.[11] In 1995–1996, Colunga got his first starring role with Thalía in the telenovela, Maria la del Barrio, giving life to Luis Fernando de la Vega. With this telenovela, Colunga began to be known internationally and established his sex symbol status.[13] He later starred in Esmeralda (1997) with Leticia Calderon, seen in countries as disparate as Indonesia and the Czech Republic.[14] After the success of Esmeralda, he made a foray into theater with Original Sin Not where he starred with Chantal Andere, as Jenny and Bill, in an unhappy marriage in the process of destruction. His next show was in 1998, La Usurpadora, with Venezuelan actress Gabriela Spanic, Juan Pablo Gamboa, Chantal Andere, Alejandro Ruiz, Enrique Lizalde and Dominika Paleta. He played Carlos Daniel Bracho, a man who knows that the usurper, Paulina, has replaced his wife Paola, and is being blackmailed for it.[15] His next telenovela were Nunce Te Olvidare (1999) by Edith Gonzalez and Abrazame Muy Fuerte (2000) with Aracely Arambula, Victoria Ruffo, Cesar Evora and Nailea Norvind.[16] After this, he spent time away from telenovelas to study acting and production. He also played a role in Navidad sin fin in 2001.[17] In 2003, he worked in Amor real with Adela Noriega; a production of Carla Estrada, where he played Manuel Fuentes Guerra, the bastard son of a rich landowner. He starred alongside Mauricio Islas and Helena Rojo.[18] In 2003, he won the TVyNovelas Award for Best Actor.[19] After Amor Real, Colunga took some time from TV acting and concentrated on theater. Along with César Evora, he adapted screenplays and launched Death Trap.[20] After spending several months touring with his work, Colunga returned to television with the telenovela of Carla Estrada, Alborada (2005) and Pasion (2007). He shared the stage with actors like Valentino Lanús, Daniela Romo, Mariana Garza, Luis Roberto Guzmán, Vanessa Guzman, Arturo Peniche, Irán Castillo, Susana González, Sebastián Rulli, and Daniela Castro.[21] In 2008, he worked on the telenovela Manana Es Para Siempre sharing credits with Silvia Navarro and Lucero. This telenovela is produced by Nicando Diaz, in which he plays Eduardo Juarez, a man who, for his revenge against Barbara Greco (Lucero) changes his name to Franco Santoro. In 2010, he was the star of the telenovela Soy tu dueña produced by Nicandro Diaz; he shared credit with Lucero, Gabriela Spanic, and Jacqueline Andere. • Illustration — Fernando Colunga, 2012. In 2012, he starred in Porque el amor manda with Blanca Soto, Erick Elias, and Claudia Alvarez, debuting in the genre of telenovela with a comic touch. Porque el Amor Manda is a Mexican telenovela produced by Juan Osorio. It was an adaptation of the 2011 Secretary. This starred Colunga and Blanca Soto, with Erick Elias and Claudia Alvarez, who play the main antagonists of the story. In 2015, he worked on the telenovela Pasión y Poder sharing credits with Jorge Salinas and Susana González.
Television performances
Television performances
• Year — Title — Role — Notes — Ref. References • 1988 — Dulce desafío — Unknown — Stunt • 1990 — Cenizas y diamantes — Unknown role[27] • 1991 — Alcanzar una estrella II — Unknown role[28] • Madres egoístas — Jorge • 1992 — María Mercedes — Chicho • 1993 — Marianela — Pablo Ordoñez — Main role[29] • 1993 — Más allá del puente — Valerio • 1994 — Mujer, casos de la vida real — Unknown role — Episode: "Te olvidaré"[30] • Marimar — Adrián Rosales • 1995 — María la del Barrio — Luis Fernando de la Vega — Main role • Alondra — Raúl Gutiérrez • 1997 — Esmeralda — José Armando Peñarreal De Velasco — Main role • 1998 — La Usurpadora — Carlos Daniel Bracho — Main role • Más allá de la Usurpadora — Main role — Television film • 1999 — Cuento de Navidad — Jaime Rodríguez Coder[31] • Nunca Te Olvidaré — Luis Gustavo Uribe Del Valle — Main role[32] • 2000 — Abrázame muy fuerte — Carlos Manuel Rivero — Main role • 2001 — Navidad sin fin — Pedro • 2002 — XHDRbZ — José — Episode: "Una de lobos"[33] • 2003 — Amor real — Manuel Fuentes Guerra — Main role • 2005 — Alborada — Luis Manrique y Arellano — Main role • 2007 — Pasión — Ricardo de Salamanca y Almonte/"El Antillano" — Main role[34] • 2008 — Mañana es para siempre — Eduardo Juárez Cruz / Franco Santoro — Main role[35] • 2009 — El Show de Cristina — Himself — Special[36] • 2010 — Soy tu dueña — José Miguel Montesinos — Main role[37] • 2012 — Porque el amor manda — Jesús García — Main role[38] • 2015 — Pasión y Poder — Eladio Gómez Luna — Main role[39] • 2022 — El secreto de la familia Greco — Aquiles Greco — Main role[40] • 2023 — El maleficio — Enrique de Martino — Main role[41] • 2024 — El Conde: Amor y honor — Alejandro Gaitán / Count Joaquín de Montenegro — Main role[42] • 2025 — Amanecer — Leonel — Main role[43]
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 1 entries
1966
Fernando Colunga born at Mexico City.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
Miami
Residences
Mexico City.
Birth place
Films
• Year — Title — Role — Ref. References — Notes • 1988 — La guerrera vengadora — Unknown role[22] — Mexico • 1995 — Bésame En La Boca — Arturo[23] — Mexico • 2007 — Ladrón que roba a ladrón — Alejandro Toledo[24] — United States • 2009 — Wild About Harry — Danny[25] — Canada • 2015 — Ladrones — Alejandro Toledo — United States
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Díaz, Por Aroa. Fernando Colunga reaparece en Estados Unidos. Diez Minutos. November 16, 2017.
- 2.invertia.com. "Amor real", la nueva serie romántica de La 1 para la sobremesa estival. July 18, 2012.
- 3.Business Wire. Univision Debuts 'Amor Real' – an Unforgettable Love Story of Epic Proportions; Sweeping Tale Set in Turbulent 19th Century Mexico. October 19, 2004.
- 4.La escena de alto riesgo de Fernando Colunga en su debut actoral en la telenovela "Dulce desafío". El Debate.
- 5.Fernando Colunga. Milenio. 2023-02-03.
- 6.Top 10 de las mejores telenovelas del actor Fernando Colunga. Debate. 2021-05-23.
- 7.Así luce Fernando Colunga a 27 años de protagonizar a 'Chicho' en 'María Mercedes'. ¡Hola!. 2019-09-26.
- 8.Fernando Colunga y el temible villano que hizo hace 27 años. Chispa.
- 9.Así lucía Fernando Colunga cuando participó en "Marimar" hace 29 años. La Opinión. 2023-03-25.
- 10.Colunga se vuelve 'Ladrón'. Noroeste. 2015-06-11.
- 11.A 25 años de “Alondra”: Así han cambiado Fernando Colunga y Ana Colchero; ¿los recuerdas?. El Heraldo de México. 2020-11-11.
- 12.María, la del barrio: por qué Thalía y Fernando Colunga terminaron abruptamente su romance. Clarín. 2021-01-12.
- 13.Fernando Colunga es el hombre más sexy. El Nuevo Día. 2010-09-18.
- 14.El actor Fernando Colunga se dio a en muchos países gracias a la telenovela Esmeralda. El Siglo de Torreón. 2009-09-01.
- 15.La vida de Fernando Colunga luego de "La Usurpadora". Caras. 2024-07-31.
- 16.Aracely Arámbula y Fernando Colunga: ¿cómo se ven 20 años después de “Abrázame muy fuerte”?. El Comercio Perú. 2020-01-20.
- 17.Así lucen Fernando Colunga y otros famosos de Navidad sin fin, a 20 años de su estreno. TVNotas. 2022-12-24.
- 18.Así lucían Adela Noriega y Fernando Colunga hace 20 años en la telenovela 'Amor real'. El Universal. 2023-06-27.
- 19.Julieta, Karla. 'Amor Real' 20 años después: Así luce Adela Noriega y Fernando Colunga. Heraldo USA. 2023-07-11.
- 20.César Évora y Fernando Colunga se divierten con la muerte. El Siglo de Torreón. 2004-10-02.
- 21.Alborada: así lucen Lucero, Fernando Colunga y Arturo Peniche 16 años después del estreno. Radio Fórmula. 2022-01-18.
- 22.La guerrera vengadora – Instituto Mexicano de Cinematografía. imcine.gob.mx.
- 23.Díaz, Por Aroa. Fernando Colunga, 50 años en 50 imágenes. Diez Minutos. February 29, 2016.
- 24."Ladrones" secuela de "Ladrón que roba a ladrón" llegará en octubre - SanDiegoRed.com. SanDiegoRed.
- 25.Stars of SIFF's American Primitive. Seattle Gay News. 2009-06-05.
- 26.Orozco, Gisela. Fernando Colunga y Eduardo Yáñez: 'Ladrones' con escrúpulos. chicagotribune.com. October 9, 2015.
- 27.Mazzone, Candela. Qué fue de la vida de Fernando Colunga, el actor que hace 28 años brilló como el galán de Thalía en María, la del barrio. Infobae. 2023-10-02.
- 28.Él es Fernando Colunga, cuyo regreso a las telenovelas mexicanas quedó opacado por las críticas a El Maleficio. SDPNoticias. 2024-03-05.
- 29.Conoce cuál fue la telenovela que le dio éxito a Fernando Colunga. Publimetro México. 2024-04-08.
- 30.Fernando Colunga cumple 54 años; así lucía en su juventud. Milenio. 2020-03-03.
- 31.Trevino, Joseph. Editorial: 'El villancico navideño' en Sonoma. La Prensa Sonoma. 2021-12-08.
- 32.Gallardo, Isabel. Las mejores telenovelas de la historia: 'Nunca te olvidaré'. Segre. 2024-09-01.
- 33.Fernando Colunga y su participación especial en XHDRBZ. Distrito Comedia.
- 34.Susana González recuerda "momento muy feo" que vivió cuando grabó la telenovela 'Pasión' con Fernando Colunga. People en Español. 2024-04-04.
- 35."Mañana es para siempre", la telenovela de más éxito en Estados Unidos. abc. October 30, 2009.
- 36.admin. Celebrando 20 años de carrera de Fernando Colunga en el Show de Cristina. Mundo Videos HD. April 14, 2021.
- 37.Univision. ¿Qué ha sido del elenco de 'Soy tu dueña' a nueve años de su estreno?.
- 38."Porque el amor manda" volverá a transmitirse por el 2. EL DEBATE.
- 39.vertele.eldiario.es. 'Pasión y poder': Fernando Colunga como villano y otras razones para darle una oportunidad. vertele. January 11, 2016.
- 40.Vicencio, Miguel. El secreto de la familia Greco: Reparto, historia real y capítulos. Vogue. November 16, 2022.
- 41.González, Moisés. Fernando Colunga regresa a Televisa a 7 años de su última telenovela: "Es un ciclo que se vuelve a abrir". People en Español. July 24, 2023.
- 42.Fernando Colunga será 'El Conde' en nueva serie de Telemundo. La Opinión. February 15, 2022.
- 43.González, Moisés. Fernando Colunga y Livia Brito protagonizarán telenovela juntos: aquí los detalles. People en Español. 11 November 2025.
References
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References
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Work and production. Works recorded as notable number 4: María la del Barrio, Amor real, Porque el amor manda and Wild About Harry. Recorded as having received Premios TVyNovelas.
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 15 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Film memorabilia
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