Who is Hector Elizondo? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Age: 87 Years, 87 Year Old Males

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Carolee Campbell (m. 1969), Marie Mandry (1963 - 1964), Marie Rivera (1956 - 1957)

father: Martín Echevarría Elizondo

mother: Carmen Medina Reyes

siblings: Emma Elizondo

children: Rodd Elizondo

Born Country: United States

Actors Voice Actors

Height: 5'10" (178 cm), 5'10" Males

Notable Alumni: City College Of New York

Ancestry: Puerto Rican American

U.S. State: New Yorkers

More Facts

education: City College Of New York

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1

What are some famous movies Hector Elizondo has been in?

Hector Elizondo is known for his roles in popular movies such as "Pretty Woman," "The Princess Diaries," "Runaway Bride," "The Taking of Pelham One Two Three," and "The Flamingo Kid."
2

Has Hector Elizondo ever won any acting awards?

Yes, Hector Elizondo has received critical acclaim for his performances but has not won any major acting awards.
3

Is Hector Elizondo active on social media?

No, Hector Elizondo is not active on social media platforms and prefers to maintain a private personal life.
4

Does Hector Elizondo have any upcoming projects?

As of now, there are no specific upcoming projects announced for Hector Elizondo, but fans can look forward to his future appearances in films and TV shows.

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Childhood & Early Life

Héctor Elizondo was born on December 22, 1936, in Harlem, New York City, USA. Both his father, Martín Echevarría Elizondo, a notary public and accountant, and his mother, Carmen Medina Reyes, had migrated from Puerto Rico to USA sometime in the early 1930s. He has a younger sister named Emma.

In 1950, he entered The High School of Music & Art, now known as Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts. Concurrently, he also attended regular high school, excelling in basketball and baseball, being scouted both by the San Francisco Giants and the Pittsburgh Pirates.

In 1954, he entered City College of New York. But in that very year, he had to drop out of college to look after his wife and child, working full time, initially as a conga player, and later as a classical guitarist cum singer, a weightlifting coach, and a manager of a bodybuilding gym.

In 1962-63, he studied dance at the Ballet Arts Company at Carnegie Hall, eventually working as a ballet dancer. Also, during this period, he studied acting at Stella Adler Theatre Studio. When a knee injury put an end to his dancing career, he switched to theatre, initially working with repertory groups.

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Career

In 1963, Hector Elizondo debuted in films with ‘The Fat Black Pussy Cat’. Two years later, he debuted in off-Broadway productions, appearing in 'Kill the One-Eyed Man’. In 1967, he debuted on television with an unknown episode of ‘The Edge of Night’.

In 1970, he tasted his first major success, starring as “God” disguised as a Puerto Rican steam room attendant in the off-Broadway production of ‘Steambath’. Opening on June 30, 1970, it ran for 128 performances, eventually closing on October 18, 1970.

In 1971, he got his first starring role in a film, appearing as Vivian, a close aid of the lead character, in the black comedy drama film, ‘Born to Win’. Also, in the same year, he appeared in his first made-for-television film, ‘The Impatient Heart’.

In 1974, he got his next starring role in a film, appearing as Giuseppe Benvenuto a.k.a. Mr. Grey, in 'The Taking of Pelham One Two Three'.

In 1975, he earned acclaim for his role of the murderer in the ‘A Case of Immunity’ episode of the TV series ‘Columbo’. In the following year, he got his first starring role on television, appearing as Abraham Rodriguez in all the eleven episodes of ‘Popi’.

In the 1980s, Elizondo did ten films, beginning the decade with ‘American Gigolo’, ending it with ‘Leviathan’. Appearing as Jesse Steinberg in fourteen episodes of ‘Foley Square’ (1985-86) and as Dave Whiteman in thirteen episodes of 'Down and Out in Beverly Hills' (1987) were some of his other significant works.

He opened the 1990s with Gary Marshall’s ‘Pretty Woman’, in which he appeared for ten minutes only, nonetheless receiving a Golden Globe nomination for his performance. Thereafter, he appeared in several more films, the significant ones among them being ‘Beverly Hills Cop III' (1994) and 'Runaway Bride' (1999).

In the 1990s, he appeared in numerous television series, the most significant among them being ‘Chicago Hope’, in which he appeared as Dr. Phillip Watters, one of the main characters, from 1994 to 2000.

As the new millennium set in, Elizondo continued to work, appearing in several movies, the last among them being ‘The Lego Batman Movie’ (voice work, 2017). Equally active on television, he is currently portraying the role of Ed Alzate, one of the main characters, in ‘Last Man Standing’.

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Major Works

Hector Elizondo is best known for his role of Dr. Phillip Watters in ‘Chicago Hope’, a medical drama television series that ran on CBS from September 18, 1994 to May 4, 2000. Appearing in all of its 141 episodes, he received multiple award nominations for his performance, winning two of them.

Family & Personal Life

In 1956, while studying at City College of New York, Elizondo married Marie Rivera, having his only child, Rodd Elizondo, with her. The couple divorced in 1957. Later, he gained his son’s full custody.

In 1963, he married Marie Mandry. The couple divorced in the following year.

On April 13, 1969, he married his third wife, Carolee Campbell, an Emmy Award-winning actress, photographer, and publisher. The couple now lives in California.

Facts About Hector Elizondo

Hector Elizondo is an accomplished musician who plays the conga drums and enjoys incorporating music into his acting roles.

Despite being known for his serious and dramatic acting roles, Hector Elizondo has a great sense of humor and loves to make his co-stars laugh on set.

Hector Elizondo is a passionate advocate for mental health awareness and has worked with various organizations to raise awareness and support those in need.

In addition to his successful acting career, Hector Elizondo is also a talented artist who enjoys painting and sketching in his free time.

Hector Elizondo is a dedicated philanthropist who supports various charitable causes, including organizations that focus on education, healthcare, and the arts.

Hector Elizondo Biography

You wanted to know

What are some famous movies Hector Elizondo has been in?

Has Hector Elizondo ever won any acting awards?

Is Hector Elizondo active on social media?

Does Hector Elizondo have any upcoming projects?