History of John Leguizamo in Timeline

John Leguizamo is a multifaceted American entertainer, notable as a stand-up comedian, actor, and film producer. He boasts an extensive career, having acted in over 100 films and produced more than 20. Leguizamo's talents extend to television, with numerous appearances and productions to his credit. He is also a accomplished Broadway performer, known for writing and starring in stage productions, garnering four Tony Award nominations for shows like 'Freak,' 'Sexaholix,' and 'Latin History for Morons,' and receiving a Special Tony Award in 2018.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1984: Start as a Stand-up Comic and appearance in Madonna's Borderline video

In 1984, John Leguizamo started as a stand-up comic and appeared in Madonna's "Borderline" video.

1985: Role in Mixed Blood

In 1985, John Leguizamo had a role in "Mixed Blood".

1986: Television Debut in Miami Vice

In 1986, John Leguizamo made his television debut with a small part in "Miami Vice".

1988: Performance at The Public Theater

In 1988, John Leguizamo performed at The Public Theater in two shows, including as Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream.

1989: Role in Casualties of War

In 1989, John Leguizamo had a role in "Casualties of War".

1990: Role in Die Hard 2

In 1990, John Leguizamo played a terrorist in "Die Hard 2".

1991: Roles in Hangin' with the Homeboys and Regarding Henry, and Mambo Mouth

In 1991, John Leguizamo appeared in "Hangin' with the Homeboys" and "Regarding Henry", and wrote/performed in "Mambo Mouth".

1992: Starring in Whispers in the Dark

In 1992, John Leguizamo starred in "Whispers in the Dark" as John Castillo.

1993: Roles in Super Mario Bros. and Night Owl

In 1993, John Leguizamo appeared in "Super Mario Bros." and "Night Owl".

1993: Major Roles in Super Mario Bros. and Carlito's Way

In 1993, John Leguizamo gained fame with major roles in "Super Mario Bros.", portraying Luigi Mario, and the crime drama "Carlito's Way", portraying Benny Blanco.

1993: Role in Super Mario Bros., Carlito's Way, and Spic-O-Rama

In 1993, John Leguizamo portrayed Luigi in "Super Mario Bros.", had a role in "Carlito's Way", and wrote/performed in "Spic-O-Rama".

1993: Starred in Super Mario Bros film

In 1993, John Leguizamo starred in the Super Mario Bros film.

1994: Marriage to Yelba Osorio

In 1994, John Leguizamo married actress Yelba Osorio.

1995: Creation of House of Buggin' and role in To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar

In 1995, John Leguizamo created "House of Buggin'" and starred in "To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar", receiving a Golden Globe nomination.

1995: Role in To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar

In 1995, Leguizamo played drag queen Chi-Chi Rodriguez in the road comedy To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar, for which he received a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor nomination.

1996: Appearance in Romeo + Juliet

In 1996, John Leguizamo appeared in the film "Romeo + Juliet".

1996: Divorce from Yelba Osorio

In 1996, John Leguizamo divorced Yelba Osorio after two years of marriage.

1996: Roles in Romeo + Juliet and Executive Decision

In 1996, John Leguizamo starred in Romeo + Juliet as Tybalt Capulet and in the action film Executive Decision as Captain Rat.

1997: Appearance in The Pest

In 1997, John Leguizamo appeared in the film "The Pest".

October 10, 1998: Debut on Broadway in Freak

On October 10, 1998, John Leguizamo debuted on Broadway in the production of Freak. The show won him the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding One-Person Show and the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program.

1998: Tony Award Nomination

In 1998, John Leguizamo received a Tony Award nomination for his work in "Freak".

1998: Television Special Freak

In 1998, John Leguizamo's television special "Freak", a filmed version of his Broadway show, was released.

1998: Critical Thinking based on 1998 U.S. National Chess Championship

The Biographical drama Critical Thinking is set in 1998 about an inner-city teacher and students who compete in the US National Chess Championship.

1999: Appearance in Summer of Sam

In 1999, John Leguizamo appeared in the film "Summer of Sam".

1999: Primetime Emmy Award

In 1999, John Leguizamo received the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program for "Freak".

1999: Birth of daughter Allegra Sky Leguizamo

In 1999, John Leguizamo's daughter Allegra Sky Leguizamo was born.

2000: Narration of The Brothers García

In 2000, John Leguizamo began narrating the sitcom "The Brothers García".

2000: Portrayal of Genies in Arabian Nights

In 2000, John Leguizamo portrayed both Genies in Arabian Nights, a TV mini-series adaptation of the epic One Thousand and One Nights.

2000: Birth of son Ryder Lee "Lucas" Leguizamo

In 2000, John Leguizamo's son Ryder Lee "Lucas" Leguizamo was born.

2001: Appearance in Moulin Rouge!

In 2001, John Leguizamo appeared in the film "Moulin Rouge!".

2001: Appearance on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?

In 2001, John Leguizamo appeared on a celebrity edition of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" to promote the movie Moulin Rouge!.

2001: Release of John Leguizamo LIVE CD

In 2001, RCA/BMG Records released John Leguizamo LIVE, a CD compilation of Leguizamo's stage routines.

2002: Appearances in Empire and Ice Age

In 2002, John Leguizamo appeared in the film "Empire" and voiced Sid the Sloth in "Ice Age".

2002: Tony Award Nomination

In 2002, John Leguizamo received a Tony Award nomination for his work in "Sexaholix".

2002: Starring in Empire, Sexaholix... A Love Story, and Ice Age

In 2002, John Leguizamo starred in the movie "Empire", wrote and performed in "Sexaholix... A Love Story", and voiced Sid the Sloth in "Ice Age".

2002: Working with Arnold Schwarzenegger on Collateral Damage

In 2002, John Leguizamo worked with Arnold Schwarzenegger on Collateral Damage.

June 28, 2003: Marriage to Justine Maurer

On June 28, 2003, John Leguizamo married Justine Maurer, a costumer on Carlito's Way.

2003: Voice Acting in Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc

In 2003, John Leguizamo voice-acted Globox from Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc.

2004: Narration of The Brothers García ended

In 2004, John Leguizamo finished narrating the sitcom "The Brothers García".

2004: Guest Appearance on Dora the Explorer

In 2004, John Leguizamo guest-starred on Dora the Explorer as Captain Pirate Piggy.

2004: Support for Voto Latino

In 2004, John Leguizamo was one of the celebrity supporters of Voto Latino.

2005: Joining the Cast of ER

In 2005, John Leguizamo joined the cast of the show ER, playing Dr. Victor Clemente.

October 2006: Release of Memoir

In October 2006, John Leguizamo's memoir, "Pimps, Hos, Playa Hatas and All the Rest of My Hollywood Friends: My Life", was released.

July 2007: Airing of The Kill Point on Spike TV

In July 2007, Spike TV aired its drama series "The Kill Point", which starred John Leguizamo.

2007: Appearance in Love in the Time of Cholera

In 2007, John Leguizamo appeared in the film "Love in the Time of Cholera".

2008: Appearance in Righteous Kill

In 2008, John Leguizamo appeared in the film "Righteous Kill".

2008: Co-starring in The Happening

In 2008, John Leguizamo co-starred in the movie "The Happening", written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan.

2008: Rita Moreno HOLA Award for Excellence

In 2008, John Leguizamo received the Rita Moreno HOLA Award for Excellence from the Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors (HOLA).

June 2010: Opening of Klass Klown

In June 2010, John Leguizamo opened his semi-autobiographical one-man theater show, Klass Klown (later renamed Ghetto Klown).

March 2011: Opening of Ghetto Klown on Broadway

In March 2011, Ghetto Klown opened on Broadway at the Lyceum Theatre, receiving positive reviews.

June 12, 2011: Puerto Rican Day Parade Global Ambassador

On June 12, 2011, John Leguizamo marched in the Puerto Rican Day Parade as the Global Ambassador of the Arts.

July 10, 2011: Extension of Ghetto Klown on Broadway

On July 10, 2011, John Leguizamo's Ghetto Klown show on Broadway was extended.

September 2011: International Tour of Ghetto Klown

In September 2011, John Leguizamo began an international tour of Ghetto Klown in Los Angeles.

2011: Appearance in The Lincoln Lawyer

In 2011, John Leguizamo appeared in the film "The Lincoln Lawyer".

2011: Made in NY Award

In 2011, John Leguizamo received the Made in NY Award from New York City.

July 13, 2012: Debut of Tales From a Ghetto Klown on PBS

On July 13, 2012, PBS debuted Tales From a Ghetto Klown, a documentary about John Leguizamo's life and the development of the show.

2012: Co-founding NGL Collective

In 2012, John Leguizamo co-founded NGL (Next-Generation Latinx) Collective to create content for Latinx audiences.

2012: Cast in Only Fools and Horses Remake

In 2012, John Leguizamo was cast as Derek Trotter in the American remake of the British BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses.

October 2013: Filming for The Crash

In October 2013, John Leguizamo started filming for The Crash.

November 16, 2013: Taping of Ghetto Klown for HBO

On November 16, 2013, John Leguizamo taped Ghetto Klown at The New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, NJ for HBO.

2013: Appearance in The Counselor

In 2013, John Leguizamo appeared in the film "The Counselor".

2014: Appearance in John Wick

In 2014, John Leguizamo appeared in the film "John Wick".

2014: Starring in Chef and John Wick

In 2014, John Leguizamo starred alongside Jon Favreau in Chef and starred in John Wick as Aurelio.

2016: Op-Ed in The New York Times

In 2016, John Leguizamo authored an op-ed in The New York Times, calling out Donald Trump's "racist rhetoric" and urging Latinos to vote.

2016: Role in Netflix's Bloodline and Production of Othello: The Remix

In 2016, John Leguizamo played Ozzy Delvecchio in the second season of the Netflix original series Bloodline and also produced the Q Brothers' Othello: The Remix at off-Broadway's Westside Theatre.

January 13, 2017: Release of The Crash

On January 13, 2017, The Crash, a film starring John Leguizamo, was released.

2017: Appearance in John Wick 2

In 2017, John Leguizamo appeared in the film "John Wick 2".

2017: Opening of Latin History for Morons at The Public

In 2017, John Leguizamo opened Latin History for Morons at The Public, which later went to Broadway.

2017: Singing on "Almost Like Praying" and Debut of Latin History for Morons

In 2017, John Leguizamo sang on "Almost Like Praying" to assist relief efforts for Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. Also in 2017, he debuted Latin History for Morons, a show about Latin American participation in US history.

January 2018: Hosting the 63rd Obie Awards

In January 2018, John Leguizamo was announced as the host of the 63rd Obie Awards.

May 2018: Hosting the 63rd Obie Awards

In May 2018, John Leguizamo hosted the 63rd Obie Awards at Terminal 5.

2018: Role in Waco and Development of Kiss My Aztec

In 2018, John Leguizamo played undercover ATF agent Jacob Vazquez in the miniseries Waco and developed the original musical Kiss My Aztec at the Public Theater. He also received Smithsonian Magazine's 2018 American Ingenuity Award in the History category.

2018: Primetime Emmy Award Nomination

In 2018, John Leguizamo received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for the Paramount miniseries "Waco".

2018: Tony Award Nomination and Special Tony Award

In 2018, John Leguizamo received a Tony Award nomination for "Latin History for Morons" and also received a Special Tony Award.

2018: Honorary Degree from Marymount Manhattan College

In 2018, John Leguizamo received an Honorary Degree from Marymount Manhattan College.

2018: Netflix filming of Latin History for Morons

In 2018, Netflix filmed John Leguizamo's show Latin History for Morons, promoting the idea that teaching Latin history is the first step toward conquering prejudice.

2019: Role in When They See Us and Premiere of Kiss My Aztec

In 2019, John Leguizamo played Raymond Santana's father in the Netflix miniseries When They See Us. Also in 2019, his original musical Kiss My Aztec premiered at Berkeley Repertory Theater and La Jolla Playhouse.

2019: Primetime Emmy Award Nomination

In 2019, John Leguizamo received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for the Netflix limited series "When They See Us".

2020: Role in The Mandalorian

In 2020, John Leguizamo played Gor Koresh in an episode of The Mandalorian.

2020: Release of Critical Thinking

In 2020, John Leguizamo's directorial debut, Critical Thinking, was released, starring Leguizamo himself.

2021: Role in Waiting for Godot and Encanto

In 2021, John Leguizamo played Estragon in Waiting for Godot and voiced Bruno Madrigal in the Disney film Encanto.

2021: Voice Acting Role in Encanto

In 2021, John Leguizamo voiced Bruno Madrigal in the film "Encanto".

2022: Board of Directors for the National Museum of the American Latino

As of 2022, John Leguizamo is on the board of directors for the National Museum of the American Latino.

2022: NGL Merger with mitú

Backed by GoDigital Media Group, in 2022 NGL merged with mitú to create the largest digital-first Latinx powerhouse in the US.

2022: Roles in The Menu and Violent Night

In 2022, John Leguizamo acted in the film The Menu and played Scrooge in Violent Night.

2022: Appearance in The Menu

In 2022, John Leguizamo appeared in the film "The Menu".

2022: Criticism of James Franco Casting

In 2022, John Leguizamo criticized the casting of James Franco as Fidel Castro in the film Alina of Cuba: La Hija Rebelde.

2022: Commencement Speech at Vassar College

In 2022, John Leguizamo gave the commencement speech to the Class of 2022 at Vassar College.

2022: Performance of Ghetto Klown at Rikers Island Correctional Facility

In 2022, John Leguizamo performed Ghetto Klown at Rikers Island Correctional Facility for an audience of justice-involved young men.

2023: Support for Transgender Youth

In 2023, John Leguizamo appeared in a video by Teen Vogue and Them affirming his support for transgender youth.

2023: Hosting The Daily Show and Premiere of Leguizamo Does America

In 2023, John Leguizamo briefly hosted The Daily Show and premiered his MSNBC series Leguizamo Does America. In the Summer of 2023, his play, Our Hood, had its first reading at the Guthrie Theater.