El Manik was born on 19 November 1949 in Bohorok, North Sumatra to an ethnic Batak Karo teacher.[1] He graduated from Bohorok State Elementary School in 1962, then Taman Siswa Middle School in 1965 and Teachers' College in 1969, both in Binjai.[1] After graduation, he moved to Surabaya and opened a photo studio.[1]
After passing a test to get into the Film and Music Institute of Jakarta, El Manik sold his equipment and moved to Jakarta.[1][2] However, after discovering that he had been conned he lived as a vagrant behind the Ismail Marzuki Cultural Centre.[1] In 1973, he received a bit part in Mereka Kembali (They Return), directed by Nawi Ismail; he received Rp.5,000 for his role.[1]
After his work in Mereka Kembali, El Manik received more supporting roles, including as an antagonist in Teguh Karya's 1973 film Cinta Pertama (First Love) and in Ami Priyono's film Kampus Biru (Blue Campus).[1] His first leading role was in Ami's 1979 film Jakarta Jakarta; that same year he played a Dutch officer in Karya's war epic November 1828.[1] During this period, he also worked as a reporter for Aktuil.[2]
This was followed by a role in 1983's Titian Serambut Dibelah Tujuh (Titian Serambut Divided by Seven) and a leading role in Sjumandjaja's 1984 film Budak Nafsu (Slave to Lust).[1] However, after the Indonesian cinema industry collapsed in 1992 he switched to playing in soap operas.[2]
El Manik directed Pacar Dunia Akhirat (Lover in the Afterlife) in 1996; he later switched to directing soap operas, including 1998's Panggung Sandiwara (Stage for Sandiwara) and Titipan Illahi (Saved for God).[2]
After the revival of Indonesian cinema in 2002, El Manik became more active in the film industry. He played in Beth (2002), Biarkan Bintang Menari (Let the Stars Dance; 2003), and, in 2006, in Nia Dinata's film Berbagi Suami (Love for Share).[2]
"El Manik". Encyclopedia of Jakarta (in Indonesian). Jakarta City Government. Archived from the original on 3 December 2011. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
"Pria Batak Perankan Ustad" [A Batak Man Playing an Ustad]. TokohIndonesia.com (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 25 March 2012. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
