René Lavan
Actor
Known for
Look past the top billing and you find René Lavan, a working actor, second or third on the call sheet rather than first. More often than not, the job has been drama. The professional span reaches 32 years so far. The best-known entry on the list is 'Christmas with the Kranks', playing Enrique Decardenal. 'Che: Part One' is the second title that tends to come up. Work began in 1994.
René Lavan
Actor
Nov 5, 1968
Age58years
Movies11
Series5
Look past the top billing and you find René Lavan, a working actor, second or third on the call sheet rather than first. More often than not, the job has been drama. The professional span reaches 32 years so far. The best-known entry on the list is 'Christmas with the Kranks', playing Enrique Decardenal. 'Che: Part One' is the second title that tends to come up. Work began in 1994.
Movies
Plays Enrique Decardenal
Christmas with the Kranks
2004
Plays Cuban Diplomat #2
Che: Part One
2008
Plays Carlos Suarez
Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights
2004
Director
Plays Alex’s Father
Red Light
2025
Plays Gustavo
Bitter Sugar
1996
Plays Francisco Alonso
Every Witch Way: Spellbound
2014
Plays Dale McClintock
Christmas Overtime
2024
Plays Julio
Tollbooth
1994
Latest Trailers
Watch Trailer
Christmas Overtime
Full Filmography 16
The Magnificent Mendez
Rey
2026
The Old Man and the Parrot
Yoelvis
2026
Red Light
Alex’s Father
2025
Christmas Overtime
Dale McClintock
2024
The Last Rafter
Thomas
2020
Every Witch Way: Spellbound
Francisco Alonso
2014
Every Witch Way
Francisco Alonso
2014Season 2
Burn Notice
Alejandro Lopez
2012Season 6
Che: Part One
Cuban Diplomat #2
2008
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is René Lavan?
René Lavan is 58 years old, born on November 5, 1968.
What are the most famous roles of René Lavan?
René Lavan is best known for roles in Christmas with the Kranks, Che: Part One, Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights.
How many movies has René Lavan been in?
Over a 32-year career (since 1994), René Lavan has appeared in 11 movies and 5 TV shows.
What was René Lavan's first movie?
The career of René Lavan began with Tollbooth (1994).
What is René Lavan's most recent movie or series?
René Lavan's most recent release is The Magnificent Mendez, which premiered on April 10, 2026.
What TV shows has René Lavan appeared in?
On television, René Lavan has appeared in CSI: Miami, Burn Notice, Las Vegas, Every Witch Way.
René Lavan
1968-11-05
Rene Lavan is a Cuban-American actor born in Artemisa, Cuba. He first gained widespread recognition starring in the hit Spanish-language telenovela Morelia, followed by leading roles in María Belén and Enamorada, becoming a familiar face to audiences across Latin America and beyond.
American audiences came to know Lavan through his role as Javier on One Life to Live. He later earned critical acclaim as the lead in Bitter Sugar (1996), directed by Leon Ichaso, portraying a young Cuban student confronting political repression in Cuba.
Lavan's film credits include Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights, Christmas with the Kranks, Che: Part One and Che: Part Two, while his television work includes guest appearances on CSI: Miami and Las Vegas. In 2005, he made his Broadway debut in Latinologues.
Educated at the New World School of the Arts and trained with Uta Hagen, Lavan has worked extensively in both English and Spanish-language productions. In addition to acting, he has hosted television specials and award shows and has produced Latino-focused film and television projects through his own production company.