Michael Mando

Michael Mando

Michael Mando in 2015
Born (1981-07-13) July 13, 1981
Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
Occupation Actor, Writer, and Director
Years active 2008—present
Website www.michaelmando.com

Michael Mando (born July 13, 1981) is a Canadian film and television actor, writer, and director with a background in contemporary and classical theatre. He is well known for his role as Vaas Montenegro, one of the main antagonists of the video game Far Cry 3, and for his role as Victor "Vic" Schmidt in the sci-fi thriller television series Orphan Black. He currently portrays Ignacio "Nacho" Varga in the AMC television series, Better Call Saul.

Early life

Mando was born in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. He was raised by his father, and is the middle child of three brothers.[1][2] Their family traveled a lot, and lived in over 10 cities, across 4 continents, and in over 37 different homes all before he reached his mid-twenties.[1][3][4] His native language is French, and he also speaks English and Spanish fluently.[1][2][4]

Mando was enrolled in many fields, including International Relations at the University of Montreal, before discovering the performing arts at The Dome Theatre Program (Dawson College) in 2004.[2] Despite no prior training, Michael went on to play the male lead in all 5 productions at the program.[2][4] He graduated with excellence in 2007.[1] His Dome credits include, Orlando in Shakespeare’s As You Like It, Professor Katz in David Edgar’s Pentecost and Valentine Xavier in Tennessee Williams’ Orpheus Descending.[1][2] Upon graduation, Steven W. Lecky, the Chairman of the program proudly stated Michael to be “one of the finest talents to emerge from the program in the past 25 years.”[1][4]

Acting career

After playing the leading character in two award winning professional theatre productions in Montreal,[1][4] Mando promptly founded Red Barlo Productions.[2][4][5] The company’s first film, Conditional Affection [6](which Mando starred in, directed and wrote) was released in 2010 and officially selected to Fantasia,[7][8] Bare Bones,[8][9] ACTRA Short Films,[2][8] and the New Hope International Film Festivals.[8][10]

Mando’s television debut simultaneously followed with a wide range of contrasting characters. His credits include guest appearances in the crime series The Bridge,[11] the medical drama mini-series Bloodletting and Miraculous Cures,[12] as an MS-13 gang member in The Border,[13] and as a close friend of the character Kenzi (played by Ksenia Solo) in the sci-fi series Lost Girl.[14]

Mando has had repeated collaborations with directors John Fawcett and Eric Canuel as well as producer David Barlow.[15][16] He had a starring role in the 2010 feature film Territories.[17][18] In 2011, he had a recurring role in Les Bleus de Ramville[17][19] and a guest appearance on the series King.[1][17] In 2012, he featured in Far Cry 3 where he voiced and inspired one of the main villains: Vaas Montenegro,[20] a vicious and twisted antagonist who arguably became the main face of the video game. He also starred in a webseries called "The Far Cry Experience"[21] where he plays Vaas who captures and tortures a celebrity (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) who has been challenged to survive the island.

In 2012, Mando was cast in the first season of the science fiction television series. Orphan Black, which began airing in 2013.[22] He played Vic, an abusive drug-dealer and was nominated for a Canadian Screen Award for his work on the series.[23] He reprised his role of Vic in the second season in a recurring role. In 2014, Mando joined the cast of Better Call Saul, the Breaking Bad spin-off, portraying Nacho, a "Spanish-speaking career criminal".[24]

Personal life

Mando grew up wanting to be a writer or an athlete.[25][3] In his mid-twenties he suffered a knee injury and consequently decided to change directions.[3] He then pursued an academic scholarship at the University of Montreal in International Relations, but shortly afterward decided to go into acting.[1][2][3]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2010 Conditional Affection Jack Short film
Also director, writer, producer
2010 Territories Jalii Adel Kahlid
2011 Abyss of the Mind Johnny H.
2012 The Good Lie Orville
2013 The Colony Cooper
2013 Make Your Move Raphael
2013 Elysium Rico Uncredited
2016 Wake Up Johnny H. / Alter Ego Short film
Also director, writer, producer

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2008–2010 The Border Mirza / Marco 2 episodes
2009 The Last Templar Necia First Mate 2 episodes
2009 Web of Lies Danny Wilcox Television film
2009 Flashpoint Felipe Episode: "Eagle Two"
2010 Bloodletting and Miraculous Cures Dr. Manolas 2 episodes
2010 The Bridge K9 Episode: "Voices Carry"
2010 Lost Girl Neville Episode: "(Dis)Members Only"
2011 King Esteban Demarco Episode: "T-Bone"
2011 Michael: Tuesdays & Thursdays Alain Episode: "Unscripted Conversation"
2012 The Pregnancy Project Javier Rodriguez Television film
2012 Les Bleus de Ramville Marc-Andre David 8 episodes
2012 Psych Chuy Episode: "Let's Doo-Wop It Again"
2012 The Killing Vasquez Episode: "Off the Reservation"
2013 The Listener Len Gazicki Episode: "Buckle Up"
2013 Rookie Blue Cesar Medina Episode: "The Kids Are Not Alright"
2013 Covert Affairs Eduardo Episode: "Into the Blue"
2013–2014 Orphan Black Vic 9 episodes
2014 La marraine Alvaro Pessoa 5 episodes
2015–present Better Call Saul Nacho Varga 11 episodes

Video games

Year Title Role Notes
2010 Shaun White Skateboarding Francisco Crystobal Voice
2012 Far Cry 3 Vaas Montenegro Voice and likeness

Web

Year Title Role
2012 Far Cry Experience Vaas 5 episodes

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Michael Mando Biography". Internet Movie Database (IMDb).
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "GUEST: Michael Mando". Friday Night Live!. October 29, 2010. Archived from [url=http://www.fridaynightlive.ca/videos/fnl02guest02.aspx the original] Check |url= value (help) on July 6, 2011. Retrieved December 30, 2010.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "GUEST: Michael Mando". Friday Night Live!. October 29, 2010. Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved December 30, 2010.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Trivia". Michael Mando Official Site.
  5. ↑ "Team". Red Barlo Productions Official Site.
  6. ↑ IMDb,Conditional Affection
  7. ↑ 2010 Fantasia Film Festival
  8. 1 2 3 4 "Conditional Affection". Red Barlo Productions Official Site.
  9. ↑ Bare Bones Film Festival
  10. ↑ "Profile: Michael Mando". Kim Vaincourt Site.
  11. ↑ IMDb, The Bridge: Voices Carry
  12. ↑ IMDb, Bloodletting and Miraculous Cures: All Souls
  13. ↑ IMDb, The Border: No Refuge
  14. ↑ IMDb, Lost Girl: (Dis)Members Only
  15. ↑ IMDb, John Fawcett
  16. ↑ IMDb, Eric Canuel
  17. 1 2 3 "Filmography". Michael Mando Official Site.
  18. ↑ IMDb, Territories
  19. ↑ "Backstage help needed on Francophone TV Series", Northern Life, August 20, 2010. Accessed December 30, 2010.
  20. ↑
  21. ↑
  22. ↑ "SPACE, BBC America, and Temple Street Productions Announce Canadian-Born Actor Tatiana Maslany as the Lead in New Original Series ORPHAN BLACK" (Press release). Bell Media. September 17, 2012. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
  23. ↑ "2014 CANADIAN SCREEN AWARDS Television Nominations". Canadian Screen Awards. January 13, 2014. pp. 1, 17, 20, 27, 28, 33, 40, 41, 44. Retrieved January 16, 2014.
  24. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (May 8, 2014). "Patrick Fabian, Rhea Seehorn & Michael Mando Cast In ‘Breaking Bad’ Prequel Series ‘Better Call Saul’". Deadline. Retrieved May 9, 2014.
  25. ↑ "Interview with Michael Mando – The Voice of Vaas". Unfinished Man. Retrieved 17 September 2014.

External links

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