The Varied Fates of the "Ugly Betty" Cast Two Decades On
From Oscar nominations to legal troubles, the stars of the beloved ABC comedy have had diverse career paths since the show ended.
This month marks the 20th anniversary of the premiere of "Ugly Betty," the ABC comedy-drama that followed the journey of Betty Suarez, an earnest and unfashionable assistant at a high-fashion magazine. The show, created by the late Silvio Horta, garnered critical acclaim, winning three Emmy Awards and two Golden Globes during its four-year run.
Since the series concluded in 2010, the cast members have experienced a range of career trajectories and personal milestones.
America Ferrera - Betty Suarez
America Ferrera, who portrayed the titular character, has enjoyed a sustained and successful career. Before "Ugly Betty," she appeared in "Real Women Have Curves" and "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants." Her performance as Betty Suarez earned her an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe, and she was recognized by U.S. Congresswoman Hilda Solis for breaking down stereotypes and serving as a role model for young Latinas. Ferrera was also named to Time's 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2007 and 2024.
Following "Ugly Betty," Ferrera lent her voice to Astrid in the "How to Train Your Dragon" franchise and returned to television as Amy in NBC's "Superstore," which ran for six seasons. In 2023, she starred as Gloria in the blockbuster film "Barbie," earning an Oscar nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.
Eric Mabius - Daniel Meade
Eric Mabius, who played the editor-in-chief Daniel Meade, began his career with roles in "Cruel Intentions" and "Resident Evil." After "Ugly Betty," he starred in the Hallmark Channel series "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" and its subsequent TV movies. He also had a recurring role on "Chicago Fire" and appeared in several Hallmark films. Most recently, he starred in the 2022 Hallmark movie "Haul Out the Holly" and is set to appear in the upcoming TV series "Head Trip."
In February 2025, Mabius was arrested for battery and resisting law enforcement in Florida following an altercation at a bar. However, prosecutors dropped the charges in May 2025, and the case was sealed.
Tony Plana - Ignacio Suarez
Tony Plana, who played Betty's father, Ignacio Suarez, had an extensive acting career before and after "Ugly Betty." His credits include "An Officer and a Gentleman," "Three Amigos," "The West Wing," and "The Punisher." He also appeared in "Superstore" with America Ferrera and portrayed Geraldo Rivera in the 2019 film "Bombshell."
Plana has also transitioned into directing, helming TV movies and episodes of series such as "Resurrection Blvd." and "Desperate Housewives." He most recently appeared in the HBO series "White House Plumbers."
Ana Ortiz - Hilda Suarez
Ana Ortiz, who played Betty's older sister Hilda Suarez, had her first series regular role in the short-lived 2001 series "Kristin." She also appeared in the war drama series "Over There." During "Ugly Betty," she lent her voice to Anna Ramirez in the animated movie "Batman: Gotham Knight" and starred in the TV movie "Little Girl Lost: The Delimar Vera Story."
Ortiz later starred as Marisol Suarez in the Lifetime series "Devious Maids" and voiced Rafa in "Elena of Avalor." Her recent roles include Isabel Salazar in the TV series "Love, Victor" and Alexandra Romanov in "History of the World, Part II."
Becki Newton - Amanda Tanen
Becki Newton, as the receptionist Amanda Tanen, had guest-starring roles on "Guiding Light," "Cold Case," and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" before her breakout role on "Ugly Betty." After the show, she had arcs on "How I Met Your Mother," "Weird Loners," and "Divorce."
Currently, Newton can be seen in the Netflix series "The Lincoln Lawyer" as Lorna Crane.
Michael Urie - Marc St. James
Michael Urie, who played Wilhelmina Slater's assistant Marc St. James, began his career on stage after attending the Julliard School. He appeared in the play "WTC View" and its film adaptation. After "Ugly Betty," Urie starred in films like "The Decoy Bride" and the TV series "Partners." He has also had arcs on "Modern Family" and "Shrinking," and recently appeared in Bradley Cooper's film "Maestro."
Mark Indelicato - Justin Suarez
Mark Indelicato, who played Betty's nephew Justin Suarez, had minor roles in "The Chappelle Show" and "Hack" before joining "Ugly Betty." The character of Justin was noted for being one of the youngest openly gay characters on television at the time.
After the show, Indelicato stepped back from acting to pursue International Relations and Gender Studies at New York University. He returned to acting in films like "White Bird in a Blizzard" and the Freeform series "Dead of Summer." He has since appeared in HBO Max's "Hacks" and the Amazon Prime Video series "With Love."
Vanessa Williams - Wilhelmina Slater
Vanessa Williams, who played the formidable Wilhelmina Slater, made history in 1984 as the first Black Miss America. Her career spans music and acting, with roles in the film "Eraser" and her debut album "The Right Stuff." "Ugly Betty" was her first starring TV role, and her portrayal earned her three Emmy nominations.
Following the series, Williams joined the cast of "Desperate Housewives" for two seasons and appeared in the ABC series "666 Park Avenue." She has also voiced characters in animated productions and recently starred in a West End production of "The Devil Wears Prada" musical.