Luis López Tosar (born 13 October 1971) is a Spanish actor and musician from Galicia. He is one of the most recognizable and versatile actors in Spain. 

He landed his film debut in Atilano, presidente (1998), followed by other roles in feature films such as Flowers from Another World (1999), Common Wealth (2000) and No News from God (2001). He won early acclaim and recognition for his performances in Mondays in the Sun (2002) and Take My Eyes (2003).

He has a music group called "Di Elas".

After a career turning point in the wake of his performance as Malamadre in Cell 211, he has been often typecast in thriller films.

Life and career 

Tosar was born on 13 October 1971 in Lugo, even if he usually prefers to identify with the parish of  (in the municipality of Cospeito, also in the province of Lugo), where he actually spent his childhood and teenage years.

He began his career playing theater and shorts, but he gained notoriety in Galicia for his performance in 1998 TV Series Mareas Vivas (Televisión de Galicia). Critically acclaimed for his supporting role in the unemployment drama Mondays in the Sun, abusive husband in Take My Eyes, an executive producer in Even the Rain, and doorman in Sleep Tight, his most acclaimed performance has to be from his 2009 hit Cell 211 which stars Tosar as Malamadre, a prisoner that instigates a riot and befriends an undercover prison guard in the process.  His only major role in an American film was Michael Mann's Miami Vice (2006), playing Colombian druglord Montoya. Besides that he has appeared in other English films The Limits of Control and Mr. Nice.

Close to the Galician Nationalist Bloc, Tosar ran as candidate in the Galeusca list to the 2004 European Parliament election.

In 2012 he dubbed George Washington for the videogame Assassin's Creed III.

In 2015, Tosar married actress María Luisa Mayol.

On 17 November 2018 he received a star in the Almeria Walk of Fame for the films El Niño (2014) and Toro (2016).

Accolades 
Tosar won the Málaga Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2011 Málaga Spanish Film Festival.

Celda 211 (Cell 211) (2009)

2010 Cinema Writers Circle Awards, Spain
Best Actor (Mejor Actor)
2010 Fotogramas de Plata
Best Movie Actor (Mejor Actor de Cine)
2010 Premios ACE
Cinema - Best Actor
2010 Seattle International Film Festival
Best Actor

Te doy mis ojos (Take My Eyes) (2003)

2005 Cartagena Film Festival
Best Actor (Mejor Actor)
2004 Cinema Writers Circle Awards, Spain
Best Actor (Mejor Actor) for: Take My Eyes (2003) and The Weakness of the Bolshevik (2003)
2004 Copenhagen International Film Festival
Best Actor
2004 Fotogramas de Plata
Best Movie Actor (Mejor Actor de Cine)
2004 Seattle International Film Festival
Best Actor
2004 Turia Awards
Best Actor

Los lunes al sol (Mondays in the Sun) (2002)
2003 Cinema Writers Circle Awards, Spain
Best Supporting Actor (Mejor Actor Secundario)
2003 Sant Jordi Awards
Best Spanish Actor (Mejor Actor Español)

References

External links

1971 births
Living people
People from Lugo
Male actors from Galicia (Spain)
Spanish male film actors
Best Supporting Actor Goya Award winners
21st-century Spanish male actors
Spanish male television actors