Carlos Manuel Vesga Sánchez (born January 30, 1976), also credited as Carlos-Manuel Vesga, is a Colombian theater, film, and television actor.
He is known for his role in the 2010 Colombian telenovela Amor sincero, playing Samuel Medina, as well as in the 2013 series La prepago, where he played the role of Alejandro Sanjuán. Since 2025, he has starred in the Apple TV series Pluribus as Manousos Oviedo.
Early life and education Carlos Manuel Vesga Sánchez was born in Bogotá, Colombia. During his youth, he created his own rock band.
He initially studied architecture at Pontifica Universidad Javeriana. Upon completing his architecture degree, he moved to New York City to study acting at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute. Although trained in "The Method", Vesga has stated in interviews that he views acting more as a "serious game" rather than a search for absolute emotional truth, diverging slightly from strict Strasberg techniques.
Career Early work and breakthrough Vesga's career began when he returned to Colombia and was cast in the telenovela Pobre Pablo (2000). He steadily built a reputation as a character actor, avoiding the typical heartthrob ("galán") stereotype, while securing significant roles.
His major breakthrough came in 2010 with the hit series Amor sincero, a biopic of the singer Marbelle. Vesga played Samuel Medina, the protagonist's father. The role was a cultural phenomenon in Colombia; despite playing a father figure rather than a romantic lead, the character became incredibly popular with female audiences for his portrayal of an ideal husband. For this performance, he won the India Catalina Award for Best Leading Actor in a Telenovela in 2011.
Villain roles and international success
Vesga transitioned to playing antagonists, gaining critical acclaim for his "hated" villain roles. Notable antagonistic performances include Alejandro Sanjuán in La prepago (2013) and the sadistic "Picasso" in El Bronx (2019).
In 2024, he achieved widespread recognition for playing two major villains simultaneously on Colombian television: Alfredo Azcárate in Devuélveme la vida and Francisco "El Flaco" Marulanda in the Netflix survival thriller The Hijacking of Flight 601 (Secuestro del vuelo 601). The latter became one of Netflix's most-watched non-English series globally that year.
In 2025, it was announced that Vesga would be joining the cast of Pluribus, a series by Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan. He plays the role of Manousos Oviedo, one of the few people immune to an alien virus that has overtaken the world, who refuses contact with the infected.
Personal life Vesga is married to Colombian actress Jimena Durán. The couple met while studying at the same university, though they did not begin a relationship until years later when they reconnected in the acting industry. They married in 2013.
Acting credits Television Year Title Role 2000–2002 Pobre Pablo Wilson Casilima 2006–2007 Floricienta "Pipo" 2007 Mujeres asesinas Diego (Episode: "Lucia, la memoriosa") 2007–2008 Pura sangre Isidro Chaparro 2009 Las trampas del amor Marlon Romano 2010 Amor sincero Samuel Medina Uribe 2010–2011 La Pola Colonel José Ignacio Rodríguez 'Mosca' 2011 El man es Germán Felipe "Pipe" (Episode 29, Season 2) 2012 Escobar: el patrón del mal Carlos Mauro Hoyos 2012–2013 Corazones blindados Sub-lieutenant Vicente Yáñez 2013 Tres Caínes Hernan Dario Henao 'HH' La prepago Alejandro Sanjuan Allá te espero Álvaro Jaramillo 2013–2014 Los graduados Guillermo 'Guille' Aldana 2015 Laura, la santa colombiana 2015–2016 Celia Billy 2016 Contra el tiempo Roberto Cuervo 2016–2017 La ley del corazón Óscar Jaramillo Las Vega's German Ordóñez 2017 La nocturna José Osorio 2018 Nadie me quita lo bailao Daniel 2018–2019 María Magdalena Umit 2019 Tormenta de amor El Naño Ovalle Córdova 'un general llamado arrojo''' || Simón Bolívar |- | De levante || Nicolas |- | El Bronx || Marlon Galeano 'Picasso' |- | 2019–2020 || El general Naranjo || Sergeant Andrade |- | rowspan="2" | 2020 || La de troya 2 || Lorenzo - Producer |- | Operación Pacífico || Michael |- | rowspan="2" | 2021 || El Cartel de los Sapos: el origen || Emanuel Villegas Ulloa |- | Café con aroma de mujer || Danilo |- | rowspan="2" | 2022 || A grito herido || Bernardo |- | Noticia de un secuestro || César Gaviria |- | rowspan="2" | 2024 || Secuestro del vuelo 601 || Francisco "El Flaco" Marulanda |- | Devuélveme la vida || Alfredo Azcárate Valencia (young) |- | 2025–present || Pluribus'' Manousos Oviedo
Film Year Title Role 2005 El trato 2006 Soñar no cuesta nada Justo Perlaza 2013 Roa Vicente 2015 Uno al año no hace daño 2 Germán 2016 Rebel Pope Young Jesuit 2017 Loving Pablo La Plaga 2018 La pena máxima Poncho Tuya, mía… te la apuesto 2023 Perder es ganar un poco Armando El yuppie y el Guiso Camilo Mallarino / Edgar López 2025 Donde tu quieras Agustin
Theater Year Title Role Note 2019 La verdad es un juego de mentiras Pablo National Theater
Music Year Band Song 1995 El Jardín de Daniela "San Pedro" 1996 "Azul"
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Work Result2011TVyNovelas AwardsBest Supporting Actor (Series)Amor sincero India Catalina Awards Best Lead Actor (Telenovela) 2013 Best Supporting Actor (Telenovela) Corazones blindados 2020 Best Supporting Actor (Telenovela or Series) Córdova, un general llamado arrojo 2026 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Pluribus
References
External links Carlos Manuel Vesga at Colarte (Archived) Profile at Actores colombianos Carlos Manuel Vesga, from architect to actor