Antone Pagán

Antone  Pagán

Actor*Director*Producer*Writer

 

by Dale Ricardo Shields

 

 Antone Pagán was raised in Harlem, New York. He has been a member of the famed Actors Studio since the late 1980s and was recently appointed to the studio’s membership committee. He listed among his Actors Studio mentors, Paul Calderon, Frank Corsaro, Lee Grant, Harvey Keitel, Elizabeth Kemp, Arthur Penn, Al Pacino, and Estelle Parsons.

Antone Pagán studied at NYU Tisch School of the Arts.  He later transferred to Circle in the Square to pursue mime, movement, and dance techniques in addition to his theater/acting studies.  He graduated from The Digital Film Academy student filmmaking course where he studied with his mentor and colleague Mevlut Akkaya of Akkaya Films, which led to his producing a few Indy films.

Two of which were showcased in the HBO-sponsored New York International Latino Film Festival where he was awarded The Independent Light Award for a producer with vision.

He is also a member of the professional performance unions: Screen Actors Guild, American Federation of Television and Radio Artist, and Actors Equity Association.

 

A veteran Bronx-born actor, producer, and director known for his extensive work across film, television, and theater for over 40 years.  

As of 2026, he remains a lifetime member of the famed Actors Studio, having joined in the late 1980s. 

“Actors Studio Member Antone Pagan most recently electrified The Studio with his honoring Don Campos in Alberto Vasquez’s new work in progress “The Last Revolutionary: Pedro Albizu Campos” which he supports and endorses Pa’lante Bori Bori“

 

Career Highlights

  • Film Roles: He has appeared in over 60 films, often in bit parts or character roles. Notable credits include his debut in Enter the Dragon, as well as roles in Taxi Driver, The Warriors, Stripes, Dirty Dancing, and Fatal Attraction.
  • Television Credits: Pagán is recognized for appearing as four different characters across all three primary shows in the Law & Order franchise (Original, SVU, and Criminal Intent). Other TV appearances include Miami Vice, The Sopranos, and Guiding Light.
  • Theater & Production: He is the artistic director of Silent Warrior Productions and founder of the New Family Theater Group, which aims to support emerging diverse voices in the arts. He has worked extensively with the plays of Miguel Piñero, including Short Eyes.
  • Voice Acting: He provided the voices for the “Innocentz” gang members in the 2003 Rockstar video game Manhunt. 
Professional Background
  • Education: He holds a B.A. in Theater from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts.
  • Memberships: He has been a member of SAG-AFTRA since 1979.
  • Skills: Beyond acting, he is a trained percussionist, stage combat consultant, and choreographer. 

 

Major theater credits include Bernardo in West Side Story with Todd Robinson, Vershinin in The Three Sisters, Raulito in Landscape of the Body, among others, and Paco Pasquale in Miguel Pinero’s, award-winning prison classic, Short Eyes and also as a workshop presentation at The Actors Studio.

 

GROWING UP GONZALES returns to Off-Broadway. (2026)

NY Times “Very Funny”

Daily News “It will Keep You Pinned To Your Seat”

Show Business Weekly “Rich & Entertaining”

Growing Up Gonzales is a One-Man- Play . When Johnny’s brother Cisco passes away it’s Johnny’s responsibility to clean out Cisco’s apartment. While cleaning, Johnny finds a box with pages and pages of Cisco’s memoirs. When Johnny sits down and begins to read the memoirs, the adventure begins. You’ll laugh until it hurts! 

 

THE CHAIN THEATER, 312 West 36th St. (bet 8th and 9th ave)

NY Times  –  “Very Funny”, Daily News “It will Keep You Pinned To Your Seat”, Show Business Weekly “Rich & Entertaining”

 

“I’ve been somewhat out of the flow and focused on parental care stuff for years prior, during and after the pandemic yet for years was cast in mostly theater stuff with The Alpha Omega Theatrical Dance Company/Theater that presented there and in La MaMa Theater. Also personal acting self work on craft in my beloved Actors Studio where I’m privileged to be a member since 1989. With the recent resurgence in my Artistic Life of “Growing Up Gonzalez”, a solo performance play by Felix Rojas, I am honored to revisit the Gonzales Brothers of Cisco and Johnny and my beloved birthplace and early years in the Boricua Boogie Down BX BRONX! Vaya! This announcement was made today to cap off a rather challenging year and time to say the least. However, I do believe this is a sign for myself and all of us that with Faith, Hope and Patience some good stuff can roll around again. Let’s be optimistic and Joyous and move forward towards a better 2026 and beyond.”

 

WEST SIDE STORY 

Anton’s stage and touring credits are extensive and he has played the character Bernado in English and Spanish in multiple national and international productions of West Side Story.

 

 

Julia De Burgos: Child of Water

Pablo Neruda opposite a long time fellow artist Frances Lozada as Iconic Poesia Julia De Burgos in Cuba back in the 1940s Theater time. We recently completed a successful run of Carmen Rivera’s “Julia De Burgos: Child of Water” at The AO Studio which was brilliantly directed by its Artistic Director Enrique Cruz De Jesus. Thanks to all who supported and/or sent a positive thought or vibe. Pa’lante to Pedro Albizu Campos and other important “True” stories we need to tell that are not only “Puerto Rican” but part of the often one sided “American” history as Island Puerto Ricans are omitted from much of History and even among voting rights. 

 

During the late 1970s and early 1980s, Antone Pagán transitioned from gang culture to acting, often securing roles that utilized his street-authentic background.
His filmography during this period includes:

 

 

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iforcolor

ARCHIVIST, EDUCATOR, HISTORIAN, and ARTiST
Dale Ricardo Shields is highly accomplished African American actor, director, producer, and educator with a distinguished career in theatre and academia.

Here's a summary of his background and achievements:

Early Life and Family:
Born on November 4, 1952, in Cleveland, Ohio.
His family has a strong musical background; his grandfather and father were founding members of the Shields Brothers Gospel Quartet of Ohio, and his mother was part of the Turner Gospel Singers.
He is a cousin of boxing promoter Don King.
Education:
Graduated from John F. Kennedy High School in 1970.
Holds both a BFA (1975) and MFA (1995) from Ohio University.

Career and Contributions
Theatre Professional:
Actor: Has appeared on Broadway, Off-Broadway, Off-Off-Broadway, and in regional productions. His television credits include The Cosby Show, Another World, Guiding Light, Saturday Night Live, and the ITV series Special Needs. He has also appeared in commercials and films.
Director and Stage Manager: Has extensive professional credits in these roles, including projects at Lincoln Center, The Henry Street Settlement House (New Federal Theatre), The Negro Ensemble Company, and The Joseph Papp Public Theatre.
Assistant Director: Served as assistant to Lloyd Richards and assistant director for the New Federal Theatre premiere of Ossie Davis's play A Last Dance With Sybil starring Ruby Dee and Earl Hyman.

Educator:
Professor: He is a Professor of Acting, Directing, Black Theatre, Black Studies, and Stage Management. He has taught at various institutions, including Ohio University, The College of Wooster, Denison University, Macalester College, Susquehanna University (as artist-in-residence), and SUNY Potsdam.
Workshops and Programs: Conducted workshops for Joseph Papp's Playwriting in the Schools Program (PITS) at The Public Theatre for six seasons and represented the United States at the ASSITEJ Theatre Festival in London, England, in 1988.
Artistic Activist and Historian:

Iforcolor.org: Creator and archivist for the Black History website Iforcolor.org, dedicated to preserving and sharing information about African Americans and artists of color. He also maintains the "Black Theatre/African American Voices" website on Facebook.
Project1VOICE Liaison: Serves as the Project1VOICE Liaison for the state of Ohio, directing "One Play One Day" events in Cleveland since 2011.

Awards and Recognition:
The Kennedy Center/Stephen Sondheim Inspirational Teacher Award: Recipient in 2017.
Paul Robeson Award: Recipient in 2021 (jointly presented by the Actors' Equity Association and Actors' Equity Foundation).
AUDELCO/"VIV" Special Achievement Award: Received in 2017.
Tony Award Nominee: Nominated for the "Excellence in Theatre Education Award" in 2015 and 2017.
Ebony Bobcat Network (EBN) Legend Award: Received from Ohio University in 2022.
ENCORE AWARD / The Actors Fund: Received in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2024.
Outstanding Professor Awards: Has received two of these and three "Educational Program of the Year" awards as a university professor.
The HistoryMakers archives: Interviewed and included in The HistoryMakers archives, permanently housed in the Library of Congress.
Dale Ricardo Shields is recognized for his profound impact on the lives of his students and his unwavering dedication to preserving and promoting Black theatre history and culture.