John Leguizamo

John Leguizamo

Active - 1931 - 2023  |   Born - Jul 22, 1964 in Bogotá, Colombia  |   Genres - Drama, Action, Thriller

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Biography by AllMovie

John Leguizamo is a Colombian-born comedian and actor best known for his memorable, often sharply satirical, characterizations of Latinos on stage and in films. He began his career as a stand-up comedian in New York clubs and as a performer in small independent feature films. These engagements led to his playing small roles in major features such as Casualties of War (1989) and Die Hard 2 (1990) where he was typically cast as a violent, unsavory fellow; none of these films seemed to utilize his talents and potential on film. Leguizamo has fared better in smaller films such as Time Expired (1991). His stage career also continues to grow. For his one-man show Mambo Mouth, a scathing look at Hispanic stereotypes, he won awards and great acclaim. His follow-up play Spic-o-Rama is equally funny and thought provoking.

Leguizamo played his first leading film role in Super Mario Brothers. (1993). That year he also played an important and acclaimed role in De Palma's Carlito's Way. In 1995 he finished two movies, A Pyromaniac's Love Story and To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar where he played the lovely drag queen Miss Chi Chi Rodriguez. That year, Leguizamo also created, scripted, executive produced and starred in a sketch comedy show on Fox, House of Buggin. Done in the style of Fox's smash hit series In Living Color, Leguizamo's show was billed as the first show of its kind to feature an all Latino cast. Unfortunately, though the show received good ratings, it failed to attract an audience and was cancelled after only a few months. The Colombian funnyman has since returned to feature films. In 1996, he starred, wrote and co-produced another showcase for his talents, The Pest.

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Factsheet

  • Studied with Lee Strasberg for one day before the famed acting coach died.
  • Performed on his knees in the film Moulin Rouge (2001) in order to accurately portray the 4'11" Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec.
  • Has starred in a series of high-energy one-man stage shows, including Mambo Mouth (1990); Spic-o-Rama (1992); Freak (1998); Sexaholix...A Love Story (2002); and Ghetto Klown (2011). 
  • Was named the 2011 National Puerto Rican Day Parade's Global Ambassador to the Arts.