Luis Gómez

Luis Guzmán (born October 22, 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, 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), 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 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

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 James "Jim" 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 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 Guns Up Ignatius LockeOut of Order Gustav 2026 The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Wart (voice) Coyote vs. Acme Judge Troppogrosso

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 movie1994 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" 2022–present Wednesday Gomez Addams Main Role 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 Year Awards Category Recipient Outcome 1998 Florida Film Critics Circle Award Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Cast Boogie Nights Screen Actors Guild Award Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture 2000 Independent Spirit Award Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male The Limey Awards Circuit Community Awards Awards Circuit Community Awards Best Cast Ensemble Magnolia Florida Film Critics Circle Award Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Cast Screen Actors Guild Award Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture 2001 Screen Actors Guild Award Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Traffic 2003 Imagen Awards Imagen Award Best Supporting Actor Punch-Drunk Love 2008 Imagen Awards Imagen Award for Best Actor Maldeamores 2010 ALMA Awards ALMA Award for Best Supporting Actor The Taking of Pelham 123 2011 NAMIC Visions Awards NAMIC Visions Awards Best Performance in a Comedy How to Make It in America