John Leguizamo Biography (2)

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John Leguizamo has established a career that defies categorization. His work in film, theater, television and literature covers a wide variety of genres, and he is continually threatening to create a few of his own.

Leguizamo recently served as both star and executive producer for Pleasant View Avenue, the directorial debut of actor Frank Whaley. The film, which also stars Val Kilmer and Ethan Hawke, is a co-production of Leguizamo's Lower East Side Films, 49th Parallel Productions and Forensic Films. His talents were last heard as the voice of The Rat in Betty Thomas' remake of the classic film Doctor Dolittle for 20th Century Fox. He was last seen in New Line's box office hit, Spawn, playing the villainous Clown. Other film credits include William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet, To Wong Foo: Thanks For Everything, Julie Newmar, a role which earned him a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He also starred in The Pest, A Brother's Kiss, The Fan, Revenge, Executive Decision, A Pyromaniac's Love Story, Carlito's Way, Casualties of War, Body Count, Super Mario Bros., Whispers in the Dark, Regarding Henry and Hangin' With the Homeboys.

Leguizamo's latest one-man show, the Tony Award nominated Freak recently ended a successful run on Broadway. Billed as a Semi-Demi-Quasi-Pseudo Autobiography, the critically lauded Freak was written by Leguizamo and directed by David Bar Katz. Leguizamo won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Solo/One-Person Show and the Outer Critic's Circle Award for Outstanding Solo Performance. Spike Lee directed the HBO presentation of Freak.

In 1991, Leguizamo became an off-Broadway sensation as the writer and performer of his one-man show, Mambo Mouth. He received an Obie, Outer Critics Circle and Vanguardia Award for the play in which he portrayed seven different characters. The show later aired on HBO, which resulted in his first television comedy special, Comedy Central's The Talent Pool, for which he received a CableACE Award.

His second one-man show, Spic-O-Rama, had an extended sold-out run in Chicago before opening to rave reviews and sellout houses in New York. The play received many awards including the Dramatists' Guild Hull-Warriner Award for Best American Play, and the Lucille Lortel Outstanding Achievement Award for Best Broadway Performance. For his performance, he received the Theatre World Award for Outstanding New Talent, and a Drama Desk Award for Best Solo Performance.

Other stage credits include A Midsummer Night's Dream and La Puta Vida and Parting Gestures.

Leguizamo set a precedent when he created and starred in the first-ever Latin comedy/variety show, the Emmy Award-winning House of Buggin' for FOX. Other television credits include the role of Calderone Jr. in Miami Vice.

Raised in New York City, Leguizamo studied acting with Lee Strasberg and Wynn Handman at New York University. He currently divides his time between Los Angeles and New York.

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