Who is Benicio Del Toro? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Benicio Monserrate Rafael del Toro Sánchez

Age: 57 Years, 57 Year Old Males

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Kimberly Stewart

siblings: Gustavo del Toro

children: Delilah Genoveva Stewart del Toro

Quotes By Benicio Del Toro Actors

Height: 6'2" (188 cm), 6'2" Males

Notable Alumni: Mercersburg Academy, Stella Adler Studio Of Acting

More Facts

education: University Of California, San Diego, Stella Adler Studio Of Acting, Mercersburg Academy

Recommended For You

Recommended Lists:

T V & Movie Producers

Puerto Rican Men

University Of California, San Diego

Tall Celebrities

Childhood & Early Life

Benicio Del Toro was born in Puerto Rico to Gustavo Adolfo Del Toro and Fausta Genoveva, who were both lawyers. He is of mixed ancestry and was raised a Roman Catholic.

His mother died when he was nine years old and his father relocated to Pennsylvania, U.S, from where he completed high school.

At the advice of his father, he enrolled for a degree in business at the University of California but after taking a class in acting he realized that he wanted to pursue drama as a full-time career.

He dropped his business course and started attending classes in the Circle in the Square Professional Theatre School without telling his family. He then went to study at the prestigious Stella Adler Conservatory on a scholarship.

Continue Reading Below

Recommended Lists:

Tall Male Celebrities

Pisces Actors

Actors Who Are In Their 50s

Puerto Rican Actors

Career

Del Toro began his acting career by playing a small role in the T.V program ‘Miami Vice’ in 1987. He acted in other programs as well, mostly playing the part of a small-time thug or villain.

He made his movie debut in ‘Big Top Pee-wee’ as Duke the Dog-Faced Boy in 1988 but the film did not do well. He got noticed in his second film ‘Licence to kill’ (1989) for his role as Dario, a henchman.

He acted in ‘The Indian Runner’ (1991), ‘Fearless’ (1993), ‘Money for Nothing’ (1993), and ‘Swimming With Sharks’ (1994) over the next few years.

He got a big breakthrough in ‘The Usual Suspects’ released in 1995 for his role as Fred Fenster. He got noticed for his acting skills and also earned his first Academy Award nomination.

He received many acting offers post his success in ‘The Usual Suspects.’ He did four films in 1996 - ‘The Funeral, ‘The Fan’, ‘Basquiat’ and ‘Joy Ride.’

In 2000, he played the role of Javier Rodr�guez in ‘Traffic’, a crime drama that explores the illegal drug trade from different angles. The film was a critical as well as a commercial success.

He did two other movies in 2000, ‘The Way of the Gun’ and ‘Snatch.’ He appeared in a cameo as himself in ‘Bread and Roses.’

His film ’21 Grams’ was released in 2003. He played the role of a former convict who accidentally kills a man and his children in an automobile accident. The film received positive reviews.

Over the next few years, he acted in films like ‘Sin City’ (2005), ‘Che’ (2008) and ‘Somewhere’ (2010). He is a busy actor and has many upcoming films lined up for future release.

Continue Reading Below

Recommended Lists:

Puerto Rican Film & Theater Personalities

Pisces Men

Major Works

Del Toro’s most successful film so far has been ‘Traffic’ (2000). He played the role of a conflicted though honest police officer, Javier Rodriguez. He received critical appreciation for his performance and won many awards for this role, including his first Academy Award.

His portrayal of a born-again Christian ex-convict, who kills a family in an automobile accident in ‘21 Grams’ (2003), was quite appreciable. The film was a critical as well as a commercial success and earned many awards and nominations.

Awards & Achievements

He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role of Javier Rodr�guez in the 2000 crime drama film ‘Traffic.’ He also won a BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for the same.

He was named the Best Supporting Actor by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association in 2003 for his role of Jack Jordan in ‘21 Grams.’ He received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for this film.

He won the Best Actor Award at The Cannes International Film Festival in 2008 for the portrayal of Che Guevara, in the 2008 biopic ‘Che.’

Quotes: Like

Personal Life & Legacy

Del Toro is not married but has a daughter named Delilah with Kimberly Stewart.

Trivia

He is related to basketball player Carlos Arroyo and singers Rebeca Del Toro and Eliseo Del Toro.

He is jokingly called the "Spanish Brad Pitt."

In Spanish, the term "Del Toro" means "of the bull".

Benicio Del Toro Biography