Diego Calva's breakout role as Manny Torres is based on a number of Latino filmmakers and actors who carved a path for themselves in the early beginnings of Hollywood. Per The Hollywood Reporter, Manny Torres is inspired by people like Enrique Juan Vallejo and René Cardona.
Vallejo got his start as a cinematographer and director in 1914 (via IMDb), and would establish a successful career working with other notable cinematographers like Frank D. Williams and Henry Sharp. A pioneer in the Golden Age of Mexican Cinema, Cardona was a person of many interests, with acting, directing, and producing some of his career accomplishments. Per IMDb, He is most known for his roles in "Allá en el Rancho Grande" and "El baúl macabro."