Hector Elizondo

Birthday: 22 December 1936, New York City, New York, USA

Height: 178 cm

Hector Elizondo was born in New York City, New York, where he was raised, on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. He is the son of Carmen Medina Reyes and Martín Echevarría Elizondo. Hector is of Basque and Puerto Rican descent, and "Elizondo" means "at the foot of the church" in Basque. His lifestyle in his pre-acting days was as diverse as the roles he plays today. He was a conga player with a Latin band, a classical guitarist and singer, a weightlifting coach, a ballet dancer and a manager of a bodybuilding gym. In his teens, he played basketball and baseball and was scouted by the New York Giants and Pittsburgh Pirates farm teams. After a knee injury ended his dance career, he switched to drama. Since then, he has frequently appeared on Broadway, most notably with George C. Scott in Arthur Penn's production of "Sly Fox" for which he received a Drama Desk nomination and for his role as "God" in "Steambath", which won him an Obie Award. Other theatre credits include; "The Prisoner of Second Avenue"; "The Great White Hope"; "Dance of Death" with Robert Shaw and "The Rose Tattoo" opposite Cicely Tyson. Countless starring roles in television include: Foley Square (1985); American Playhouse: Medal of Honor Rag (1982); Casablanca (1983) (in which he recreated the Claude Rains role of police chief "Capt. Renault"); Freebie and the Bean (1974); Popi (1975) and as Sophia Loren's husband in the CBS special Courage (1986). Guest appearances include: Kojak (1973); Kojak: Ariana (1989); Columbo: A Case of Immunity (1975); Baretta (1975); All in the Family (1971); The Rockford Files (1974) and Bret Maverick (1981). In addition, he also directed a.k.a. Pablo (1984), the first show to utilise seven cameras instead of the usual four. On the big screen, he has been seen in, among others, American Gigolo (1980); The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974); Cuba (1979); Valdez Is Coming (1971) and in four films directed by Garry Marshall: Young Doctors in Love (1982); The Flamingo Kid (1984); Nothing in Common (1986) and Overboard (1987). Elizondo starred with Dan Aykroyd and Michelle Pfeiffer in PBS' Great Performances: Tales from the Hollywood Hills: Natica Jackson (1987) (based on a collection of John O'Hara stories) and made his debut as a stage director with a production of "Villa!" starring Julio Medina. In addition, he performed in the 50th anniversary production of "War of the Worlds" co-starring Jason Robards and the TV-movie Addicted to His Love (1988) with Barry Bostwick. Hide

Food is a passion. Food is love. Food is a passion. Food is love.

Yes, and it's my third movie with Richard. American Gigolo was my first. Yes, and it's my third movie with Richard. American Gigolo was my first.

I'm attracted to pathos, because life is mostly pathos. I've had a lot of it in my life. I'm attracted to pathos, because life is mostly pathos. I've had a lot of it in my life.

Sometimes I just walk through; I just show up, as in The Other Sister. Sometimes I just walk through; I just show up, as in The Other Sister.

I started in radio, again accidentally. I wasn't looking for this kind of work at all. I started in radio, again accidentally. I wasn't looking for this kind of work at all.

You're at the top of your game if you do comedy. You're at the top of your game if you do comedy.

I guess I work well with others I handle younger actors well. I guess I work well with others I handle younger actors well.

Pretty Woman was the easiest job I've ever done. I just wore the right toupee. Pretty Woman was the easiest job I've ever done. I just wore the right toupee.

You know, a low budget, you have to work harder. You have to plan well; you don't have much time to Show more You know, a low budget, you have to work harder. You have to plan well; you don't have much time to rehearse. Hide

I love the fact that it starts from there, and you don't know where it's gonna go. Wait long enough Show more I love the fact that it starts from there, and you don't know where it's gonna go. Wait long enough - love will find you. Everything's a surprise. When you think you've got it all figured out... as Emerson said, the dice of God are always loaded. Hide

You can trust a Neil Simon script. Every dot. Every dash; that pause means something. He takes all t Show more You can trust a Neil Simon script. Every dot. Every dash; that pause means something. He takes all the jokes out, practically. Hide

The fact that that's the difference between Mexicans and Cubans is pronounced. It's so immediately r Show more The fact that that's the difference between Mexicans and Cubans is pronounced. It's so immediately recognizable, the way a Cuban speaks, the way a Cuban moves the hands. Hide

I used to work, part time, in a deli, in those days when your parents made you work just so you shou Show more I used to work, part time, in a deli, in those days when your parents made you work just so you should know what work was like. And you'd make 4, 5, 6, ten dollars. Hide

Which reminds me of a fortune cookie: you often find your destiny on the path you take to avoid it. Which reminds me of a fortune cookie: you often find your destiny on the path you take to avoid it.

Definitely not a sitcom, that's my first condition. No sitcoms. Definitely not a sitcom, that's my first condition. No sitcoms.

I think you can tell the human condition better through comedy. I think you can tell the human condition better through comedy.

I never learned to cook; I was a little spoiled as far as that's concerned. I never learned to cook; I was a little spoiled as far as that's concerned.

I've dodged bullets but there's no scandal in my life. I've dodged bullets but there's no scandal in my life.

I work with Garry no matter what. What I wanted to keep going was the streak. I work with Garry no matter what. What I wanted to keep going was the streak.

On those, I've said it before, I work free. It's the waiting they pay me for. On those, I've said it before, I work free. It's the waiting they pay me for.

I started in 1946 in radio. I was ten years old. I was discovered singing in a school play. Someone Show more I started in 1946 in radio. I was ten years old. I was discovered singing in a school play. Someone was in the audience and it's six degrees of separation. Hide

I'm a parent, especially when you've had the intense parenting the way I had. It's all in the bank. Show more I'm a parent, especially when you've had the intense parenting the way I had. It's all in the bank. It's all in the great experience bank. Those are your secrets. That's the stuff that makes your work rich, that's what you dip into. Hide

Hector Elizondo's FILMOGRAPHY - Page 3

as Actor (328)

The Movies That Made Us - Season 2

Animaniacs - Season 1

Explained - Season 1

Big Sur-Wild California

Early Edition - Season 3

Beaches (1988)

B Positive - Season 1

American Dad - Season 16

The Talk - Season 14

Last Man Standing - Season 9

The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement

Kojak - Season 5

There Goes the Neighborhood

Beverly Hills Cop 3

The Equalizer - Season 2

New Years Eve

All In The Family - Season 3

American Dad - Season 1

Last Man Standing - Season 5

Reading Rainbow - Season 10

Tales From The Crypt - Season 4

B Positive - Season 2

Chicago Hope - Season 2

Avatar: The Last Airbender - Book 2: Earth [Sub: Eng]

Mucha Lucha - Season 2

Raising Helen

Hector Elizondo'S roles

Coach Ed Gennero

Jon Flint

Nick

Joe

Ed Alzate

Kominsky

Barney Thompson

Bill the Crew Coach

Carlos Torres

Warden Toolman

Bane

Lt. Aldo Hines