Monday, March 28, 2011

Betcha Didn't Know...?

Some of the most notable names from the dawn of film and television are of Latino descent. Here are some of them.

In this edition, some Latinos who are second- and third-generation in show business.

Freddie Prinze, Jr., (1976- ), born Freddie James Prinze Cochran al estilo latino in Los Angeles, California, U.S., is an actor, producer and director. He rose to fame during the late 1990s and early 2000s, after starring in several Hollywood films aimed at teenage audiences, I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997) and its sequel, I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998), as well as She's All That (1999), Summer Catch (2001), Scooby-Doo (2002), Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleased (2004), and Delgo (2008). He has also had acting roles in television shows, including "Freddie" and "24." He is the only child of Kathy Elaine Cochran (née Barber), a real estate agent of English, Irish and Native American descent; and Freddie Prinze, an actor and comedian of Puerto Rican and German descent. He grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico and spent summers in Puerto Rico, where he learned about Latino and Puerto Rican culture from his paternal grandmother. He speaks fluent Spanish and Italian. He is married to actress Sarah Michelle Gellar, and currently works for World Wrestling Entertainment as a producer and director.

Clifton Collins, Jr. (1970- ), born in Los Angeles, California, U.S., is an actor of half-Mexican descent and the grandson of actor Pedro González-González. He has sometimes been credited as Clifton Gonzalez-Gonzalez to honor his grandfather. He first broke through the mainstream in 1997 with a performance as gang thug César Sánchez in the film 187 (with Samuel L. Jackson). He portrayed a gay hitman, named Frankie Flowers, for the Mexican drug cartels in the 2000 ensemble drama Traffic. In 2005, he won rave reviews for his subtle portrayal of killer Perry Smith in the fact-based film Capote. He starred in the 2005 film Dirty alongside Oscar winner Cuba Gooding, Jr. He also played a supporting role on the FX show "The Shield," as undercover ICE agent Hernán. Other film credits include Meance II Society, Poetic Justice, Price of Glory, Babel (directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu), Sunshine Cleaning, Star Trek, Extract, Tigerland, The Rules of Attraction, National Lampoon's TV: The Movie (which he co-produced) and The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day . He has also directed two music videos for the country music group Zac Brown Band. He can be currently be seen on the NBC drama "The Event" in the role of Thomas.

Susan Kohner
(1936- ), born Susanna Kohner Tovar al estilo latino, is an actress originally from Los Angeles, California, U.S. Her father was the Czechoslovakian-born film producer Paul Kohner and her mother was the famed Mexican actress Lupita Tovar. She starred in several films in the late 1950s and early 1960s, including co-starring with Sal Mineo in both Dino (1957) and The Gene Krupa Story (1959). In 1959, she was cast as the racially ambiguous Sarah Jane, her most notable role, in the 1959 color remake of Imitation of Life, for which she received an Academy Award nomination and won the Golden Globe in the Best Supporting Actress categories. Other film credits All The Fine Young Cannibals and Freud: The Secret Passion. In 1964, Kohner married German novelist and fashion designer John Weitz, and retired from acting. Their children are the film directors Chris and Paul Weitz (see below).

Chris Weitz (1969- ), born Christopher John Weitz Kohner al estilo latino, is a producer, writer, director and actor. Originally from New York, New York, U.S., he is best known for his work with his brother, Paul Weitz, on the comedy films American Pie and About A Boy, as well as directing the film adaptations of the novel The Golden Compass and Twilight: New Moon. He is the son of actress Susan Kohner (see above) and novelist/fashion designer John Weitz. His grandmother Lupita Tovar starred in Santa, Mexico's first talkie, in 1932. He is married to Mercedes Martínez with whom he has one son, Sebastian. He began his film career as a co-writer on the 1998 animated film Antz. In 2002, the brothers co-wrote and directed About A Boy, which earned them an Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay. He has produced a number of films including In Good Company and American Dreamz, both of which were directed by his brother, Paul. In June 2011, Summit Entertainment is releasing his latest film A Better Life, written by Eric Eason about a Hispanic gardener and his son in Los Angeles searching for their stolen truck. This film is unusual among Hollywood productions in that it is set in a Hispanic community and features an almost entirely Hispanic cast. He has also occasionally worked as an actor, playing the lead role in the 2000 comedy film Chuck & Buck and a bland suburbanite in Mr. & Mrs. Smith.

Paul Weitz
(1965- ), born Paul John Weitz Kohner al estilo latino, is a producer, writer, director and actor. Originally from New York, New York, U.S., he is best known for his work with his brother, Chris Weitz, on the comedy films American Pie and About A Boy, as well as directing the films In Good Company and American Dreamz. He is the son of actress Susan Kohner (see above) and novelist/fashion designer John Weitz. His grandmother Lupita Tovar starred in Santa, Mexico's first talkie, in 1932. He began his film career as a co-writer on the 1998 animated film Antz. In 2002, the brothers co-wrote and directed About A Boy, which earned them an Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay. He directed the 2010 film Little Fockers, the sequel to Meet the Parents, and Meet the Fockers. He has written a number of plays, including Roulette, Privilege, Show People and Trust, all of which have been produced Off-Broadway in New York City.

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