# Luis Tosar

Luis López Tosar (born 13 October 1971) is a Spanish actor from Galicia. He is one of the most recognizable and versatile actors in Spain.
He landed his film debut in Atilano for President (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).
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, although he usually prefers to identify with the parish of Xustás [es] (in the municipality of Cospeito, also in the province of Lugo), where he 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).
His supporting performance as Damián in 1999 immigration-themed film Flowers from Another World earned him a nomination the Goya Award for Best New Actor.
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 was from 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).
He has a music group called "Di Elas".

## Accolades

Tosar won the Málaga Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2011 Málaga Spanish Film Festival.
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
| 2000 | 14th Goya Awards | Best New Actor | Flowers from Another World | Nominated |
| 2003 | 17th Goya Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Mondays in the Sun | Won |
| 2003 | 12th Actors and Actresses Union Awards | Best Film Actor in a Secondary Role | Mondays in the Sun | Won |
| 2003 | 51st San Sebastián International Film Festival | Silver Shell for Best Actor | Take My Eyes | Won |
| 2004 | 18th Goya Awards | Best Actor | Take My Eyes | Won |
| 2004 | 13th Actors and Actresses Union Awards | Best Film Actor in a Leading Role | Take My Eyes | Won |
| 2010 | 15th Forqué Awards | Best Actor | Cell 211 | Won |
| 2010 | 24th Goya Awards | Best Actor | Cell 211 | Won |
| 2010 | 19th Actors and Actresses Union Awards | Best Film Actor in a Leading Role | Cell 211 | Won |
| 2010 | 23rd European Film Awards | Best European Actor | Cell 211 | Nominated |
| 2011 | 16th Forqué Awards | Best Actor | Even the Rain | Won |
| 2011 | 25th Goya Awards | Best Actor | Even the Rain | Nominated |
| 2012 | 17th Forqué Awards | Best Actor | Sleep Tight | Nominated |
| 2012 | 4th Gaudí Awards | Best Actor | Sleep Tight | Won |
| 2012 | 26th Goya Awards | Best Actor | Sleep Tight | Nominated |
| 2015 | 7th Gaudí Awards | Best Actor | El Niño | Nominated |
| 2016 | 21st Forqué Awards | Best Actor | Retribution | Nominated |
| 2016 | 3rd Feroz Awards | Best Actor | Retribution | Nominated |
| 2016 | 30th Goya Awards | Best Actor | Retribution | Nominated |
| 2019 | 17th Mestre Mateo Awards | Best Actor | Gun City | Won |
| 2020 | 34th Goya Awards | Best Actor | Eye for an Eye | Nominated |
| 2020 | 18th Mestre Mateo Awards | Best Actor | Eye for an Eye | Nominated |
| 2021 | 27th Forqué Awards | Best Actor | Maixabel | Nominated |
| 2022 | 36th Goya Awards | Best Actor | Maixabel | Nominated |
| 2022 | 30th Actors and Actresses Union Awards | Best Film Actor in a Leading Role | Maixabel | Nominated |
| 2022 | 9th Platino Awards | Best Actor | Maixabel | Nominated |
| 2022 | 28th Forqué Awards | Best Film Actor | On the Fringe | Nominated |
| 2023 | 10th Feroz Awards | Best Actor in a Film | On the Fringe | Nominated |
| 2023 | 37th Goya Awards | Best Actor | On the Fringe | Nominated |
| 2023 | 21st Mestre Mateo Awards | Best Actor | Code Name: Emperor | Nominated |
| 2023 | 10th Platino Awards | Best Actor | On the Fringe | Nominated |
| 2024 | 22nd Mestre Mateo Awards | Best Actor | Fatum | Nominated |
| 2025 | 26th Iris Awards | Best Actor | The Law of the Sea | Nominated |
| 2025 | 39th Goya Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Undercover | Nominated |
| 2025 | 12th Platino Awards | Best Actor | Undercover | Pending |

### 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)