Héctor Elizondo

GaK1...9uoj

14 Feb 2024

Héctor Elizondo

Héctor Elizondo, born on December 22, 1936, is an esteemed American character actor known for his versatile performances on both television and film. He gained recognition for his portrayal of Phillip Watters in the television series "Chicago Hope" (1994–2000) and Ed Alzate in the long-running series "Last Man Standing" (2011–2021).

Throughout his career, Elizondo has showcased his talent in a diverse range of film roles. Some of his notable film credits include "The Taking of Pelham One Two Three" (1974), "American Gigolo" (1980), "Leviathan" (1989), "Pretty Woman" (1990), "Beverly Hills Cop III" (1994), "Runaway Bride" (1999), "The Princess Diaries" (2001), and "Valentine's Day" (2010).
Elizondo's outstanding contributions to the entertainment industry have earned him several prestigious awards and nominations. He has won an Obie Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and two ALMA Awards. Additionally, he has received nominations for a Drama Desk Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Satellite Award, and five Screen Actors Guild Awards, highlighting his talent and versatility as an actor.

Héctor Elizondo was born in New York to Carmen Medina Reyes and Martín Echevarría Elizondo, who were Puerto Ricans of Spanish descent. They migrated from Puerto Rico to New York City in search of better opportunities. Elizondo grew up on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.
From a young age, Elizondo showed talent in both sports and music. He sang for the Frank Murray Boys' Choir at the age of 10. He attended the High School of Performing Arts after graduating from junior high in 1950. Alongside, he also attended another public high school, where he excelled in basketball and baseball. His skills in baseball were remarkable enough to attract the attention of scouts from both the San Francisco Giants and the Pittsburgh Pirates.
In 1954, Elizondo enrolled in the City College of New York with the intention of becoming a history teacher. However, during his freshman year, he became a father and decided to drop out of college to work full-time and support his family. Later on, he went through a divorce and gained full custody of his son, Rodd.

From 1962 to 1963, Elizondo pursued dance training at the Ballet Arts Company at Carnegie Hall. During the same period, he also studied acting under Mario Stiletti at the Stella Adler Theatre Studio when it was situated in the Dryden East Hotel on East 39th St. In 1965, he landed a role in the off-Broadway production Kill the One-Eyed Man.
In 1968, Elizondo secured a part in the play The Great White Hope. His breakthrough came when he portrayed "God" in the guise of a Puerto Rican steam room attendant in Steambath, a role for which he won an Obie Award. Many of his roles involved playing a friend or sympathizer to the lead character.
In 1974, Elizondo played the role of an ex-mafioso-turned-subway hijacker named "Mr. Grey" in The Taking of Pelham One Two Three.

He starred as a Puerto Rican widower on the CBS television series Popi from 1975 to 1976. This short-lived series, running for 11 episodes, was one of the first American network television shows to feature a Latino theme and cast. In 1975, he portrayed a murderer in an episode of Columbo titled "A Case of Immunity". Elizondo was also a member of the cast of the 1985–86 CBS sitcom Foley Square, starring Margaret Colin.
In the 1980s, Elizondo struck up a friendship with director Garry Marshall, who was impressed by his talent. Their collaboration began with the film Young Doctors in Love, where Elizondo showcased his guitar-playing skills. His role in Pretty Woman, though brief (lasting only 10 minutes), earned him a Golden Globe nomination. In 1999, he co-starred in Runaway Bride as Fisher, the husband of the male protagonist's ex. Elizondo has appeared in over 80 films, 18 of which were directed by Marshall. He featured in every film directed by Marshall, including a cameo as a Portuguese fisherman in Overboard, alongside Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn.

In 2001, Elizondo appeared in the short-lived television drama Kate Brasher and portrayed security head Joe in the film The Princess Diaries, a role he reprised in the 2004 sequel, The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement. Additionally, he lent his voice to the character Bane in Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman.
He is perhaps best known to television audiences for his role as Dr. Phillip Watters on the CBS television series Chicago Hope, created by renowned television creator David E. Kelley. Elizondo's portrayal earned him both an Emmy and an ALMA Award, and he received nominations for a Satellite Award and several Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards for this role. He is one of only two people to have appeared on the show for its entire run, the other being Adam Arkin.

On April 30, 2008, USA Network announced that Elizondo would join the cast of Monk as Dr. Neven Bell, Adrian Monk's new psychiatrist, following the sudden death of Stanley Kamel, the actor who played Monk's original psychiatrist, earlier that month.
From 2011 to 2021, Elizondo portrayed Ed Alzate on the Fox (formerly ABC) comedy Last Man Standing, starring Tim Allen and Nancy Travis.
In January 2023, Elizondo guest-voiced a character named Romar Adell, a local of Serenno who went into hiding after the Empire bombarded the planet, on Star Wars: The Bad Batch.