JOHN LEGUIZAMO's multi-faceted career defies easy categorization; as a performer, he is at home in many mediums and has crossed boundaries among them.
His many film appearances include George A. Romero's upcoming, eagerly anticipated Land of the Dead; John Schultz's forthcoming The Honeymooners; Matt Checkowski and Kurt Mattila's just-wrapped The Alibi; Renee Chabria's Sueo; Sebasti‡His many film appearances include George A. Romero's upcoming, International Film Festival); Franc Reyes' Empire; Baz Luhrmann's Academy Award-winning Moulin Rouge! (as Toulouse-Lautrec) and William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet; Chris Wedge's animated blockbuster Ice Age (in which Mr. Leguizamo starred in voiceover as Sid the Sloth, and for which a sequel is slated); Spike Lee's Summer of Sam; Seth Zvi Rosenfeld's King of the Jungle (for which Mr. Leguizamo received an ALMA Award nomination) and A Brother's Kiss; Betty Thomas' Doctor Dolittle (in voiceover); Mark A.Z. DippŽ's Spawn; Stuart Baird's Executive Decision; Beeban Kidron's To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything, Julie Newmar (for which Mr. Leguizamo received a Golden Globe Award nomination); and Brian De Palma's Carlito's Way and Casualties of War.
Prior to beginning his film work in the late 1980s, the native New Yorker had studied acting with Lee Strasberg, as well as with Wynn Handman at New York University. His stage credits include A Midsummer Night's Dream (in Central Park) and La Puta Vida, with New York's Public Theatre; and Parting Gestures at INTAR.
Also for the stage, Mr. Leguizamo has written and performed four one-man shows. The third of these, Freak, had a successful run on Broadway and was nominated for two Tony Awards. He was honored with Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for Outstanding Solo Performance. The production was directed for HBO by Spike Lee, and was nominated for an Emmy Award, with Mr. Leguizamo winning the Emmy Award for Outstanding Performance in a Variety or Music Program.
In 1991, he created a sensation off-Broadway with his first one-man show, Mambo Mouth, earning Obie, Outer Critics Circle, and Vanguardia Awards for his performance(s) in the show. The play was taped for HBO, which led to his next television special, Comedy Central's The Talent Pool (for which he received a CableAce Award).
Mr. Leguizamo's second one-man show, Spic-O-Rama, had an extended sold-out run in Chicago before opening in New York. The play received numerous accolades, including the Dramatists' Guild Hull-Warriner Award for Best American Play and the Lucille Lortel Outstanding Achievement Award for Best Broadway Performance. Mr. Leguizamo received the Theatre World Award for Outstanding New Talent, as well as a Drama Desk Award for Best Solo Performance. Spic-O-Rama also aired on HBO, and won four CableAce Awards.
Most recently, he returned to Broadway with Sexaholix...a Love Story. Directed by Peter Askin, the show was based on the sold-out national tour of John Leguizamo Live! Mr. Leguizamo was nominated for an Outer Critics Circle Award and the show received a Tony Award nomination. Sexaholix aired as an HBO special in 2002.
Extending his longstanding relationship with HBO, Mr. Leguizamo made his feature directing debut there on the boxing drama Undefeated, in which he also starred. The telefilm was scripted by Frank Pugliese from a story by Kathy DeMarco and Mr. Leguizamo.
In addition to his HBO credits, he has starred on television in the miniseries Arabian Nights (directed by Steve Barron). In 1995, he set a precedent by creating and starring in the first Latin comedy/variety network series, House of Buggin'.
Mr. Leguizamo was the recipient of the 2002 ALMA Award for Entertainer of the Year.
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