Luis Guzmán

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Luis Guzmán
Born August 28, 1956 (1956-08-28) (age 51)
Cayey, Puerto Rico
Spouse(s) Angelita Galarza-Guzmán
Official website
For the other Puerto Rican actor of the same name, see Luis Roberto Guzmán

Luis Guzmán (born August 28, 1956[1]) is a Puerto Rican actor. He is known for his character work. For much of his career, his squat build, wolfish features, and brooding countenance have garnered him roles largely as sidekicks, thugs, or policemen, but his later career has seen him move into more mainstream roles. He is a favorite of director Steven Soderbergh, who cast him in Out of Sight, The Limey, and Traffic, and Paul Thomas Anderson, who cast him in Boogie Nights, Magnolia and Punch-Drunk Love. He also voiced Ricardo Diaz in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories.

Contents

[edit] Biography

[edit] Personal life

Guzmán was born in Cayey, Puerto Rico and was raised in New York City's Greenwich Village and the surrounding Lower East Side neighborhood. His mother, Rosa, was a hospital worker, and his stepfather, Benjamin Cardona, was a TV repairman.[2] A graduate of City College of New York, he began his career not as an actor but as a social worker; however, he moonlighted as an actor and became heavily involved in street theater and independent films. He currently lives with his wife Angelita Galarza-Guzmán and their five children in Sutton, Vermont, where he owns a ranch called Wild Orchid Stables.

[edit] Career

Guzman's numerous movie credits include Carlito's Way, Carlito's Way: Rise to Power, Welcome to Collinwood, Stonewall, Waiting..., The Salton Sea, and Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events. He has also appeared on the TV shows Homicide: Life on the Street, Frasier and Oz and had a role in the video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and its prequel Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories. Guzmán starred in the short-lived 2003 television comedy Luis, and is a commentator on VH1's I Love the '80s Also I Love Toys and its sequels, including I Love the '70s and I Love the '90s. He co-starred on the canceled 2007 HBO series John from Cincinnati. In early 2008, Guzmán starred in "Naturally Aged Cheddar Hunks" TV ads for Cabot Creamery.[3]

[edit] Filmography

[edit] Television series

  • John from Cincinnati (2007) as Ramon Gaviota
  • Oz (1997/2003) as El Cid
  • Miami Vice - Episode titled "Prodigal Son," where he played a thug
  • seaQuest DSV (1994) - Episode titled "The Good Death," where he played General Guzmano
  • Law & Order -Played a Honduran line cook accused of burning down a social club
  • NYPD Blue - Played Officer Martinez' father

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Luis Guzmán (I)
  2. ^ Luis Guzman Biography (1957?-)
  3. ^ Swansburg, John "Cheese Puff" Slate.com (January 18, 2008). Retrieved on May 1, 2008.

[edit] External links