Manuel Landeta Biography: Wife, Movies, Age, Net Worth, Children, Height, Parents

Biography

Manuel Landeta (born José Manuel Goenaga Jassan on October 5, 1958, in Mexico City) is a renowned Mexican actor and singer, best known for his extensive career in telenovelas spanning over four decades.

He debuted in acting in 1983 with the telenovela La pasión de Isabela and rose to prominence with his first leading role in Martín Garatuza (1986).

Over the years, he has appeared in numerous popular productions, including Teresa (2010), Corazón Valiente, La Impostora (for which he won a 2014 Premios Tu Mundo award), Huapango (2004), and many others.

In addition to acting, Landeta has pursued a music career, releasing the vocal album Mírame in the early 2000s. He has also performed in theater productions such as José el soñador and Loco por ti.

A family man in the entertainment industry, he is the father of actors and singers Imanol Landeta and Jordi Landeta. Still active today, Landeta remains a respected figure in Mexican television and entertainment.

Mexican actor and singer
Manuel Landeta
Wiki Facts & About Data
Real Name:	José Manuel Goenaga Jassan
Stage Name:	Manuel Landeta
Born:	5 October 1958 (age 67 years old)
Place of Birth:	Mexico City, Mexico
Nationality:	Mexican
Education:	N/A
Height:	1.80 m
Parents:	Carlos Goenaga, Elena Jassan
Siblings:	3
Spouse:	Angelina Martí (m. 1985)
Girlfriend • Partner:	Not Dating
Children:	Imanol Landeta, Jordi Landeta
Occupation:	Actor • Singer
Net Worth:	$1 million-$5 million (USD)

Early Life & Education

Manuel Landeta, born José Manuel Goenaga Jassan on October 5, 1958, in Mexico City, Mexico, grew up in a family navigating significant challenges that shaped his resilient character.

His father, Carlos Goenaga, was a businessman who suffered major setbacks, including the loss of his enterprise, which at one point left him facing homelessness—a hardship Manuel has referenced in interviews as a formative experience during his youth.

His mother, Elena Jassan, provided stability amid these difficulties, supporting the household through turbulent times. Landeta has spoken of his father’s initial disapproval of his pursuit of acting, viewing the entertainment world with skepticism and concern over its perceptions.

He grew up with three brothers, forming part of a close-knit sibling group in Mexico City, where family ties remained important despite economic strains. Of Mexican nationality, his ethnicity reflects the common Latin American diversity: his surname, Goenaga, suggests Basque-Spanish heritage on his paternal side.

At the same time, Jassan points to possible Levantine (often Lebanese or Syrian) ancestry, typical of many families with Middle Eastern immigration roots in Mexico during the 20th century. Landeta was raised in the Catholic faith, which is prevalent in Mexican society and has influenced cultural aspects of his life and career, though he rarely discusses it publicly.

For his education, he attended local schools in Mexico City during his early years but did not pursue extensive formal academic studies.

Instead, he focused on professional training in the performing arts, receiving instruction in classical dance at an academy under the tutelage of figures like Alejandra Divina, alongside self-developed skills in singing and acting that launched his career by his late teens and early twenties.

Career

Manuel Landeta has enjoyed a prolific and enduring career in Mexican entertainment, primarily as a leading actor in telenovelas, with additional ventures into film, theater, music, and reality television.

Spanning over four decades since his debut in the early 1980s, he has become a respected figure known for his versatility in portraying romantic leads, antagonists, and complex supporting characters.

He made his acting debut around 1983–1984 in the telenovela La pasión de Isabela, marking the start of his television journey at approximately age 25–26. The following year, he appeared in Juana Iris.

His breakthrough came in 1986 with his first starring role in Martín Garatuza, where he played the titular character in a historical drama set in colonial Mexico, establishing him as a prominent leading man in Televisa productions.

Throughout the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s, Landeta built a solid portfolio, appearing in numerous successful telenovelas, including Rubí (2004, as an antagonist, earning a TVyNovelas nomination), La fea más bella (2006–2007), and Mar de amor (2008–2010).

In the late 2000s and 2010s, he gained renewed acclaim for villainous and dramatic performances, such as Rubén Cáceres Muro in the 2010 remake of Teresa (earning a TVyNovelas nomination for Best Antagonist Actor) and Bernardo del Castillo in Corazón valiente (2012–2013, nominated for Best Villain at Premios Tu Mundo).

His most notable recognition came in 2014 with the role of Adriano Ferrer in La Impostora, for which he won the Premios Tu Mundo award for Primer Actor (Legendary/First Actor), cementing his status as a veteran star.

Other highlights include Amor de barrio (2015), Un camino hacia el destino (2016), Mi marido tiene familia (2017), El señor de los cielos (2019–2020), and Contigo sí (2021).

Beyond telenovelas, Landeta has appeared in films like Huapango (2004, as Santiago) and participated in anthology series such as Mujeres asesinas and Los simuladores (2008–2009).

In theater, he performed in productions including José el soñador (1998) and Loco por ti (2000), as well as musicals such as Crazy for You (Mexican premiere). He also pursued a music career, releasing the vocal album Mírame in 2001, which featured romantic pop tracks.

Additionally, he competed on reality shows such as Bailando por México (2005) and Bailando por la Boda de mis Sueños (2006), showcasing his dance skills.

Social Media

• Wikipedia Manuel Landeta
• Instagram: Manuel Landeta (@manuel_landeta)
• IMDb: Manuel Landeta
• Twitter: Manuel Landeta (@Manuel_Landeta) / X

Personal Life

Manuel Landeta is 67 years old, having been born on October 5, 1958, in Mexico City. He stands at a height of 1.80 m (approximately 5’11”).

Landeta has been married to Angelina Martí since October 5, 1985 (sharing his birthday as their wedding date, according to some profiles), and the couple has been together for over 40 years, according to recent interviews.

Angelina is the mother of his children, and the marriage is described as stable and enduring, with Landeta occasionally sharing insights into their relationship in media appearances, emphasizing companionship beyond the early years.

He is the father of two sons: Imanol Landeta (born July 23, 1987), a well-known actor and singer who began his career as a child star, and Jordi Landeta, who has also pursued acting and music. Both sons have followed in their father’s footsteps in the entertainment industry, creating a family legacy in Mexican show business.

Recent social media rumors in late 2024, suggesting that additional children will appear, are unsubstantiated and have been addressed as misinformation in the actor’s clarifications.

Net Worth

Manuel Landeta‘s net worth is estimated to be in the range of $1 million to $5 million USD (approximately MXN 20–100 million, based on current exchange rates).

This figure reflects his long and consistent career as a veteran Mexican actor, primarily in telenovelas with Televisa and other networks, where he has secured steady roles as a leading man, antagonist, and supporting actor over more than four decades.

Earnings from high-profile productions like La Impostora (for which he won a Premios Tu Mundo award), Teresa, Corazón valiente, and ongoing appearances contribute significantly, alongside income from theater performances, his 2001 music album Mírame, reality TV participations (such as dance competitions), and occasional film work.

As a respected but not top-tier superstar in the highly competitive Mexican entertainment industry, his wealth is built on longevity, family-oriented stability, and diversified pursuits rather than blockbuster-level fame or endorsements.

Filmography

Telenovelas and Television Series (Selected Highlights)

• La pasión de Isabela (1984) – Debut role
• Juana Iris (1985) – Jaime
• Martín Garatuza (1986) – Martín Garatuza (first leading role, 90 episodes)
• El cristal empañado (1989) – Claudio
• Ángeles sin paraíso (1992) – Abelardo
• Clarisa (1993) – Roberto Arellano / Rolando Garza
• Sentimientos ajenos (1996) – Role in the series
• Piel de otoño (2004–2005) – Víctor Guitiérrez
• Rubí (2004) – Lucio Montemayor “El Conde de Aragón” (antagonist role, TVyNovelas nomination)
• Mañana es para siempre (2008–2009) – Graciano
• Fuego en la sangre (2008) – Anselmo Cruz
• Destilando amor (2007) – Role
• Mar de amor (2009–2010) – León Parra Ibáñez
• Teresa (2010–2011) – Rubén Cáceres Muro (TVyNovelas nomination for Best Antagonist Actor)
• Corazón valiente (2012–2013) – Bernardo del Castillo (Premios Tu Mundo nomination for Best Villain)
• Corazón indomable (2013) – Teobaldo
• La Impostora (2014) – Adriano Ferrer (won Premios Tu Mundo for Primer Actor)
• Amor de barrio (2015) – Edmundo Vasconcelos
• Un camino hacia el destino (2016) – Hernán Sotomayor Landa
• Mi marido tiene familia / Mi marido tiene más familia (2017–2019) – Augusto Musi
• El señor de los cielos (2019–2020) – Cecilio Martínez
• Contigo sí (2021–2022) – Sandro Santillana
• Amores que engañan (2023) – Osvaldo

He has also appeared in anthology series like Mujeres asesinas (2010) and Los simuladores (2008–2009), as well as reality/dance competitions such as Bailando por México (2005) and Bailando por la Boda de mis Sueños (2006).

Movies

• Huapango (2004) – Santiago
• Por mujeres como tú (2004)
• Cambalache (2017) – Jorge Nitales
• Amores incompletos (2023) – Luigi Kappala

Other Works

• Music: Released the vocal album Mírame (2001), featuring romantic pop songs.
• Theater: Performances in productions like José el soñador (1998), Loco por ti (2000), and musicals such as the Mexican premiere of Crazy for You.

What People Ask