Benicio Del Toro

Benicio Monserrate Rafael del Toro Sánchez, known as Benicio Del Toro, born on February 19, 1967, is a highly acclaimed Puerto Rican born Spanish actor. Notable for his roles in a diverse range of films, Del Toro has accumulated critical praise and numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe, and a Silver Bear. His gritty portrayal of police officer Javier Rodriguez in the film Traffic (2000) punctuated his reputation as an actor with immense range. Notable for his unique character choices, Del Toro has taken on various roles from the eccentric crook Fred Fenster in The Usual Suspects (1995), Dr. Gonzo in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998), revolutionary Che Guevara in Che (2008), to the mysterious, ruthless agent in Sicario (2015). On a personal level, Del Toro was born in San Germán, Puerto Rico and has a brother, Gustavo. He had a Catalan paternal great-grandfather and a Basque maternal great-grandmother, and spent most of his infancy in Santurce, a barrio within San Juan. Del Toro, whose childhood nicknames were "Skinny Benny" and "Beno", was raised a Roman Catholic and attended a Roman Catholic school in Miramar, Puerto Rico. Del Toro spent his adolescence and attended high school in Pennsylvania and later pursued a business degree at the University of California, San Diego. After graduating, Del Toro studied with noted acting teachers Stella Adler and Arthur Mendoza in Los Angeles, as well as at the Circle in the Square Theatre School in New York City.