Introduction

It’s rare to see an actor as versatile and loved as Héctor Elizondo. This Latino-born actor is still a fan favorite despite being over 80 years old! However, not many people know that he did not originally intend to become an actor. How did Elizondo get cast in so many different roles? And what is his connection to Garry Marshall?

Early life and education

Héctor Elizondo was born on December 22, 1936 in New York City, USA, to parents Martin Echevarria Elizondo, an accountant, and Carmen Medina Reyes. The couple moved to New York City from Puerto Rico in search of a better life for themselves and their future family.

Through them, Elizondo is of Spanish and Basque descent, in fact his surname in Basque means “at the foot of the church”. He also has a sister, Emma Elizondo.

Elizondo remained in Harlem, New York, for most of his childhood. While still a child, he showed great talent for music and sports – when he was only 10 years old, he was part of the Frank Murray Boy’s Choir. After graduating from high school in 1950, he attended New York’s Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Performing Arts, as well as another public high school where he played on school basketball and baseball teams. He was so good at baseball that he was scouted by both the Pittsburg Pirates and the San Francisco Giants!

Elizondo continued his education in New York when he enrolled in City College and took history classes, planning to become a history teacher. However, while still in his freshman year in 1956, his girlfriend became pregnant and had their son, Rodd, when Elizondo was just 19. Because of this, Elizondo dropped out of college and found a full-time job so he could support his son and wife. . Despite, or perhaps because of, all these hardships, the couple didn’t last, and several years later Elizondo divorced and got full custody of Rodd. He again pursued further education, so from 1962 to 1963 he took dance lessons with the Ballet Arts Company at Carnegie Hall, and at the same time also took acting lessons from Mario Stiletti, one of the teachers at Stella Adler Theater Studio. This has led him to change his career towards acting.

Career

Elizondo had his first acting role in 1965, in “Kill the One-Eyed Man”, an off-Broadway show. In 1968, he played a character in the play “The Great White Hope” which was made into a movie in 1970. His other prominent theater roles were in “Sly Fox” and “Volpone”. However, Elizondo’s breakthrough came with the play “Steambath”, in which he portrayed God disguised as a steam room attendant from Puerto Rico. This role earned him an Obie Award and has led to him being typecast as a close friend or supporter of the lead character. He played an ex-mafia member named Mr. Gray in the movie “The Taking of Pelham One Two Three” in 1974, and next year he starred in the CBS TV sitcom “Popi”, one of the first American series to feature an almost all-Latin cast and theme. In the same year, he appeared in an episode of the series “Columbo” entitled “A Case of Immunity”.

Career after meeting Garry Marshall

The 1980s marked a new period in Elizondo’s career, as he befriended film producer and director Garry Marshall, and in 1982 they made their first film together, “Young Doctors in Love”, in which Elizondo proved his legendary guitar skills. In the following years, he was also cast in the CBS comedy “Foley Square” alongside Margaret Colin, and briefly appeared in the famous “Pretty Woman”, for only 10 minutes, which nevertheless earned him a Golden Globe nomination. Another notable 1990s film appearance was his role in “Runaway Bride” in which he played Fisher, the husband of a protagonist’s ex-girlfriend.

Elizondo attracted a new young audience after playing Joe in the famous teen movie “The Princess Diaries”, and its 2004 sequel, “The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement”. He had a role in the CBS TV series “Chicago Hope” as Dr. Phillip Watters, for which he won both an ALMA and an Emmy Award, and was nominated for a Satellite Award, as well as several SAG awards. He and his castmate Adam Arkin are the only two actors to remain on the show for the entire series. Another character played by him and loved by many is Dr. Cousins ​​Bell from “Monk”, a role he took on after Stanley Kamel passed away.

During his career, Elizondo has appeared in over 80 films, 17 of which were directed by Garry Marshall – most notably, he appeared briefly as a fisherman in “Overboard”, a romantic comedy starring Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell. In fact, he appeared in every feature film directed by Marshall since the two met – Marshall considered Elizondo his good luck charm.

Elizondo is also a prominent one voice actor, and his most famous portrayal was that of antagonist Bane in “Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman”. He also did voice acting for “The LEGO Batman Movie” and “The Book of Life”.

Private life

Elizondo married Emmy Award-winning actress, publisher, and photographer Carolee Campbell for a second time in 1969. The two met at the Actor’s Studio, and it is implied that Campbell helped him land some of his first television roles. The couple has no children; they currently reside in Sherman Oaks, California. Elizondo’s son from the first marriage and an only child, Rodd Elizondo, died in 2017.

Elizondo is a supporter of the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, and he even participated in a 2013 event held at the University of Southern California.

Despite being known for his Latino heritage of which he is extremely proud, Elizondo has never accepted a stereotyped or demeaning role. He turned down several, including the lead role in “Chico and the Man” because he considered the character a cliché, and a role in “Scarface” because he thought it was a negative stereotype of Latinos. He said about the latter: “I didn’t want to be associated with Latinos if the association is violent. (…) The violence I experienced came from the non-Latinos.’

Elizondo is a good singer and musician; in addition to playing the guitar – a skill he has displayed several times during his acting career – he also plays conga drums. He still enjoys sports, especially the Japanese fencing skill Kendo.

HECTOR ELIZONDO © 2013 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

Posted by The JCappers On Wednesday November 6, 2013

He is active in a number of charities, including Amnesty International and the Alzheimer’s Association.

Net value

Elizondo has a long and successful career in a plethora of movies and series. His acting and voice acting portfolio of over 100 titles showcases one of the most versatile in Hollywood. All this has made him a considerable net worth estimated around $10 million, as of early 2020!

Physical Characteristics

Elizondo is recognizable by his warm face, gray hair and bright blue eyes. He also has a soothing voice that is easy to distinguish. He is 1.78 meters tall and weighs about 68 kg.