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Luis Guzmán
Luis Guzman 2012.jpg
Guzmán in 2012
Born (1956-08-28) 28 August 1956 (age 68)
Education The American University
Occupation Actor
Years active 1976–present

Luis Guzmán (born August 28, 1956 in Cayey, Puerto Rico) is a Puerto Rican actor. His career spans over 40 years and includes a number of films and television series. He has appeared in the Paul Thomas Anderson films Boogie Nights (1997), Magnolia (1999), and Punch-Drunk Love (2002) and the Steven Soderbergh films Out of Sight (1998), The Limey (1999), and Traffic (2000). His other film credits include Q & A (1990), The Hard Way (1991), Carlito's Way (1993), and Keanu (2016). For his role in The Limey, he received a nomination for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male.

On television, he starred as Raoul Hernandez on the HBO prison drama Oz (1998–2000), José Gonzalo Rodríguez Gacha on Narcos (2015), Jesse "Mama" Salander on the CBS medical drama Code Black (2015–18), Hector Contreras on Perpetual Grace, LTD (2019), and Gomez Addams on Wednesday (2022).

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. He went to Seward Park High School on the Lower East Side. His mother, Rosa, was a hospital worker, and his stepfather, Benjamin Cardona, was a TV repairman. Guzmán graduated from The American University, and shortly after began his career as a social worker and moonlighted as an actor, eventually becoming heavily involved in street theater and independent films.

Career

Luis Guzman at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival
Guzmán at the 2009 premiere of Whatever Works.

Guzman's numerous movie credits include Carlito's Way, Carlito's Way: Rise to Power, Punch-Drunk Love, 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, Community (as himself) and Oz and voiced Ricardo Diaz 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 2007 HBO series John from Cincinnati, which lasted one season.

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." In 2010, he starred in HBO's How to Make It in America and appeared in a comical series of Snickers commercials that played during that year's Super Bowl.

Personal life

Guzmán resides in Cabot, Vermont.

Guzmán endorsed Senator Bernie Sanders for President in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

In 2018, Guzmán, along with New York Yankees all-star Bernie Williams, appeared in a season six episode of Jon Taffer's Bar Rescue, offering assistance not only to the El Krajo Tavern in Loiza, but the town's community center, after it was devastated from Hurricane Maria.

During Telegramgate, Guzmán was interviewed by MSNBC for his opinions on the situation in Puerto Rico and he expressed that "Ricky had to go" and that corruption on the island was a major problem that he hoped would be solved.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1977 Short Eyes Prisoner
1983 Variety Jose
1986 Seven Women, Seven Sins Lotto Man
No Picnic Arroyo
1987 Heartbeat Gang Member #2 Video
*batteries not included Bystander
1988 Crocodile Dundee II Jose
1989 True Believer Ortega
Rooftops Martinez
Black Rain Frankie
Family Business Julio Torres
1990 Q&A Detective Valentin
1991 The Hard Way Detective Benny Poole, NYPD
McBain Papo
1992 Innocent Blood Morales
Jumpin' at the Boneyard Taxi Driver
1993 Guilty as Sin Detective Martinez
Mr. Wonderful Juice
Carlito's Way Pachanga
1994 Hand Gun Rick
The Cowboy Way Chango
1995 Lotto Land Ricki
Stonewall Vito
1996 The Substitute "Rem"
1997 The Brave Luis
Boogie Nights Maurice t.t. Rodriguez
1998 Out of Sight Chino
Snake Eyes Cyrus
One Tough Cop Gunman Papi
1999 The Limey Eduardo Roel
The Bone Collector Eddie Ortiz
Magnolia Luis
2000 Table One Xavier
Luckytown Jimmy
Traffic DEA Agent Ray Castro
2001 Double Whammy Juan Benitez
Sam the Man Murray
Home Invaders Peligro
2002 The Count of Monte Cristo Jacopo
The Salton Sea Quincy
Punch-Drunk Love Lance
Welcome to Collinwood Cosimo
The Adventures of Pluto Nash Felix Laranga
2003 Confidence Officer Omar Manzano
Anger Management Lou
Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd Ray Christmas
Runaway Jury Jerry Hernandez
2004 Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events Bald Man
2005 Dreamer Balon
Carlito's Way: Rise to Power "Nacho" Reyes Video
Waiting... Raddimus
2006 Disappearances Brother St. Hilaire
Fast Food Nation Benny
School for Scoundrels Sergeant Moorehead
Hard Luck "Million Dollar" Mendez Video
Lolo's Cafe Lolo (voice) Short
2007 Maldeamores Ismael
War (alternate: Rogue Assassin) Benny
Cleaner Detective Vargas
2008 I Kicked Luis Guzman in the Face Luis Short
Chicano Blood Mexican Mule #1 Video
Beverly Hills Chihuahua Chucho (voice)
Nothing like the Holidays Johnny
Yes Man Jumper
2009 He's Just Not That Into You Javier
Still Waiting... Raddimus Video
Fighting Martinez
The Taking of Pelham 123 Phil Ramos
Old Dogs Nick
2011 Arthur Bitterman
The Caller George
Rise of the Damned Ramon
2012 Journey 2: The Mysterious Island Gabato Laguatan
Departure Date Frank Short
2013 The Last Stand Deputy Mike Figuerola
Turbo Angelo (voice)
We're the Millers Mexican Cop
2014 Two Men in Town Terence
In the Blood Chief Ramón Garza
The Lookalike Vincent
Henry & Me Vernon "Lefty" Gomez (voice)
Top Five Bobby the Cop
Reclaim Superintendent
2015 Don Quixote Farmer
Ana Maria in Novela Land Licenciado Schmidt
Puerto Ricans in Paris Luis
2016 Keanu Bacon
The Do-Over Jorge the Shooter Boy
Aztec Warrior Aztec Warrior
2017 Sandy Wexler Oscar
Literally, Right Before Aaron Federico
9/11 Eddie
2018 The Padre Gaspar
Belleville Cop Ricardo Garcia
The Duck Leonard Short
2019 Hold On Pastor Rivera
2021 Lady of the Manor Wally
The Birthday Cake Jochee
2022 18 & Over JazzyLou
Entergalactic Huge Mover (voice)
The Disappearance of Toby Blackwood Chester Mendoza
2023 Story Ave Luis Torres
You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah Eli Katz
Genie Perez
TBA Havoc TBA Post-production

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1985 The Equalizer Gypsy Cabbie Episode: "The Lock Box"
1985–86 Miami Vice Miguel Revilla/Goon #1 Episode: "The Prodigal Son" & "Free Verse"
1990 Hunter Carlos Delgado Episode: "La Familia"
1991 Monsters Luis Episode: "Desirable Alien"
Law & Order Cesar Pescador Episode: "Heaven"
1992 To Catch a Killer Waiter TV movie
Quiet Killer Adelaido Ortiz TV movie
In The Shadow of a Killer Louis Velazquez TV movie
Empire City - TV movie
Civil Wars Hector Rodriguez Episode: "Tape Fear"
1993 Homicide: Life on the Street Lorenzo Molera Episode: "Son of a Gun"
Walker, Texas Ranger Gomez Episode: "Storm Warning"
NYPD Blue Hector Martinez Episode: "Emission Accomplished" & "Ice Follies"
Double Deception Ronald Sharkey TV movie
1994 seaQuest DSV General Guzmano Episode: "The Good Death"
The Burning Season Estate Boss TV movie
1995 House of Buggin' Various Roles Main cast
1995–96 New York Undercover Detective Lopez/Joaquin Episode: "Bad Girls" & "Deep Cover"
1996 On Seventh Avenue Eddie Diaz TV movie
1997 Pronto Buck Torres TV movie
1998 Early Edition John Hernandez Episode: "The Quality of Mercy"
Michael Hayes Santos Episode: "Vaughn Mowery"
Trinity - Episode: "In a Yellow Wood"
1998–2000 Oz Raoul "El Cid" Hernandez Recurring cast (season 2-4)
1999 Mind Prey Detective Black TV movie
2000 The Huntress Paulie Dortmunder Episode: "Pilot"
The Beat - Episodes: "Cueca Solo"
Thin Air Chollo TV movie
2001 Weakest Link Himself Episode: "Scene Stealers Edition"
2002 Frasier George Episode: "Enemy at the Gate"
2003 I Love the '70s Himself Episode: "1973"
I Love the '80s Strikes Back Himself Episode: "1985"
Luis Luis Cortez Main cast
2004 I Love the '90s Himself Episode: "1993"
2005 The Drop Himself Episode: "Episode #2.44"
I Love the '80s 3-D Himself Episode: "1981" & "1983"
2006 I Love the '70s: Volume 2 Himself Episode: "1974"
2007 John from Cincinnati Ramon Gaviota Main cast
2008 Free Radio Himself
I Love the New Millennium Himself Episode: "2001" & "2006-2007"
2010–11 How to Make It in America Rene Calderon Main cast
2011 Community Himself Episode: "Documentary Filmmaking: Redux"
2013 Republic of Doyle Charles Alomar Episode: "The Devil Inside"
2014 Mind Games Nate Recurring Cast
2015 Narcos José Gonzalo Rodríguez Gacha Recurring cast (season 1)
2015–18 Code Black Jesse Salander Main cast
2016 Roadies Gooch Recurring cast
2018 Drop the Mic Himself Episode: "Luis Guzman vs. Gabriel Iglesias & Charli XCX vs. Tove Lo"
Bar Rescue Himself Episode: "Operation: Puerto Rico"
What's Good in Your Hood? Himself Episode: "Casa Adela"
2019 Perpetual Grace, LTD Hector Contreras Main cast
Godfather of Harlem Alejandro "El Guapo" Villabuena Recurring cast (season 1)
Shameless Mikey O'Shea Recurring cast (season 9-10)
2020 The Eric Andre Show Himself Episode: "Named After My Dad's P*nis"
Louey & Bri TV Various Main cast
2021 Ultra City Smiths Rodrigo Smalls (voice) Main cast
Hightown Jorge Cuevas Recurring cast (season 2)
2022 The Resort Illan Iberra Episode: "Hünch Fò Llub Seeth"
Wednesday Gomez Addams Recurring cast
2023 Poker Face Raoul Episode: "The Orpheus Syndrome"
Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur President Council Peña (voice) Episode: "Like Mother, Like Moon Girl"
Justified: City Primeval Officer Ramirez Episode: "The Question"

Video games

Year Title Role
2002 Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Ricardo Díaz
2006 Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories

Music videos

Year Title Role Artist(s)
2002 "Undisputed" Prisoner Cash Money Millionaires
2013 "Gorilla" Strip Zoo Owner Bruno Mars
2017 "1-800-273-8255" Track Coach Logic (ft. Alessia Cara & Khalid)
2018 "Está Rico" Gambler Marc Anthony, Will Smith & Bad Bunny

Awards and nominations

Year Awards Category Recipient Outcome
1998 Florida Film Critics Circle Award Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Cast Boogie Nights Won
Screen Actors Guild Award Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Nominated
2000 Independent Spirit Award Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male The Limey Nominated
Awards Circuit Community Awards Awards Circuit Community Awards Best Cast Ensemble Magnolia Won
Florida Film Critics Circle Award Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Cast Won
Screen Actors Guild Award Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Nominated
2001 Screen Actors Guild Award Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Traffic Won
2003 Imagen Awards Imagen Award Best Supporting Actor Punch-Drunk Love Won
2008 Imagen Awards Imagen Award for Best Actor Maldeamores Won
2010 ALMA Awards ALMA Award for Best Supporting Actor The Taking of Pelham 123 Nominated
2011 NAMIC Visions Awards NAMIC Visions Awards Best Performance in a Comedy How to Make It in America Won

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Luis Guzmán para niños

  • List of Puerto Ricans
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