Piñero is a 2001 American biopic about the troubled life of Nuyorican poet and playwright Miguel Piñero, starring Benjamin Bratt as the title character. It was written and directed by the Cuban filmmaker, Leon Ichaso, premiered at the Montreal World Film Festival on August 31, 2001, and then received a limited theatrical release in the United States on December 13, 2001. Cast Benjamin Bratt as Miguel Piñero Talisa Soto as Sugar Giancarlo Esposito as Miguel Algarin Rita Moreno as Miguel's mother Michael Irby as Reinaldo Povod Mandy Patinkin as Joseph Papp Griffin Dunne as Agent Ray Santiago as Willie O.L. Duke as Paul Fisher Stevens as Public Theater Cashier Tara Wilson as Tito's girlfriend Nelson Vasquez as Tito Goya References External links 2001 films 2001 biographical drama films American biographical drama films Films set in the 1970s Films about drugs 2001 drama films Biographical films about writers Films directed by Leon Ichaso 2000s English-language films 2000s American films