Imanol Arias
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.
Also recorded as Manuel María Arias Domínguez
Imanol Arias

Sergi Albir · CC BY-SA 3.0
- Name
- Imanol Arias
- Born
- 26 April 1956
- Birthplace
- Riaño, Spain
- Occupation
- Actor
- Birth Name
- Manuel María Arias Domínguez
- Full name
- Manuel Maria Arias Domínguez.
- Nationality
- Spain.
- Honours
- Lan Onari, Silver Shell for Best Actor and Medalla Delmira Agustini.
- Languages
- Spanish.
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
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Documentary summary
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.
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Note VALÉORINE
Imanol Arias (born 1956) is a Spanish actor, film actor and film director, among other activities. The actor was born Manuel Maria Arias Domínguez in Riaño. Imanol Arias held the position of UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.
Languages used include Spanish. The actor received Lan Onari, Medalla Delmira Agustini and Silver Shell for Best Actor.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 01 October 2026
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wikidata · Q2485621 · wikipedia · Imanol Arias
In this article
Biography
Biography
In addition to his credits in Spanish film and television titles, Arias has also worked in the Argentine film industry.

Imanol Arias, Spanish actor.
Rastrojo (D • ES)
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Imanol Arias • Born — 26 April 1956 • Birthplace — Riaño, Spain • Occupation — Actor • Birth Name — Manuel María Arias Domínguez • Children — 2
Life and career
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
Filmography
• Year — Title — Role — Notes — Reference(s) • La Corea — Feature film debut • Elisita • Cecilia • Laberinto de pasiones (Labyrinth of Passion) — Riza Niro • Demonios en el jardín (Demons in the Garden) — Juan • La colmena (The Beehive) — El Tísico • Bearn o la sala de las muñecas (film) — Don Juan Mayol • Camila — Ladislao Gutiérrez • La muerte de Mikel — Mikel Miranda • Fuego eterno (Eternal Fire) — Pierre • Lulú de noche (Lulu by Night) • Bandera negra • Tiempo de silencio (Time of Silence) — Pedro Martín • El Lute: camina o revienta (El Lute: Run for Your Life) — Eleuterio • Divinas palabras (Divine Words) — Séptimo Miau • El Lute II: mañana seré libre (El Lute II: Tomorrow I'll be Free) — Eleuterio • A solas contigo (Alone Together) — Javier Artabe • Veraz — Paco • Una mujer bajo la lluvia (A Woman in the Rain) — Ramón • El amante bilingüe (The Bilingual Lover) — Juan • Tierno verano de lujurias y azoteas — Doria • Intruso (Intruder) — Angel • Todos los hombres sois iguales (All Men Are the Same) — Juan Luis • Un asunto privado — Director • Sálvate si puedes — Roberto • La leyenda de Balthasar el castrado — Duque de Arcos • La flor de mi secreto (The Flower of My Secret) — Paco • A tres bandas • Territorio comanche (Comanche Territory) — Mikel Uriarte • Ilona Arrives with the Rain • África — Arturo • Rigor mortis (film) — Asesino • En brazos de la mujer madura (In Praise of Older Women) — Dávalos • Buenos Aires me mata • Esperando al mesías (Waiting for the Messiah) — Baltasar • La voz de su amo (His Master's Voice) — Sacristán • A House with a View of the Sea • Salvajes (Savages) — Eduardo • Besos de gato • Los reyes magos (The 3 Wise Men) — Baltasar — Voice • La semana que viene (sin falta) — Teo Morales • Lo que tiene el otro • Nocturna — Pastor de gatos — Voice • Pájaros de papel (Paper Birds) — Jorge del Pino • Mi primera boda (My First Wedding) — Miguel Ángel Bernardo • Anacleto: agente secreto (Spy Time) — Anacleto • De sable et de feu • Sordo (The Silent War) — Sargento Castillo • Legado en los huesos (The Legacy of the Bones) — Padre Sarasola • Ofrenda a la tormenta (Offering to the Storm) — Padre Sarasola • Retrato de mujer blanca con pelo cano y arrugas • La bandera — Tomás • El molino • Nueva tierra — Gregorio
Television
Television
• Arnau, els dies secrets (1993) as Yazid • Cervantes (TV series) (TVE, 1981) • Juanita, la Larga (TVE, 1982) • Anillos de oro (TVE, 1983) • Brigada Central (TVE, 1989–1992) • Querido maestro (Telecinco, 1997) • Camino de Santiago (1999) • Dime que me quieres (Antena 3, 2001) • Severo Ochoa. La conquista de un Nobel (TVE, 2001) • Cuéntame cómo pasó (TVE, 2001–2023) • Atrapados (2003) • Mentiras (2005) • Un país para comérselo (TVE, 2010) • Velvet Colección (Movistar+, 2017) • La última palabra, (2020) • The Best Heart Attack of My Life, (2025)
Accolades
Accolades
• Illustration — Arias receiving the Honorary Spike at the 59th Seminci in 2014 • Year — Award — Category — Work — Result — Reference(s) • 35th San Sebastián International Film Festival — Silver Shell for Best Actor — El Lute: Run for Your Life • Best Actor • Best Actor — El Lute II: Tomorrow I'll be Free • Best Actor — Alone Together • Best Actor — Intruder • 59th Valladolid International Film Festival — Honorary Spike
Identity and origins
Identity and origins
Imanol Arias was recorded at birth as Manuel Maria Arias Domínguez. The authorities additionally record the heading Manuel María Arias Domínguez. His recorded language was Spanish. He married Pastora Vega. One child is recorded: Jon Arias.
Identity
Identity
Imanol Arias received Silver Shell for Best Actor in 1987. Arias received Medalla Delmira Agustini in 2023. Arias received Lan Onari in 2010.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
Explore 1956–2023
The full dated record · 4 entries
1956
Imanol Arias was born on 26 April 1956.
1987
Imanol Arias received Silver Shell for Best Actor in 1987.
2010
Imanol Arias received Lan Onari in 2010.
2023
Imanol Arias received Medalla Delmira Agustini in 2023.
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Imanol Arias”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
institutional register
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q2485621: Imanol Arias
General reference · Wikimedia Foundation
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.Pairone, Juan Manuel. Imanol Arias y su experiencia en "Cuéntame cómo pasó", serie que protagoniza hace 22 años. La Voz del Interior. 30 May 2023.
- 2.Calzado López, Israel. 10 curiosidades que quizá no conocías sobre Imanol Arias. ecartelera. 26 April 2016.
- 3.López Echevarrieta, Alberto. Piratas en acción. Bilbao. 124. 39. 1999.
- 4.Albert, Antonio. Imanol Arias debuta como director de cine con 'Un asunto privado'. El País. Prisa. 12 May 1993.
- 5.Hernández, Nuria. Los hijos de Imanol Arias, dos promesas que siguen los pasos de su padre en la pantalla. Vanity Fair. 13 July 2020.
- 6.Argüelles, J. L. Imanol Arias recibe el premio del Festival de Cine de Gijón por 40 años de trabajo. La Nueva España. Editorial Prensa Asturiana, S.A. 13 November 2014.
- 7.Imanol Arias Premio Nacho Martínez en el Festival de Cine de Gijón. Gota de Luz. 10 December 2014.
- 8.Imanol Arias, embajador de UNICEF. Europa Press. 2 June 2014.
- 9.Europa Press. Imanol Arias, embajador de UNICEF. Diario Sur. Vocento. 2 June 2014.
- 10.Europa Press. Imanol Arias, embajador de UNICEF. Hoy. Vocento. 2 June 2014.
- 11.Pérez, Fernando Jesús. Ana Duato e Imanol Arias recogen en la Audiencia la querella por delito fiscal. El País. Prisa. 10 May 2016.
- 12.Vázquez, Ángeles. Anticorrupción acusa a Imanol Arias y Ana Duato de haber defraudado tres millones de euros. El Mundo. Unidad Editorial. 6 May 2016.
- 13.La Fiscalía pide que Imanol Arias y Ana Duato declaren por fraude fiscal. La Vanguardia. 6 May 2016.
- 14.Imanol Arias abonó este lunes 275.000 euros para saldar su deuda con Hacienda. La Voz de Galicia. 6 June 2024.
- 15.Manrique, Diego A. Laberinto de pasiones. El País. 11 December 2004.
- 16.Canby, Vincent. Three generations adjust to Franco's Spain. The New York Times. 2 March 1984.
- 17.García Sánchez, José Elías. Tuberculosis y cine. Una aproximación a través de la fantasía de más de 400 películas. Revista de Medicina y Cine. Ediciones Universidad de Salamanca. 6. 3–4. 218. 2010. 1885-5210.
- 18.Nieto Jiménez, Rafael. La literatura de posguerra en el cine español (19). Bearn o la sala de las muñecas (Jaime Chávarri, 1983). Rinconete. 28 May 2019. 1885-5008.
- 19.Imanol Arias y Susú Pecoraro, el reencuentro a 40 años del estreno de la película Camila. Infobae. 30 May 2024.
- 20.Roldán Larreta, Carlos. El cine del País Vasco; de Ama Lur (1968) a Airbag (1997). Revista Internacional de los Estudios Vascos. 3. 214. 1999. 0212-7016.
- 21.Roldán Larreta, Carlos. La producción cinematográfica en el País Vasco; desde Ama Lur (1968) hasta nuestros días. Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. 291. 1995.
- 22.Martí, Octavi. Las tres caras de Lulú. El País. 4 March 1986.
- 23.Jimeno, Diego. 'Tiempo de silencio', de Vicente Aranda, en 'Historia de nuestro cine'. Diez Minutos. 30 April 2021.
- 24.Schwartz, Ronald. Great Spanish Films Since 1950. The Scarecrow Press, Inc. 101. 2008. 978-0-8108-5405-5.
- 25.Galán, Diego. 'Divinas palabras', Valle-Inclán según J. L. García Sánchez. El País. 21 May 2004.
- 26.Benavent, Francisco María. Cine español de los 90. Diccionario de películas, directores y temático. Ediciones Mensajero. 39. 2000. 84-271-2326-4.
- 27.Rocha, Carolina. Visual Communication: urban representations in Latin America. 127. 2008. 978-85-62069-11-6.
- 28.La voz de su amo. Fotogramas. 29 May 2008.
- 29.Martínez Montalbán, José Luis. Lola Salvador Maldonado. Arbor. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. 182. 720. 545. 2006. 0210-1963.
- 30.El cine no cree en Melchor, Gaspar y Baltasar. La Información. 5 January 2012.
- 31.La semana que viene (sin falta). Fotogramas. 29 May 2008.
- 32.Maldivia, Beatriz. 'Nocturna, una aventura mágica', qué preciosidad. Espinof. 10 October 2007.
- 33.El lado payaso de Imanol Arias en 'Pájaros de papel'. ABC. 3 March 2010.
- 34.Soy nervioso pero no se nota. El País. 10 September 2011.
- 35.¿A cuántas personas ha matado Anacleto?: Imanol Arias se sincera en este Clip exclusivo. Europa Press. 31 August 2015.
- 36.Úbeda-Portugués, Alberto. Los estrenos del 13 de septiembre. 'Sordo'. Tiempos duros para sobrevivir. Aisge. 10 September 2019.
- 37.Úbeda-Portugués, Alberto. Los estrenos del 5 de Diciembre. 'Legado en los huesos'. Crímenes que no nos dejan dormir. Aisge. 2 December 2019.
- 38.Rodríguez, Chema. Imanol Arias estrena 'Ofrenda a la tormenta': "Cuando el hombre se queda sin referencias, aparece el Mal". Diez Minutos. 16 July 2020.
- 39.'La bandera' reivindica el amor a los mayores por encima de las herencias. La Vanguardia. 7 March 2024.
- 40.Cortés-Cavanillas ofrece una metáfora sobre la necesidad de avanzar en 'El molino'. La Vanguardia. 6 March 2024.
- 41.Úbeda-Portugués, Alberto. Los estrenos del 6 de septiembre. 'Nueva Tierra'. Lucha sin límites. Aisge. 3 September 2024.
- 42.Fernández-Santos, Ángel. 'Boda en Galilea', filme palestino de producción europea, ganó la Concha de Oro. El País. 27 September 1987.
- 43.Lunwerg. Viaje al cine español. 25 años de los Premios Goya. 270–271; 273; 276. 2011. 978-84-9785-791-8.
- 44.Un premio muy español. El Día de Valladolid. 22 October 2014.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Secondary witnessinstitutional register
Wikidata, structured authority record Q2485621: Imanol AriasWikimedia Foundation
General reference
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.
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