Luis Guzmán (born January 1, 1957 in Cayey, Puerto Rico) is a Puerto Rican actor. For much of his career his squat, characterful appearance garnered him roles largely as sidekicks or crooks, but his later career saw him in more mainstream roles. He is a favorite of directors Steven Soderbergh, who cast him in The Limey and Traffic, and Paul Thomas Anderson, who cast him in Boogie Nights, Magnolia and Punch-Drunk Love.
A graduate of City College of New York, he actually began his career not as an actor, but as a social worker with young people. But Guzman moonlighted as an actor and became heavily involved in street theater and independent films.
His numerous movie credits include Carlito's Way, Welcome to Collinwood, Stonewall, and The Salton Sea. He has also appeared on the TV shows Frasier and Oz and had a role in the video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City.
Guzmán was the star of a short-lived 2003 television comedy called Luis.
He is married and lives with his family in Sutton, Vermont.
