Luis Guzmán
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), Alejandro "Guapo" Villabuena in Godfather of Harlem (2019), Hector Contreras on Perpetual Grace, LTD (2019), and Gomez Addams on Wednesday (2022–present).
Early life
Guzmán was born in Cayey, Puerto Rico, and was raised on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. He went to Seward Park High School. His mother, Rosa, was a hospital worker, and his stepfather, Benjamin Cardona, was a TV repairman. Guzmán graduated from City College of New York, and shortly after began his career as a social worker, working as a youth counselor at the Henry Street Settlement. He moonlighted as an actor, eventually becoming heavily involved in street theatre and independent films.
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. 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 married Angelita Galarza in 1985. Their first son had died during childbirth, and that, alongside his frustration at social work, persuaded Guzmán to act full-time. This also made them adopt their next three children, Cemí, Clara, and Margarita, starting from 1991. Later, the couple gave birth to their daughter, Luna.
Their youngest daughter, Yamaya, is a social media influencer.
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 to the El Krajo Tavern in Loiza and the town's community centre, 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.
In an interview with The Rich Eisen Show, Guzmán claimed he is frequently mistaken for actor Rick Aviles, who played the killer "Willie Lopez" in the film Ghost (1990) and was also Puerto Rican (but died in 1995).
Filmography
Video games
- 2002 — Grand Theft Auto: Vice City — Ricardo Díaz
- 2006 — Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories — Ricardo Díaz
- 2021 — Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition — Ricardo Díaz — Archival recordingsRemaster of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City only
Music videos
- 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
- 1998 — Florida Film Critics Circle Award — Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Cast — Boogie Nights — Won
- 1998 — Screen Actors Guild Award — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture — Boogie Nights — Nominated
- 2000 — Independent Spirit Award — Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male — The Limey — Nominated
- 2000 — Awards Circuit Community Awards — Awards Circuit Community Awards Best Cast Ensemble — Magnolia — Won
- 2000 — Florida Film Critics Circle Award — Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Cast — Magnolia — Won
- 2000 — Screen Actors Guild Award — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture — Magnolia — 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
📚 Source: Wikipedia
