Yancey Arias, a talented actor, was born in the vibrant Lower East Side of Manhattan, New York City. His journey in the entertainment industry began at the tender age of twelve when his grandmother, in a bold move, thrust him onto the stage to sing a song for a neighborhood talent show at Henry Street Settlement in downtown Manhattan.
Professor James Green, who discovered Yancey at Saint John's Prep High School in Astoria, Queens, New York, introduced him to Stage Door Manor in Loch Sheldrake, New York, where he spent his summers studying theater under Jack Romano. During his winters, Yancey honed his craft alongside fellow actors Vincent Laresca, Christian J. Meoli, and Josh Charles.
As a student at Moore Catholic High School in Staten Island, New York, under the guidance of Fran Jorin and Mrs. Sparago, Yancey won first-place honors in New York City's forensics team and took third in the nation for the drama category. He then went on to study theater at Carnegie Mellon University.
Before completing his junior year, Yancey was discovered by the producers of Miss Saigon on Broadway and left school to join the cast for the next five years. During his time on Broadway, he continued his studies with Alan Savage, whom he credits for providing him with valuable knowledge and support.
In 2000, Yancey joined the cast of George C. Wolfe's "The Wild Party" alongside Eartha Kitt, Toni Collette, and Mandy Patinkin. He also had the opportunity to work on several TV series as a guest star and starred in and co-produced two independent films, Destination Unknown (1997) and Home Invaders (2001).
Yancey's breakthrough role came in 2002 when he was discovered by David Mills and Allen Coulter, who cast him in the title role of Miguel Cadena in the hit NBC miniseries Kingpin (2003). He continued to thrive in television and film, working with esteemed actors such as Edward James Olmos in American Family (2002) and Andre Braugher in Thief (2006).
Today, Yancey continues to excel as an actor in film and television, adding directing, writing, and producing to his repertoire. He has recently starred in the hit USA series "Queen Of The South" as General Cortez. Yancey is grateful to his agents and managers, including Jean Fox of Fox and Albert Management, Chris Henze at Thruline Entertainment, the Paradigm agency, APA, and now Matt Luber and April Lim at GAA.
Yancey has continued his studies with Alan Savage in New York and Catlin Adams and Howard Fine in Los Angeles. He honors his family, mentors, and God for the support, love, and education he has received over the years. Yancey and his wife Anna welcomed their first son, Jiancarlo Arias, and later their daughter, Giovanna Arias.
