Conrad Pla
Canadian actor and kickboxer (b. 1966)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Conrad Pla (born October 24, 1966) is a Spanish-born Canadian actor, martial artist, and former professional kickboxer. He competed as a light heavyweight and super middleweight between 1984 and 1998, and held both the ISKA North American and WKA Intercontinental championships. He is a co-founder of and trainer at Tristar Gym.[1]
Conrad Pla | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 24, 1966 Madrid, Spain |
| Occupations | Actor, kickboxer |
| Martial arts career | |
| Division | Light heavyweight, super middleweight |
| Style | |
| Fighting out of | Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Team | Tristar Gym |
| Years active | 1984-1998 |
Since retiring from kickboxing, Pla has worked as a film and television actor, notably as Carlos Serrano on ReGenesis (2004–08), Sergeant Julien Houle on 19-2 (2014–17), and Colonel Janus on The Expanse (2017). He has also provided voiceover work for video games, notably the Assassin's Creed and Far Cry series.
Early life
Pla was born in Madrid and moved to Canada with his parents at the age of three.[2] Both of his parents were nuclear physicists. He began studying martial arts at the age of 14.
Kickboxing career
Pla was a professional kickboxer between the ages of 18 and 32. He competed in the light heavyweight and super middleweight division. With 26 pro fights, he was ranked 3rd in the world, was the ISKA North American Champion as well as the WKA Intercontinental Champion. He fought Javier Mendez for the ISKA World title in Santa Cruz, California, in 1995 but lost a close split decision.[3][4] He retired from active competition at the end of the decade due to injury.
Pla founded the Tristar Gym in 1991 together with Michel Lavallée and Ron Di Cecco.[5][1] In 2001, the gym was sold to Alexandre Choko.[5] He currently teaches kickboxing and Muay Thai in Montreal.[6]
Acting career
Following his retirement from kickboxing, Pla turned to acting, studying under Danielle Schneider and Ivana Chubbuck. He has had supporting roles in films such as 16 Blocks, The Terminal, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, The Sum of All Fears, Jericho Mansions, Max Payne and Pawn Sacrifice. He was the male lead in the 2004 horror film Eternal.
In 2009, Pla was the writer and director for Burning Mussolini, in which he also acted opposite his friend and ReGenesis co-star Peter Outerbridge. In 2013, he had a supporting role in the film Riddick as Vargas. He also played the main antagonist of Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, Governor Laureano de Torres y Ayala. He also played the voicing of Jackal in Rainbow Six Siege. In 2017, Pla portrayed the science officer Colonel Janus over the course of five episodes of the space opera TV series, The Expanse. In 2021, Pla appeared in Ubisoft's Far Cry 6 as guerilla fighter Carlos Montero.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Dead Awake | Veronica | |
| 2002 | Swindle | Cisco | |
| The Sum of All Fears | Pentagon Security Guard | ||
| Steal | Officer | ||
| Nearest to Heaven | Bellboy | Uncredited | |
| Confessions of a Dangerous Mind | Large Man | ||
| 2003 | Chasing Holden | Cornish Pedestrian | |
| Jericho Mansions | Cordero | ||
| 2004 | The Terminal | CBP Officer | |
| Eternal | Raymond Pope | ||
| 2006 | 16 Blocks | Ortiz | |
| 2007 | Imitation | Angel | |
| 2008 | Max Payne | Captain Bowen | |
| 2009 | Burning Mussolini | Paul Choquino | Also writer and director |
| 2010 | Casino Jack | Agent Hanley | |
| 2011 | Immortals | Jailer | |
| 2012 | The Factory | Steve | |
| 2013 | The Informant | Chauffeur | |
| Riddick | Vargas | ||
| 2014 | Pawn Sacrifice | Carmine Nigro | |
| Wings of the Dragon | Slaven | ||
| 2018 | The Hummingbird Project | Agent Santana | |
| 2023 | Evergreen$ | Homeless Santa | |
| Out Standing | Gaetan Perron |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | All Souls | Cardenza | Episode: "Bad Blood" |
| No Ordinary Baby | Policeman | Television film | |
| Tracker | Victor | Episode: "Pilot" | |
| Relic Hunter | Brando | Episode: "Devil Doll" | |
| 2002 | The Rendering | Ernesto | Television film |
| Street Time | Paco Aviles | 2 episodes | |
| Just a Walk in the Park | Girardo | Television film | |
| Odyssey 5 | Paul Nieves | 2 episodes | |
| Lathe of Heaven | Search Man | Television film | |
| Conviction | Trustee | ||
| Mutant X | Valdex | Episode: "Power Play" | |
| Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye | Vince Toma | Episode: "The Signing" | |
| Big Wolf on Campus | Officer | Episode: "Switch Me Baby One More Time" | |
| 2003 | Wicked Minds | Det. Mormino | Television film |
| Wild Card | Ray Ramirez | Pilot episode | |
| Wall of Secrets | Diego | Television film | |
| 2004 | False Pretenses | Nando | |
| The Wool Cap | Cop at Bar | ||
| 2004–08 | ReGenesis | Carlos Serrano | 52 episodes |
| 2005 | Kevin Hill | Juan Fontez | 2 episodes |
| Kojak | Sergeant Mendoza | Episode: "Kind of Blue" | |
| 2006 | Why I Wore Lipstick to My Mastectomy | Cuban Taxi Driver | Television film |
| 2007 | The Robber Bride | Sgt. Parker | |
| Lethal Obsession | George Friezen | ||
| 2009 | Flashpoint | Rafael Castillo | Episode: "Eagle Two" |
| Hidden Crimes | Finn | Television film | |
| Guns | Detective Smith | 2 episodes | |
| The Line | Sal Florio | 15 episodes | |
| The Beautiful Life | Carlos Velora | Episode: "Pilot" | |
| The Border | Peter Romano | Episode: "The Dead" | |
| 2010 | Tangled | Jacob | Television film |
| Covert Affairs | Felix Artigas | Episode: "When the Levee Breaks" | |
| Durham County | Mitch Tanzy | Episode: "Family Day" | |
| 2011 | Republic of Doyle | Robert Stanford | Episode: "Live and Let Doyle" |
| King | Lucio Barrata | Episode: "T-Bone" | |
| XIII: The Series | Miguel Santos | Episode: "Lockdown" | |
| Alphas | Luke | Episode: "Bill and Gary's Excellent Adventure" | |
| 2012 | The Firm | Manny Reyes | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 2013 | Nikita | Vasquez | Episode: "High-Value Target" |
| The Listener | Carter O'Brien | Episode: "Caged In" | |
| 2014 | Hell on Wheels | Jose Spano | Episode: "Life's a Mystery" |
| 2014–17 | 19-2 | Sergeant Julien Houle | 22 episodes |
| 2015 | Dark Matter | Cain | 2 episodes |
| The Art of More | Mel Thomas | 3 episodes | |
| Les Jeunes Loups | Pedro Diaz | Episode #2.7 | |
| 2015–16 | Rogue | Ordonez | 5 episodes |
| 2016 | Suits | Ron Da'Mico | Episode: "Blowback" |
| Pregnant at 17 | Dom Sheridans | Television film | |
| Quantico | Agent Mike Alonzo | Episode: "Drive" | |
| 2017 | The Expanse | Colonel Janus | 5 episodes |
| 21 Thunder | Albert Rocas | 7 episodes | |
| Star Trek: Discovery | Stone | Episode: "Context Is for Kings" | |
| 2018 | Taken | El Major | Episode: "S.E.R.E." |
| Frankie Drake Mysteries | Vernon Ashton | Episode: "Dealer's Choice" | |
| 2019 | Pure | Octavio Orff | 6 episodes |
| 2019–present | Blood & Treasure | FBI Agent Harper | 3 episodes |
| 2021 | Departure | Carlos Orega | 2 episodes |
| 2022 | Transplant | Frank Brezina | Episode: "Roads" |
Video games
| Year | Title | Voice role |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Assassin's Creed III: Liberation | Diego Vásquez |
| 2013 | Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag | Laureano de Torres y Ayala / Additional characters |
| 2021 | Far Cry 6 | Carlos Montero |