Javier Portales, born Miguel Ángel Álvarez (21 April 1937 in Tancacha, Córdoba, Argentina – 14 October 2003 in Buenos Aires), was an Argentine actor who worked in television, film and theater.

Portales started to work early in life in the theater, then moved to television on a program that dealt with the troubles a group of young people had in high-school in "Quinto Año Nacional" by Abel Santa Cruz.

it was in 1964 when his career took an important turn when he was hired for the hit comedy "Operación Ja-Já", where he joined several established comic actors such as Fidel Pintos, Juan Carlos Altavista, Adolfo García Grau and Jorge Porcel.

Javier Portales wrote a play "La sartén por el mango", directed by Manuel Antín.

The play became a movie, with Claudio García Satur in the principal role, and with other renowned actors as Alberto Argibay and Víctor Laplace.