Luis Guzmán (born August 28, 1956) is a Puerto Rican actor. His career spans over 40 years and includes a number of films and television series. He has appeared in Paul Thomas Anderson's films Boogie Nights (1997), Magnolia (1999) and Punch-Drunk Love (2002), and Steven Soderbergh's 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), Snake Eyes (1998) 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 (2015–2018), Hector Contreras on Perpetual Grace, LTD (2019), and Gomez Addams on Wednesday (2022–present).
Aug 7 2021Early life
Guzmán was born in Cayey, Puerto Rico, and was raised in New York City's Riverdale and the surrounding Bronx neighborhood. He went to Seward Park High School1 on the Lower East Side. His mother, Rosa, was a hospital worker, and his stepfather, Benjamin Cardona, was a TV repairman.2 Guzmán graduated from 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.3
Career
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.45 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.6 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.78
Personal life
Guzmán resides in Cabot, Vermont.9
Guzmán endorsed Senator Bernie Sanders for President in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.10
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.11
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 | |
| Naked in New York | Auditioner | ||
| 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, Drug Dealer | ||
| 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 | 12 |
| 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 | ||
| 2024 | Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F | Chalino Valdemoro | |
| 2025 | Havoc | Raul |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | The Equalizer | Gypsy Cabbie | Episode: "The Lock Box" |
| 1985–1986 | 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 |
| 1995–1996 | 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 | Episode: "Moron in the Morning" |
| I Love the New Millennium | Himself | Episode: "2001" & "2006-2007" | |
| 2010–2011 | 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) |
| 2015–2018 | 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 | Main Role13 | |
| 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 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Grand Theft Auto: Vice City | Ricardo Díaz | |
| 2006 | Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories | ||
| 2021 | Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition | Archival recordingsRemaster of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City only |
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
See also
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Luis Guzmán.- Luis Guzmán at IMDb
- Luis Guzmán on Twitter
References
"Yesterday". https://sewardparkhs.com/yesterday/#alumni ↩
"Luis Guzman Biography (1957?-)". Filmreference.com. Retrieved May 15, 2013. http://www.filmreference.com/film/7/Luis-Guzman.html ↩
"Luis Guzman, Visiting Faculty, MFA in Film". Vermont College of Fine Arts. Retrieved April 17, 2021. https://www.vcfa.edu/faculty-staff/luis-guzman/ ↩
"Actor Luis Guzmán had a very different job before Hollywood. He drew on it for 'Hold On.'". NBC News. December 6, 2019. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/actor-luis-guzm-n-had-very-different-job-hollywood-he-n1097001 ↩
BWW News Desk. "Based On A True Story, Independent Film HOLD ON Opens 12/06". BroadwayWorld.com. https://www.broadwayworld.com/los-angeles/article/Based-On-A-True-Story-Independent-Film-HOLD-ON-Opens-1206-20191128 ↩
Swansburg, John "Cheese Puff" Slate.com (January 18, 2008). Retrieved on May 1, 2008. http://www.slate.com/id/2181862/ ↩
"Snickers Ad Starring Luis Guzmán from Super Bowl 2020 Ads". E! News. https://www.eonline.com/uk/photos/30095/super-bowl-2020-ads/993885 ↩
"Snickers TV Commercial, '#SnickersFixedTheWorld: Online Date' Featuring Luis Guzman". iSpot.tv. http://www.ispot.tv/ad/ZWfn/snickers-snickersfixedtheworld-online-date-featuring-luis-guzman ↩
"Actor Luis Guzmán Donates 'Wheel of Fortune' Winnings to a Cabot Nonprofit". Seven Days. Retrieved December 8, 2023. https://m.sevendaysvt.com/news/actor-luis-guzman-donates-hollywood-squares-winnings-to-a-cabot-nonprofit-39673386 ↩
"Bernie Sanders campaign taps Rosario Dawson, Luis Guzman to woo Latino voters in LA". Los Angeles Daily News. May 26, 2016. http://www.dailynews.com/government-and-politics/20160508/bernie-sanders-campaign-taps-rosario-dawson-luis-guzman-to-woo-latino-voters-in-la ↩
"Luis Guzman on Ricardo Rossello and protests in San Juan". MSNBC.com. July 21, 2019. Retrieved August 18, 2019. https://www.msnbc.com/kendis-gibson/watch/luis-guzman-on-ricardo-rossello-and-protests-in-san-juan-64242245704 ↩
"Actor Luis Guzmán had a very different job before Hollywood. He drew on it for 'Hold On.'". NBC News. December 6, 2019. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/actor-luis-guzm-n-had-very-different-job-hollywood-he-n1097001 ↩
"Netflix's Addams Family Spin-off Wednesday Adds Comedian Luis Guzman". Gizmodo. August 7, 2021. Retrieved August 8, 2021. https://gizmodo.com/netflixs-addams-family-spin-off-wednesday-adds-comedian-1847443130 ↩