Profile: Benicio Del Toro

15 September 2008 04:21pm

Real Name: Benicio Monserrate Rafael del Toro Sánchez

Birth Date: February 19, 1967

Image: Brooding Latino actor

Best Known For: Playing Johnny Depp's buddy in Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas

Early Life: Benicio was born and brought up in Puerto Rico, by his parents who were both lawyers. When Benicio was nine-years-old, his mother died of hepatitis and four years later the family moved to Pennsylvania.

After graduating high school, Benicio pursued a degree in business at the University of California, on his father's advice. But after excelling on an elective drama course he dropped out of college and studied acting in both Los Angeles and New York.

Benicio was cast in minor TV roles during the late 80s, often cast as gangsters and drug dealers.

His big film break came in James Bond film Licence To Kill, making Benicio the youngest actor ever to play a Bond villain, aged 21.

Career High: Winning multiple awards including an Oscar, BAFTA and Golden Globe for his role in Traffic

Love Life: Benicio is rumoured to be secretly dating Being John Malkovich star Catherine Keener.

Don't Mention: The beard Benicio grew to play Che Guevara. He told Esquire magazine: "It makes airports tougher. There's a different line for the dangerous-looking characters.

"Girls don't check you out as much, and guys look down. But it's funny, the looks I get from street people. Suddenly, I'm their brother."

Words Of Wisdom: "I do get more recognised now. If I go to dinner, people look at me more now and whisper. But as an actor I would be no one without the people who come and see me. So it would be ridiculous for it to bother me. It just bothers me when I'm intoxicated."

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