Tosar was born on 13 October 1971 in
Lugo, although he usually prefers to identify with the
parish of (in the municipality of
Cospeito, also in the
province of Lugo), where he spent his childhood and teenage years. He began his career playing theater and shorts, but he gained notoriety in Galicia for his performance in 1998 TV Series
Mareas Vivas (
Televisión de Galicia). His supporting performance as Damián in 1999 immigration-themed film
Flowers from Another World earned him a nomination the
Goya Award for Best New Actor. Critically acclaimed for his supporting role in the unemployment drama
Mondays in the Sun, abusive husband in
Take My Eyes, an executive producer in
Even the Rain, and doorman in
Sleep Tight, his most acclaimed performance was from 2009 hit
Cell 211 which stars Tosar as Malamadre, a prisoner that instigates a riot and befriends an undercover prison guard in the process. His only major role in an American film was
Michael Mann's
Miami Vice (2006), playing Colombian druglord Montoya. Besides that he has appeared in other English films
The Limits of Control and
Mr. Nice. Close to the
Galician Nationalist Bloc, Tosar ran as candidate in the
Galeusca list to the
2004 European Parliament election. In 2012 he dubbed
George Washington for the videogame ''
Assassin's Creed III''. In 2015, Tosar married actress
María Luisa Mayol. He has a music group called "Di Elas". In July 2025, Tosar signed a letter sent to the
Government of Spain along with over 1,200 professionals demanding an immediate and
comprehensive embargo of arms and defense material on Israel by means of a
Royal Decree-Law. In December 2025, he was announced as recipient of the
Gold Medal of Merit in the Fine Arts. == Accolades ==