Luis Guzman

Luis Guzman Biography

Luis Guzmán (born August 28, 1956) is a Puerto Rican American actor, who is known for his character work. For much of Guzmán's career, he has played character roles largely as sidekicks, thugs, or policemen.

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. He recently starred in the HBO original series How to Make It in America.

Early 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. He began working as a social worker and moonlighted as an actor, eventually becoming heavily involved in street theater and independent films.

Career

After graduating from college, 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, as well as 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. He also appeared in the music video "Yes We Can." He recently starred in HBO's How to Make It in America.

Personal life

Guzmán currently resides in Sutton, Vermont. His children include Cemi Briggs-Guzman, Yoruba Briggs-Guzman, Clare Briggs-Guzman, Yemaya Briggs-Guzman, Luna Briggs-Guzman, Jace O' Flynn Guzman and Margarita Briggs-Guzman.

Filmography

Short Eyes (1977) as Unknown
Scarface (1983) as Hitman
Variety (1983) as Jose
Heartbeat (1987) as Gang Member #2
No Picnic (1987) as Arroyo
*batteries not included (1987) (uncredited)
Crocodile Dundee 2 (1988) as Jose
True Believer (1989) as Ortega
Rooftops (1989) as Martinez
Family Business (1989) as Julio Torres
Q&A (1990) as Detective Valentin
The Hard Way (1991) as Det. Benny Poole, NYPD
McBain (1991) as Papo
Walker Texas Ranger (1992) as Gomez
Innocent Blood (1992) as Morales
Carlito's Way (1993) as Pachanga
Guilty as Sin (1993) as Detective Martinez
The Cowboy Way (1994) as Chango
Stonewall (1995) as Vito
The Substitute (1996) as Rem
Boogie Nights (1997) as Maurice TT Rodriguez
Out of Sight (1998) as Chino
One Tough Cop (1998) as Gunman Papi
Snake Eyes (1998) as Cyrus
The Limey (1999) as Eduardo Roel
The Bone Collector (1999) as Eddie Ortiz
Magnolia (1999) as Luis
Traffic (2000) as Ray Castro
Cash Money Millionaires' Undisputed music video (2002) as Prisoner
Double Whammy (2001) as Juan Benitez
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (2002) as Ricardo Díaz
The Count of Monte Cristo (2002) as Jacopo
The Salton Sea (2002) as Quincy
Punch-Drunk Love (2002) as Lance
The Adventures of Pluto Nash (2002) as Felix Laranga
Welcome to Collinwood (2002) as Cosimo
Anger Management (2003) as Lou
Confidence (2003) as Officer Omar Manzano
Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd (2003) as Ray
Runaway Jury (2003) as Jerry Hernandez (uncredited)
Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004) as Bald Man
Carlito's Way: Rise to Power (2005) as Nacho
Waiting...(2005) as Raddimus
Dreamer (2005) as Balon
Fast Food Nation (2006) as Benny
School for Scoundrels (2006) as Sergeant Moorehead
Hard Luck (2006) as Million Dollar Mendez
War (2007) as Benny
Cleaner (2007) as Detective Wallace
Maldeamores (2007) as Ismael
Beverly Hills Chihuahua (2008) as Chucho (voice
Nothing Like the Holidays (2008) as Johnny
Yes Man (2008) as Jumper
He's Just Not That into You (2009) as Javier (uncredited)
Fighting (2009) as Martinez
Still Waiting... (2009) as Raddimus
The Taking of Pelham 123 (2009) as Ramos
Old Dogs (2009) as Nick (uncredited)
The Caller (2011) as George
Arthur (2011) as Bitterman
Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (2012) as Gabato, a tour guide on the island of Palau
The Last Stand (2013) as Mike Figuerola
Aztec Warrior (2013)
Turbo (2013) as Angelo, Tito's brother, a "Dos Bros" taco truck driver
We're the Millers (2013) as a Mexican cop who demands a bribe from the Millers
Enemy Way (TBA)

Television series

Republic of Doyle (2013) - Episode titled "The Devil Inside", where he played a crazed bomber
Community (2011) " Episode titled "Documentary Filmmaking: Redux". as a somewhat fictionalized version of himself, who is the most notable alumnus of Greendale Community College
How to Make It in America (2010-2011) as Rene Calderon
John from Cincinnati (2007) as Ramon Gaviota
Oz (1997/2003) as Raoul "El Cid" Hernandez
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
Frasier " Episode titled "Enemy at the Gate" as George the parking garage attendant.
House of Buggin is a short-lived Latino-themed sketch comedy television show, which aired in 1995, starring John Leguizamo and Luis Guzmán. It was aired on the FOX Network, but removed from broadcasting schedules before the completion of the first season.
Homicide: Life on the Street (1993) " Episode "Son of a Gun", where he played Lorenzo Molera, the neighbor of Detective Stanley Bolander.