Benicio Del Toro
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Born on February 19, 1967, in San German, PR. Raised in Santurce, PR. Moved to
Mercersburg, PA at 13 and went to Mercersburg Academy. For more information,
read the three part article written by Benicio for the
Miami Herald.
EDUCATION
University of California at San Diego. Changed major to acting so he could
audition for a role in a school production. Decided to pursue acting full time
so he left school and moved to New York City. Studied at Circle in the Square
Theatre School in New York. Won a scholarship to The Stella Adler Conservatory
of Acting where he studied for three-four years.
CAREER
After two years in Los Angeles, he got his first job as a guest star on Miami
Vice. Cast as lead in the play, Orphans. Casting director saw him and asked him
to audition for a role in Licence To Kill.
INTERESTS
Painting, listening to music, daydreaming.
FAVORITES
Line from The Usual Suspects:
"Kill away, Mr. McManus." Kobayashi
Music:
Jazz, George Harrison, Latin
Painter:
Julian Schnabel
Films:
Badlands, Basquiat, Papillon
Directors:
John Huston, Martin Scorsese, John Cassavettes, Terrence Malick, Erich von
Stroheim, Adrian Brunel, Bryan Singer
Actors with the earliest influence:
Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Eddie Murphy, John Malkovich
INTERESTING FACTS
Benicio gained approximately 45 lbs. in nine weeks for his portrayal of Oscar
Zeta Acosta in Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas. He did it by, "Eating chairs,
tables, buildings and bridges. But what really pushed the balance was donuts."
Benicio's character in Basquiat didn't have a last name in the script. The last
name "Dalmau" came from Raymond Dalmau, a Puerto Rican basketball player in the
70's and early 80's. Raymond Dalmau wore the shirt Benicio wears in the film
when he was in the Puerto Rican National Selection.
The best advise Benicio has ever been given regarding acting came from
Christopher Walken: "When you're in a scene and you don't know what you're gonna
do, don't do anything."
Benicio thinned his eyebrows and shaved his hairline for his role of Fenster in
The Usual Suspects.
PRAISE
"He's like an acting animal, this guy who
comes out of the forest to make movies better. He's fearless, and he has a very
distinctive imagination for character. He's one of the few actors who can make
flamboyant choices that never just say, 'Look at me.' He's not showy. If he
stands out, it's only because the rest of the people haven't risen as high to
the bar." Sean Penn, The Pledge/The Indian Runner Director
"I can see how in certain circumstances Benicio could be unhappy. He's
extremely bright and has lots of ideas, the lion's share of which are really
good. We'd meet every few weeks for a few hours, and a lot of it was, 'Wouldn't
it be more interesting if...?' He had a huge influence on the story being much
more emotional, more interesting and truer to the culture the character sprang
from. For some people, spending time like that would be profoundly irritating.
Not to me. I'll do that all day. He was totally there and 'on' Man, he has so
much to contribute, you'd be a moron not to take advantage of it. I can't help
but be infatuated by somebody who cares that much." Steven Soderbergh,
Traffic Director
"He's one of the reasons why I wanted to do the movie. I think he's a
brilliant actor. Working with him was amazing." Ryan Phillippe, The Way of
the Gun Co-Star
"Del Toro is an exciting actor. He's obsessed with his work. He draws the
camera like a magnet because he keeps coming up with things that are dark,
brooding, dangerous and sexy." Terry Gilliam, Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas
Director
"He's killed early into the movie and he probably has, like, nine lines. But
I found it the most memorable performance of 1995. The guy just goes out and
thinks, 'No one's gonna understand what I'm doing except for me, but I'm a
f***in genius.' " Matt Damon on Benicio's performance in The Usual Suspects
"Benicio has a wonderful mind. It's a little like firecrackers going off;
he's got these great ideas that just explode." Ed Harris, China Moon Co-Star
"More than any other actor I've ever met, Benicio is not in pursuit of fame
or recognition. I think he's a guy who has a great disdain for popularity. He's
very resistant to playing a leading man. He would rather create a character."
Christopher McQuarrie, The Usual Suspects Writer, The Way of the Gun
Writer/Director
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last updated:Monday August 29, 2005
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