Fast-talking and feisty-looking John Leguizamo has continued to impress movie audiences with his versatility: he can play sensitive and naive young men, such as Johnny in _Hangin' with the Homeboys crashed through celluloid barriers for African-Americans in the early 1960s. Among his many strengths lies his ability to not take his ethnic background too seriously but also to take pride in his Latino heritage. He has opened many doors for his countrymen. A masterly and accomplished performer, movie audiences await Leguizamo's next exciting performance.
Was voted "Most Talkative" in high school.
Moved from Colombia to the United States with his family when he was three years old.
Was accepted into Lee Strasberg s actors studio and studied with the master for one day before Strasberg died. "I have that affect on people," Leguizamo quipped.
Listed as one of twelve "Promising New Actors of 1991" in John Willis Screen World, Vol. 43.
(23 October 1999) Daughter, Allegra Sky, born (with girlfriend Justine Maurer ).
(5 December 2000) John and Justine welcomed son Ryder Lee, weighing 8lbs 1oz.
Johns parents divorced when he was in his teens.
Last name is actually pronounced: leh-gee-ZA-mo.
Grew up in the Jackson Heights section of Queens, New York.
Began writing material for himself in high school, testing it out on classmates.
Majored in theater at New York University and was the only Latino in drama class.
Father of Lucas Leguizamo and Allegra Leguizamo.
For his role in Ice Age , he tried a variety of different speaking voices for his character, Sid. After watching several hours of Discovery Channel footage of sloths, he developed the lisp, because sloths store food in their cheeks.
Was nominated for two Tony Awards in 1998: as Best Actor (Play) and as Author of Best Play nominee, his one-man show titled "Freak."
Although he is about 5 8" in reality, he has played two characters who are technically little people (under 4 11"): the Clown in Spawn and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in Moulin Rouge! .
Although he was born in a Spanish-speaking country and has understood Spanish since childhood, Crnicas is his first Spanish-language acting performance.
His parents encouraged him to maintain his Spanish, sometimes with bribes. They spoke to him in Spanish, but he usually replied in English.
Was considered for the role of Det. Rey Curtis on "Law & Order" .
Mentioned on The Bob and Tom Show that he turned down the role of Tom Hanks boyfriend in Philadelphia to do Super Mario Bros. .
Claims to be of partial Puerto Rican, Italian, and Lebanese descent.
[on what was it like in the clown suit while filming,Spawn (1997) ] Like a penis wearing a condom.
Comics are much smarter than actors. Most comedians come from a hard,life, and have to struggle a lot. You have to have a lot of skills.
