Award-winning actor/producer Yancey Arias is most recently known for his poignant performance as the cunning and ruthless General Alberto Cortez in USA Network’s hit series Queen of The South. Theater-going audiences will recognize Arias from his starring performance as Rivi Ayala in the
‘Must See Miami Play’ praised by Jitneybooks.com,Confessions of a Cocaine Cowboy, directed by Michael Hausman and written by Billy Corben and Aurin Squire. Now Arias touched back to his musical roots by composing and performing the new single “Just One Love”.
Arias had his first experience in entertainment at the tender age of twelve when his grandmother threw him on stage to sing a song for a neighborhood talent show at Henry Street Settlement in downtown Manhattan. Yancey was discovered by Professor James Green at Saint John’s Prep High School in Astoria, Queens, New York. Green then introduced Yancey to Stage Door Manor in Loch Sheldrake, New York, where he studied theater under Jack Romano every summer and in winter with fellow actors Vincent Laresca, Christian J. Meoli, and Josh Charles.
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During his last two years at Moore Catholic High School in Staten Island, New York, Yancey won first-place honors in New York City on the forensics team and took third in the nation for the drama category. Yancey went on to study theater in college at Carnegie Mellon University. On his way back to his junior year, he was discovered by the producers of Miss Saigon onBroadway and left school to join the cast for the next five years. During his years on Broadway, he continued his studies with Alan Savage. In 2000, Yancey joined the cast of George C. Wolfe’s The Wild Party with Eartha Kitt, Toni Collette and Mandy Patinkin.
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During his years on Broadway, he had the opportunity to work on several TV series as a guest star. He starred in and co-produced two independent films, Destination Unknown (1997) and Home Invaders (2001), which helped pave the way to his eventual move to Los Angeles. In 2002, Yancey had the privilege to be discovered by David Mills and Allen Coulter; Mills cast him in the title role of Miguel Cadena in the hit NBC miniseries Kingpin (2003). Yancey continued to thrive in television and film. Soon after the completion of that show, he was given the opportunity to work in many other projects with such greats as Edward James Olmos in American Family (2002) and Andre Brugher in Thief (2006).
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Today Yancey continues to excel as an actor in film and TV. He has
landed recurring roles in highly acclaimed series including Amazon’s series Bosch (2016-2018) as Mayor Hector Ramos, and starred in the commanding role of General Cortez in USA Network’s Queen of the South (2017-2018). He has added directing, writing, and producing to his experience as an artist. Yancey created his production company, NYC Films, with his friends and partners Nestor Miranda and Charlton Luis. Yancey currently has a film out in theaters across North America, Canal Street, which he Executive Produced, directed by his long time friend Rhyan Lamarr and distributed by Smith Global Media.
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Yancey is grateful to every agent and manager who has helped him over the years, such as Jean Fox, Chris Henze at Thruline Entertainment, the Paradigm agency, APA, and now Matt Luber and April Lim at GAA. He continues his studies with Alan Savage in New York, and Catlin Adams and ‘Howard Fine’ (III) in Los Angeles. Yancey honors his family, mentors, and God for all the support, love, and education he has received over the years.
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