John Leguizamo Biography: Children, Age, Wife, Net Worth, Movies, Height, TV Shows, Height, Parents

Biography

John Alberto Leguizamo Peláez is a celebrated Colombian-American actor, comedian, and producer born on July 22, 1964, in Bogotá, Colombia.

Known for his dynamic performances and sharp wit, he has starred in films like Moulin Rouge!, Carlito’s Way, and John Wick, while also voicing Sid in the Ice Age franchise.

A trailblazer for Latino representation, Leguizamo has written and performed acclaimed one-man shows, such as Latin History for Morons, blending humour with cultural commentary.

With a career spanning over three decades, he has earned multiple awards, including an Emmy, and continues to advocate for diversity in the entertainment industry.

American comedian and actor
John Leguizamo
Wiki Facts & About Data
Real Name:	John Alberto Leguizamo Peláez
Stage Name:	John Leguizamo
Born:	22 July 1960 (age 65 years old)
Place of Birth:	Bogotá, Colombia
Nationality:	Colombian, American
Education:	Joseph Pulitzer Middle School, Murry Bergtraum High School, New York University, Lee Strasberg
Height:	1.7 m
Parents:	Luz Leguizamo, Alberto Leguizamo
Siblings:	Marie Leguizamo
Spouse:	Justine Maurer (m. 2003), Yelba Osorio (m. 1994–1996)
Girlfriend • Partner:	Not Dating
Children:	Lucas Leguizamo, Allegra Leguizamo
Occupation:	Actor • Comedian
Net Worth:	$25 million-$35 million (USD)

Early Life & Education

John Leguizamo was born on July 22, 1964, in Bogotá, Colombia. His ethnicity is Colombian, with a mix of Puerto Rican, Italian, and Lebanese ancestry, reflecting his diverse heritage.

He is a Christian. His parents, Alberto Leguizamo and Luz Leguizamo, immigrated to the United States when John was four, settling in Queens, New York. He has a younger sister, Marie Leguizamo.

Growing up in a working-class neighbourhood, John faced cultural and economic challenges that shaped his comedic and storytelling style. He attended Joseph Pulitzer Middle School and Murry Bergtraum High School, where he discovered his passion for performance.

Later, he studied theater at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and trained at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute, honing his craft before launching his career in stand-up comedy and acting.

Career

John Leguizamo is a celebrated actor, comedian, playwright, and producer whose career spans over three decades, marked by extraordinary versatility across film, television, theatre, and voice acting. Known for breaking barriers and championing Latino representation in Hollywood, Leguizamo has earned a lasting place in entertainment history.

He began his career in the 1980s as a stand-up comedian in New York City, using his sharp wit and cultural insights to stand out in the comedy scene. His early film appearances in Casualties of War (1989) and Carlito’s Way (1993) showcased his dramatic talent. His breakthrough came with To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar (1995), where his portrayal of drag queen Chi-Chi Rodriguez earned him a Golden Globe nomination.

Leguizamo’s career continued to flourish with standout roles in films like Spawn (1997), Moulin Rouge! (2001) as Toulouse-Lautrec, and the John Wick series (2014–2019), where he played the loyal mechanic Aurelio. His voice work as Sid the Sloth in the Ice Age franchise (2002–2016) became iconic, endearing him to audiences worldwide.

On television, he starred in popular series such as The Brothers García (2000–2004) and Bloodline (2015–2017), and won an Emmy Award for his 1998 HBO special Freak.

A trailblazer in theatre, Leguizamo has written and performed several critically acclaimed one-man shows, including Mambo Mouth (1991), Spic-O-Rama (1992), Ghetto Klown (2011), and Latin History for Morons (2018). These productions, which blend humour with social commentary on Latino identity and history, earned him numerous accolades, including Obie and Drama Desk Awards.

In addition to acting, Leguizamo has produced and written for various projects, using his platform to address stereotypes and the underrepresentation of Latinos in media. His advocacy for diversity has been a consistent theme throughout his career.

More recently, he voiced Bruno Madrigal in Disney’s hit animated film Encanto (2021) and starred in the dark comedy The Menu (2022).

Social Media

• Wikipedia: John Leguizamo
• IMDb: John Leguizamo
• Facebook: John Leguizamo
• Instagram: John Leguizamo (@johnleguizamo)
• Twitter: John Leguizamo (@JohnLeguizamo) / X

Personal Life

John Leguizamo was born on July 22, 1964, making him 65 years old.

He has been married twice. His first marriage was to actress Yelba Osorio from 1994 to 1996, ending in divorce. He married Justine Maurer, a costume designer, in 2003, and they have remained together since then.

The couple has two children: a daughter, Allegra Sky Leguizamo, born in 1999, and a son, Ryder Lee Leguizamo, born in 2000.

Leguizamo stands at 5 feet 7 inches tall.

Net Worth

John Leguizamo’s net worth is estimated to be between $25 million and $35 million.

His wealth stems from a diverse, four-decade career in acting, stand-up comedy, voice work (notably as Sid in the Ice Age series), and theater, including acclaimed one-man shows like Latin History for Morons.

Additional income comes from producing, writing, and real estate investments, such as properties in Manhattan, Venice Beach, and Rosendale, New York. His financial success reflects both his artistic versatility and strategic business decisions.

Filmography

Movies

• Mixed Blood (1984) – Macetero
• Casualties of War (1989) – Pvt. Antonio Diaz
• Die Hard 2 (1990) – Burke
• Regarding Henry (1991) – Liquor Store Gunman
• Whispers in the Dark (1992) – John Castillo
• Super Mario Bros. (1993) – Luigi Mario
• Carlito’s Way (1993) – Benny Blanco
• To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar (1995) – Chi-Chi Rodriguez
• Executive Decision (1996) – Captain Carlos “Rat” Lopez
• Romeo + Juliet (1996) – Tybalt Capulet
• Spawn (1997) – Clown/Violator
• The Pest (1997) – Pestario “Pest” Vargas (also co-writer)
• Frogs for Snakes (1998) – Zip
• Summer of Sam (1999) – Vinny
• Moulin Rouge! (2001) – Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec
• What’s the Worst That Could Happen? (2001) – Berger
• Collateral Damage (2002) – Felix Ramirez
• Ice Age (2002) – Sid (voice)
• Empire (2002) – Victor Rosa
• Ice Age: The Meltdown (2006) – Sid (voice)
• The Groomsmen (2006) – T.C.
• Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009) – Sid (voice)
• Gamer (2009) – Freek
• The Lincoln Lawyer (2011) – Val Valenzuela
• Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012) – Sid (voice)
• Kick-Ass 2 (2013) – Javier
• Ride Along (2014) – Santiago
• John Wick (2014) – Aurelio
• Chef (2014) – Martin
• Fugly! (2014) – Jesse (also producer)
• American Ultra (2015) – Rose
• John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017) – Aurelio
• The Infiltrator (2016) – Emir Abreu
• The Crash (2017) – George Diebold
• Nancy (2018) – Jeb
• Playing with Fire (2019) – Rodrigo
• The Night Clerk (2020) – Detective Espada
• Critical Thinking (2020) – Mario Martinez (also director)
• The Survivor (2021) – Bill “Pepe” Miller
• Encanto (2021) – Bruno Madrigal (voice)
• The Menu (2022) – Movie Star
• Violent Night (2022) – Scrooge
• Tin Soldier (2024) – Silas Grok
• Bobb Joon (2024) – Role not specified
• Ice Age: Collision Course (2016) – Sid (voice)
• Ice Age: Adventures of Buck Wild (2022) – Sid (voice)

TV Shows

• Miami Vice (1986-1989) – Various roles (guest appearances)
• House of Buggin’ (1995) – Creator, writer, star
• The Brothers García (2000-2004) – Larry Garcia (voice)
• ER (2005-2006) – Dr. Victor Clemente
• My Name Is Earl (2006) – Diego
• Bloodline (2015-2017) – Ozzy Delvecchio
• Waco (2018) – Jacob Vazquez
• When They See Us (2019) – Raymond Santana Sr.
• The Mandalorian (2020) – Gor Koresh (voice)
• The Power (2023) – Dr. Rob Lopez
• Leguizamo Does America (2023) – Host, executive producer (docuseries)

Theater (Selected One-Man Shows and Plays)

• Mambo Mouth (1991) – Writer, performer (Obie Award winner)
• Spic-O-Rama (1992) – Writer, performer
• Freak (1998) – Writer, performer (Emmy Award for HBO special)
• Sexaholix… A Love Story (2002) – Writer, performer
• Ghetto Klown (2011) – Writer, performer
• Latin History for Morons (2018) – Writer, performer (Tony Award nomination)
• Kiss My Aztec! (2019) – Co-writer, performer

Writing

• The Outlaw (2010) – Memoir/comedy book
• Pimps, Hos, Playa Hatas, and All the Rest of My Hollywood Friends: My Life (2006) – Autobiography
• Ghetto Klown (2015) – Graphic novel adaptation of his one-man show
• Latin History for Morons – Adapted into a Netflix special (2018)

Producing

• Nothin’ Like the Holidays (2008) – Executive producer
• Fugly! (2014) – Producer
• Critical Thinking (2020) – Producer
• Leguizamo Does America (2023) – Executive producer

Notable Voice Work

• Ice Age series (2002-2022) – Sid the Sloth
• Encanto (2021) – Bruno Madrigal
• Titan A.E. (2000) – Gune
• Dr. Dolittle (1998) – Rat #2
• Dora the Explorer (2003-2005) – Various roles

Video Games

• Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009) – Sid (voice)
• Ice Age: Continental Drift – Arctic Games (2012) – Sid (voice)

Awards & Nominations (Selected)

• Emmy Award: Outstanding Performance in a Variety or Music Program for Freak (1998)
• Obie Award: Mambo Mouth (1991)
• Drama Desk Award: Outstanding Solo Performance for Freak (1998)
• Golden Globe Nomination: Best Supporting Actor for To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar (1995)
• Tony Award Nomination: Best Play for Latin History for Morons (2018)