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| Birth Name(s) : John Leguizamo |
Date of Birth: July 22, 1964 |
| Status:
Married
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Partner:
Justine Maurer |
| Profession:
Actor |
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Full John Leguizamo Biography
Last heard as the The Rat in the hit feature film Dr Doolittle, John Leguizamo lends his vocal talents to Nickelodeon's newest series The Brothers Garcia. Recounting his character's adventures and struggles growing up with two lively older brothers, the actor narrates the series from Larry Garcia's perspective as a reminiscent adult.
"The Brothers Garcia really gives kids a sense of belonging, no matter who they are," says Leguizamo. "When I was growing up, I didn't really see anyone on TV that looked like me. I think it's great that more and more kids today can watch TV and see themselves reflected in the programming."
Leguizamo's colorful characterization of the sensitive drag queen Chi Chi Rodriguez in the comedy To Wong Foo; Thanks For Everything, Julie Newmar - perhaps his most memorable work - garnered him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor. More recently, Leguizamo was lauded by the New York Times for his "raging, smartingly visceral performance" in the Spike Lee directed film Summer of Sam. Some of his other diverse and notable film credits include The Fan, Revenge, Executive Decision, Regarding Henry, Romeo and Juliet and Super Mario Brothers. Leguizamo also lends his voice in the recently released Titan AE starring Matt Damon.
The multifaceted Leguizamo also has a flourishing television career. He starred most recently in the ABC miniseries, Arabian Nights, where he played the dual role of the wildly amusing Ring Genie and the menacing Lamp Genie. But his role as both creator and star of Fox's Emmy Award-winning Latino comedy/variety sketch series House of Buggin' established him as a force in Hollywood and set a new precedent for English-language Latino programming. Again exercising his talents as both actor and writer, Leguizamo went on to write and star in HBO's Freak. Based on his critically lauded stage play Freak's electrifying account of a boy growing up in Spanish Harlem earned him an Emmy award for Outstanding Performance in a Variety or Music Program.
Leguizamo's success with Freak was a culmination of his already impressive history within the theater. Labeled a Broadway sensation, he dazzled audiences with his innovative performances in the Off-Broadway shows Mambo Mouth and Spic-O-Rama both of which enjoyed critical and commercial success. Among his numerous awards for his stage performances are the prestigious Theatre World Award for Outstanding New Talent and the critic's Drama Desk Award for Best Solo Performance.
Leguizamo's upcoming projects include the feature films What's The Worst That Can Happen? an MGM film shooting in Boston with Martin Lawrence and Danny DeVito; Moulin Rouge, directed by Baz Luhrman; and Joe The King, a production of Leguizamo's own Lower East Side Films. He will also star and executive produce King Of The Jungle, the follow up to director Seth Zvi Rosefeld's critically acclaimed A Brother's Kiss. |
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Additional John Leguizamo Biography
John Leguizamo (born July 22, 1964) is an Emmy Award-winning and Golden Globe-nominated Colombian comedian, actor and producer.
Leguizamo was born in Bogotá, Colombia. His father, Alberto Leguizamo, was a Puerto Rican realtor living in Colombia, where he met Leguizamo's mother, Luz. july 22nd In 1968, the couple emigrated with their children to the United States and settled down in the Jackson Heights section of Queens in New York City where Leguizamo received his primary and secondary education. 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 New York University where he took theater classes.
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 (song) 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. Other movies have since followed, including 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 will play the role of "Hannibal" and which is in the post-production stages as of 2005. 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.
Leguizamo married Justine Maurer in 2003. They have two children, daughter Allegra Sky (born 1999) and son Ryder Lee (born 2000). |
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John Leguizamo Quote(s)
| I see the new Latin artist as a pioneer, opening up doors for others to follow. And when they don't open, we crowbar our way in. |
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