John Leguizamo
John Alberto Leguizamo Peláez ( , LEG-wih-ZAH-moh; Colombian Spanish: [leɣiˈsamo]; born July 22, 1960 or 1964) is a Colombian and American comedian, actor and filmmaker. He has received various accolades including an Emmy Award and a Tony Award as well as a nominations for an Actor Award, a Critics' Choice Award, and a Golden Globe Award.
Leguizamo began his career as a stand-up comedian in New York City. He received his breakthrough role in film playing Luigi Mario in Super Mario Bros. (1993) and earned a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor nomination for his role in To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar (1995). He has acted in films such as Carlito's Way (1993), Romeo + Juliet (1996), Moulin Rouge! (2001), Ride Along (2014), Chef (2014), John Wick (2014), Sisters (2015), John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017), Violent Night (2022), The Menu (2022), Bob Trevino Likes It (2024) and The Odyssey (2026). He also voiced Gune in Titan A.E. (2000), Sid the Sloth in the Ice Age franchise (2002–present) and Bruno Madrigal in Encanto (2021).
Leguizamo is also known for his television roles including his HBO special Freak (1998), a filmed version of his eponymous Broadway show, for which he received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program. This was a historic win, making Leguizamo the first ever Latino to win this award. He was further Emmy-nominated for his roles in the Paramount miniseries Waco (2018) and the Netflix miniseries When They See Us (2019). He has also acted in Arabian Nights (2000), ER (2005–2006), and Bloodline (2016–2017). He hosted the MSNBC series Leguizamo Does America (2023) and PBS series American Historia: The Untold History of Latinos (2024).
He has also written and performed for the Broadway stage, receiving four Tony Award nominations for Freak in 1998, Sexaholix in 2002, and Latin History for Morons in 2018. He received a Special Tony Award in 2018.
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