John Leguizamo

Infobox actor


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caption = John Leguizamo, April 2006
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birthdate = birth date and age|1964|7|22
birthplace = Bogotá, Colombia
yearsactive = 1984-present
spouse = Justine Maurer (2003-present) 2 children
othername =
academyawards =
goldenglobeawards =
emmyawards =
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John Leguizamo (born July 22, 1964) is an Emmy Award-winning and Golden Globe-nominated Colombian-American comedian, actor and producer. John Leguizamo will return to Broadway beginning October 31st 2008 in a revival of David Mamet's American Buffalo.

Biography

Early life

Leguizamo was born in Bogotá, Colombia to Alberto and Luz Leguizamo. [cite web|url=http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800019418/bio|title=John Leguizamo Biography|publisher=Yahoo! Movies] His paternal grandfather was of Italian and Puerto Rican descent; [cite book| last = Leguizamo| first = John| authorlink = John Leguizamo | title = Pimps, Hos, Playa Hatas, And All the Rest of My Hollywood Friends| publisher = Ecco| location = New York| date = 2006| pages = p. 8| isbn = 006052071X] his maternal grandfather was Lebanese. [Leguizamo, p. 11] He has also described himself as being of Amerindian and Mestizo heritage. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F00E1DB1F3AF93BA35751C0A96E958260&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss] Leguizamo's father was once an aspiring film director and studied at Cinecittà but eventually dropped out due to lack of finances. [Leguizamo, p. 9] When Leguizamo was three years old, his family emigrated to the United States [Leguizamo, p. 12] and lived in various neighborhoods of Queens in New York City. [Leguizamo, p. 16] Leguizamo attended the Joseph Pulitzer Middle School (I.S.145) and later the Murry Bergtraum High School. As a student at Murry Bergtraum High School, Leguizamo wrote comedy material and tested it out on his classmates. He was voted "Most Talkative" by his fellow classmates. After graduating from high school, Leguizamo enrolled at C.W. Post Center/Long Island University where he took theater classes.

Career

Leguizamo started out as a stand-up comic doing the New York nightclub circuit. In 1984, he made his T.V. debut with a small part in "Miami Vice". His other early roles include: an extra in Madonna's "Borderline" video (1984), as a friend of Madonna's boyfriend; "Mixed Blood" (1985); "Casualties of War" (1989); "Hangin' with the Homeboys" (1991); the robber in "Regarding Henry" (1991) and "Night Owl" (a.k.a. "Nite Owl") (1993), which was filmed from 1991-1992. In 1991, he also wrote and took part in the Off-Broadway production "Mambo Mouth", where he played seven different characters. "Mambo Mouth" won an Obie Award and an Outer Critics Award. He was listed as one of 12 "Promising New Actors of 1991" in "John Willis' Screen Worlds Vol. 43".

In 1993, Leguizamo wrote and participated in "Spic-O-Rama", where he made fun of the stereotyping of Latinos in the U.S.. The production won a Drama Desk Award and four Cable ACE Awards. Leguizamo also played the role of Luigi Mario in the 1993 movie production "Super Mario Brothers", starting his acting career in Hollywood. Leguizamo also created, executive produced, wrote for, and starred in the 1995 Latino-oriented variety show called "House of Buggin'". The show showcased Leguizamo's well-known ability to assume a wide variety of colorful, energetic characters. The show ran less than a year on Fox.Other movies included "Carlito's Way" (1993) as Benny Blanco alongside Al Pacino, "To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar" (1995) as Chi Chi Rodriguez, "Romeo + Juliet" (1996) as Tybalt, Prince of Cats, "The Fan" (1996) as Manny, "Executive Decision" (1996) as Captain Rat, "The Pest" in 1997, as con man Pestario "Pest" Vargas, "Doctor Dolittle" (1998) as Rat #2, "Summer of Sam" (1999) as Vinny, and "Moulin Rouge! (2001)" as Toulouse Lautrec.

In 2000, Leguizamo played two genies in the Emmy Award winning miniseries "Arabian Nights". Leguizamo has participated in over 53 films, including "The Alibi", where he played the role of "Hannibal". In 1998, he debuted on Broadway in the production of "Freak", which was also turned into an HBO film by director Spike Lee. Leguizamo has produced 10 films, including "Piñero" and made 13 TV guest appearances. In 2000, he wrote and participated in "Freak", which was basically about his whole life experience with his family, how he had a troubled family, and a messed up life. He voiced Sid the sloth for 2002's Ice Age and has done so in both Ice Age 2: the meltdown and Ice Age: Dawn of the dinosaurs. In 2003, he wrote and participated in "Sexaholix" which basically explained his love life, and how he started a family. Later in 2003, he voice-acted Globox from "Rayman 3". The game versions with his voice acting were PlayStation 2, GameCube, Xbox, PC, and Mac.

During the 2005-2006 television season, Leguizamo joined the cast of the show "ER", playing the emotionally disturbed Dr. Victor Clemente, a new attending who is keen on introducing the staff of County General to better ways of treating patients and cutting-edge technology. Clemente, however, was plagued with personal problems and was fired from the hospital near the end of the season. Dr. Clemente's departure from the show was a blessing for Leguizamo. He revealed to CraveOnline that he was not happy working on the television program. "I was depressed doing ER," he admitted, "I started gaining weight, I was eating donuts, I started smoking again. I’m eating McDonalds, things that I know when I’m depressed I do. I tried to kill myself internally." [ [http://www.craveonline.com/filmtv/articles/04648255/kill_point_john_leguizamo.html Kill Point: John Leguizamo] ]

In October 2006, Leguizamo's memoir, "", was released. During an interview on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien", Leguizamo stated that his memoir was very frank about odd experiences involving other celebrities and co-stars he had worked with. He claimed that working with Arnold Schwarzenegger was one of the most enjoyable experiences he had as an actor. He also said that Arnold's accent let him say things that others would think were sexist or homophobic if said by someone else, that Steven Seagal was an egotist with diva tendencies, and that Leonardo DiCaprio was a "patron of prostitutes". [ [http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2006/12/john-leguizamo-trashes-everyone-hes-ever-worked-with.php Fresh Intelligence : Radar Online : John Leguizamo Trashes Everyone He's Ever Worked With ] ]

In July 2007, Spike TV aired their dramatized series "The Kill Point", starring Leguizamo, Donnie Wahlberg and Michael Hyatt. The show was an eight part series revolving around ex war veterans whose bank robbery went wrong, thus ending in a hostage situation. Despite high ratings, "The Kill Point" was not renewed for a second season.

Personal life

Leguizamo married Justine Maurer in 1999. They have two children, daughter Allegra Sky (born 1999) and son Ryder Lee (born 2000), and live in Venice, California. Commonly referred to, in and around Hollywood circles, as "Johnny Legs".

Leguizamo is a practicing Roman Catholic and very close friends with Rosie Perez.

Filmography

* "" (2009)
* "Nothing Like the Holidays" (2008)
* "Game" (2008)
* "Miracle at St. Anna" (2008)
* "Righteous Kill" (2008)
* "The Happening" (2008)
* "The Ministers" (2008)
* "Paraiso Travel" (2008)
* "The Take" (2008)
* "The Babysitters" (2007)
* "Love in the Time of Cholera" (2007)
* "The Kill Point" (2007) (TV series)
* "My Name Is Earl" (2006)
* "" (2006)
* "The Alibi" (2006)
* "The Groomsmen" (2006)
* "ER (TV Series)" (2005)
* "Land of the Dead" (2005)
* "Sueño" (2005)
* "The Honeymooners" (2005)
* "Assault on Precinct 13" (2005)
* "Crónicas" (2004)
* "Undefeated" (HBO film) (2003)
*"Ice Age" (2002)
*"Collateral Damage" (2002)
*"Point of Origin" (HBO film) (2002)
*"Empire" (2002)
*"Spun" (2002)
*"Moulin Rouge!" (2001)
*"What's The Worst That Could Happen?" (2001)
*"Arabian Nights" (2000) (TV)
*"Titan A.E." (2000) (voice)
*"King of the Jungle" (2000)
*"Summer of Sam" (1999)
*"Frogs For Snakes" (1998)
*"Dr. Dolittle" (1998)
*"Freak" (1998)
*"The Pest" (1997)
*"Spawn" (1997)
*"A Brother's Kiss" (1997)
*"Romeo + Juliet" (1996)
*"The Fan" (1996)
*"Executive Decision" (1996)
*"A Pyromaniac's Love Story" (1995)
*"To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar" (1995)
*"Carlito's Way" (1993)
*"Super Mario Bros." (1993)
*"Night Owl (a.k.a. "Nite Owl")" (1993)
*"Whispers in the Dark" (1992)
*"Regarding Henry" (1991)
*"Hangin' with the Homeboys" (1991)
*"" (1990)
*"Revenge" (1990)
*"Casualties of War" (1989)
*"Mixed Blood" (1985)

References

ee also

*List of famous Puerto Ricans
*Colombian American

External links

*imdb name|id=0000491|name=John Leguizamo
* [http://www.americanbuffalobroadway.com "Official Broadway Site"] Website for the 2008 Broadway Production of American Buffalo starring John Leguizamo, Cedric the Entertainer, and Haley Joel Osment.

* [http://www.nochelatina.com/interviews/archives/qa_sessions_john_leguizamo_on_the_happening.aspx / Q&A Sessions: John Leguizamo on The Happening] [nocheLatina.com]