John Leguizamo quotes

John Leguizamo is an American actor, comedian, and producer known for his dynamic performances on stage and screen. His career includes notable roles in films such as "Romeo + Juliet," "Moulin Rouge!," and the "Ice Age" franchise. He is also recognized for his one-man shows and advocacy for Latino representation in entertainment. Here are 25 of his quotes:

Latins for Republicans - it's like roaches for Raid.

John Leguizamo

I see the new Latin artist as a pioneer, opening up doors for others to follow. And when they don't open, we crowbar our way in.

John Leguizamo

Yeah, that came out of a reading. It was great. It's such a fun crew to be with, and we all went out the night before and that really encouraged us to go out and get drunk.

John Leguizamo

I was familiar with that and "Rio Bravo.” "Rio Bravo” was what John Carpenter did, that brilliant move of taking a western and turning it into an urban flick. And from there you got, you know, all the cop genre movies of the time.

John Leguizamo

He thinks he can use the jail for networking to be somebody. In that way, he's always operating.

John Leguizamo

He wanted to be a lawyer, couldn't afford it, so he started dealing to go to college - good intention.

John Leguizamo

America may not realize it yet, but Latin prototypes are being created right now, and not just by me. They are these mambo kings and salsa queens, Aztec lords and Inca princesses, every Hernandez and Fernandez, whom this country will one day come to understand and respect.

John Leguizamo

We are taking our culture and suturing it to America. Like gum on the bottom of a shoe, we are not going to disappear. Unlike other peoples who totally assimilated, we are more interested in co-assimilation.

John Leguizamo

You grow up Latin in this country and you're a third class citizen from the word go, and so you have to deal with everything around you from that point of view and trying to feel entitled.

John Leguizamo

He made the characters a lot more three-dimensional. It's still a 'B' movie and it's still kinda campy. Now it's these really well-developed characters, really three-dimensional.

John Leguizamo

My parents were incredibly strict, almost military style.

John Leguizamo

There was no point. It's already done. Let's leave that alone. I mean, if you're not going to come there with something new, then just leave it alone.

John Leguizamo

He was like twitching and frothing and it was my father, ... I went like all pale. I felt all the blood leave my body. And then my father was like, 'How dare you?' And he stormed out of the theater and I followed him and we fought and argued and hugged and he cried and we made up.

John Leguizamo

Independent film is for actors that love to act.

John Leguizamo

Rehearsals make a huge difference.

John Leguizamo

Marriage is wild. I thought it was this perfect land of happiness and joy. Wrong! After you say you do, you don't for a long time.

John Leguizamo

To be a comedian, you gotta jokesmith, there's no way around it.

John Leguizamo

At Murry Bergtraum High I wanted to be as different from my father as possible. So I acted out in school, I was very anti-authority.

John Leguizamo

I was always writing. I was writing in high school because it was a really competitive school for class clowns; I used to have to write all of my snaps and my disses the night before and then act like I was making it up the next day.

John Leguizamo

Most of the great directors I've worked with - De Palma, Spike Lee - like rehearsals.

John Leguizamo

I love independent films, it's the only place as an actor you're totally allowed to breathe.

John Leguizamo

I had a great movement teacher - he showed me how to walk so I wasn't becoming like a cartoon.

John Leguizamo