Clifton Collins Jr.

Last updated

Clifton Collins Jr.
Clifton Collins Jr 2013 (cropped).jpg
Collins Jr. at the 2013 Weekend Of Horrors 11
Born (1970-06-16) June 16, 1970 (age 54)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Other namesClifton Gonzalez Gonzalez
Occupations
  • Actor
  • author
Years active1990–present
Relatives Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez (grandfather)
Jose Gonzalez Gonzalez (great-uncle)
Website cliftoncollinsjr.com

Clifton Craig Collins Jr. (born June 16, 1970) is an American film and television actor. He is a Primetime Emmy Award, Independent Spirit Award, Satellite Award, and four-time ALMA Award nominee, and a Screen Actors Guild Award winner. Prior to 1999, he was credited as Clifton Gonzalez Gonzalez.

Contents

After various small parts, he gained attention for his performance as a gangster in the crime drama One Eight Seven (1997). He then played featured parts in the major productions Traffic (2000) and The Last Castle (2001), and gained further recognition for his co-starring role as Perry Edward Smith in the biographical film Capote (2005). His subsequent films include Babel (2006), Star Trek, Crank: High Voltage (both 2009), Pacific Rim (2013), Knight of Cups (2015), The Mule (2018), Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019), and Nightmare Alley (2021). He won a Special Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival for his performance in the independent film Jockey (2021).

Collins' work on television series includes a starring role as Jack Hill on Thief (2006) - which earned him an Emmy Award nomination, Thomas on The Event (2010–11), Maximo Gomez on Ballers (2015–17), and Lawrence Gonzales / "El Lazo" on Westworld (2016–2020). He also provided the voice of Cesar Vialpando in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (2004).

Early life

Collins was born in Los Angeles, California in 1970. He is the grandson of actor Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez. He is sometimes credited as Clifton Gonzalez-Gonzalez in honor of his grandfather. His father is of German descent and his mother is of Mexican ancestry. [1]

Career

Collins made his acting debut on a 1990 episode of Freddy's Nightmares , and made his film debut the following year in Lawrence Kasdan's Grand Canyon. He played various small roles, notably in the Hughes brothers' Menace II Society (1993) and Dead Presidents (1995), and a more prominent supporting part in the cult action film Fortress (1992).

He first broke through the mainstream in 1997 with a performance as gangster César Sánchez in the film One Eight Seven . In 1998, he was in the Stuart Gordon-directed, Ray Bradbury-written cult film The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit . He next portrayed a gay hitman named Francisco "Frankie Flowers" Flores for the Mexican drug cartels in Steven Soderbergh's 2000 ensemble drama Traffic . [2]

For his portrayal of a US Marine prisoner in the 2001 film The Last Castle , Collins was nominated for the 2002 American Latino Media Arts (ALMA) Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture. In 2002, he played the role of Buddy in the film American Girl .

In 2005, Collins won reviews for his subtle portrayal of killer Perry Smith in the film Capote , which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2006.

He starred in the 2005 film Dirty . Collins starred on FX Networks' series Thief and received an Emmy nomination. [3] Collins also played a supporting role on FX Network's series The Shield as undercover ICE agent Hernan. He also had a small role in 2006's Babel , directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu.

In 2007, Collins took the lead role in the indie feature The Perfect Game , playing former baseball player Cesar Faz, who coaches a local Mexican youth league team, leading them all the way to the Little League World Series. [4]

In 2008, Collins directed two music videos for the country music group Zac Brown Band: "Chicken Fried" and "Whatever It Is". "Chicken Fried" won the 2009 CMT breakthrough music video of the year award.

Collins starred in the comedy Sunshine Cleaning with Amy Adams, Emily Blunt and Alan Arkin. He played Winston, the owner of a cleaning supply shop who builds meticulously detailed model airplanes with only one arm. Collins played the role with one arm bound tightly behind his back. [5] In 2009's Star Trek, Collins plays Ayel, a Romulan, second in command to the villain Nero.

In 2009, Collins joined Adrien Brody and Forest Whitaker in the psychological thriller The Experiment . [6] Collins starred in Extract , a 2009 film by director Mike Judge. He co-produced the film National Lampoon's TV: The Movie in which he played Officer Sanchez alongside Jacob Vargas. He also voiced the fictional video game character Cesar Vialpando in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas . In 2009, he played Romeo in the film The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day . [7]

In 2010, Collins joined the cast of NBC's drama The Event as Thomas. [8] The following year, he guested on two episodes of CSI: NY as a man named Raymond Harris, an ex-convict who seeks revenge against Mac Taylor and his partner to get some answers regarding a 17-year grudge against them. The episodes also guest-starred Peter Fonda, who Collins previously worked with in San Andreas, as Taylor's ex-partner, who ends up getting killed by Harris. In 2014, Collins portrayed a law enforcement official, Franco Rodriguez, alongside Casey Affleck, Anthony Mackie, Norman Reedus, Woody Harrelson, Kate Winslet in Triple 9 . [9]

In 2015, HBO's science fiction drama Westworld added Collins as Lawrence / El Lazo, a charming but lethal outlaw, with a knack for maneuvering and negotiating the various criminal elements. [10]

In 2019, Collins filmed Jockey , which won the Sundance Film Festival U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for best acting. [11]

Writing

He wrote his first book, Prison Ramen: Recipes and Stories from Behind Bars with Gustavo "Goose" Alvarez, in 2015. [12]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1991 Grand Canyon Carlos' Friend
1992 Fortress Nino Gomez
1993 Menace II Society Vato
Poetic Justice Mailroom Supervisor
1994 The Stoned Age Tack
1995MilestoneClifShort film
Dead Presidents Betancourt
One Tough Bastard Jarhead
1996 Sgt. Bilko Soldier
1997 One Eight Seven Cesar Sanchez
The Bad Pack Townsman
1998 The Replacement Killers Loco
The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit Martinez
1999Mascara
Light It Up Robert "Rivers" Tresmont
My Sweet KillerHorton
Mi AbuelaShort film
2000 Price of Glory Jimmy Ortega
Tigerland Private Miter
Traffic Francisco "Frankie Flowers" Flores
2001 The Last Castle Corporal Ramon Aguilar
2002Road DogzRaymo Serrano
Hip, Edgy, Sexy, Cool
The Rules of Attraction Rupert
American Girl Buddy
2003 I Witness Claudio Castillo
2004 Mindhunters Vince Sherman
2005 Capote Perry Edward Smith
Dirty Officer Armando Sancho
Life of the Party Kipp
2006 Rampage: The Hillside Strangler Murders Kenneth Bianchi
Babel Officer At Border Crossing
Little Chenier "T-Boy" Trahan
National Lampoon's TV: The Movie Tijuana Cop #1 / Minion / Miranda
2008 Sunshine Cleaning Winston
Under Still WatersJacob
2009 Horsemen "Stingray"
The Perfect Game Cesar Faz
Star Trek Ayel
Crank: High Voltage Jesus "El Huron" Verona
Extract "Step"
The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day Romeo
Brothers Major Cavazos
Tom CoolTom Picasso
2010Tell-TaleDetectiveShort film
The Experiment Nix
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World Vegan Police
2011 The FP C.C. Jam
Machine Gun JusticeJack GrizzlyShort film
2012PotusPimpShort film
GottenGun DealerShort film
Hellbenders Lawrence
Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter: The Great Calamity Edgar Allan Poe (voice)Short film
Freeloaders Vic
2013 Parker Ross
Pacific Rim Ops Tendo Choi
2014 Transcendence Martin
2015 Knight of Cups Jordan
Stung Sydney
Man Down Charles
2016 Triple 9 Detective Franco Rodriguez
Transpecos Hobbs
Punching Henry Dramatic Actor
Hacker Zed
2017 Small Town Crime Mood
M.F.A. Kennedy
A Crooked Somebody Nathan
The Vault Detective Iger
Cabeza MadreJohn
2018 Super Troopers 2 Bus Driver
The Mule Gustavo
2019 Honey Boy Tom
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood Ernesto "The Mexican" Vaquero
Waves Bobby
Running with the Devil The Farmer
Lucky Day DPO Ernesto Sanchez
2021 Breaking News in Yuba County Ray
Jockey Jackson Silva [13]
After Yang George
Nightmare Alley Funhouse Jack
Painted BeautyPeter
2023 Red, White & Royal Blue Senator Oscar Diaz
2024 The Bricklayer Radek
2025 By Design TBAPost-production
Train Dreams TBAPost-production
TBA Eddington TBAPost-production

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1990 Freddy's Nightmares MickeyEpisode: "Interior Loft"
The Flash Javier O'HaraEpisode: "Double Vision"
1991 Adam-12 Kid in ClassEpisode: "D.A.R.E."
Veronica Clare Latino ManagerEpisode: "Slow Violence"
Jake and the Fatman RobertoEpisode: "Street of Dreams"
1992 For Richer, for Poorer Co-WorkerTV movie
1993 Acapulco H.E.A.T. David KernEpisode: "Code Name: Desert Dragon"
Sworn to VengeanceTV movie
1994 Witch Hunt TyroneTV movie
1995 Madman of the People JorgeEpisode: "Notes from the Underground"
Live Shot Carlos SandovalEpisode: "For Whom the Stinkin' Bell Tolls"
1996 Walker, Texas Ranger FitoEpisode: "El Coyote: Part 1 & 2"
Land's End Episode: "Red Cadillac"
1997 Crisis Center Nando TaylorMain cast
ER Mr. BrownEpisode: "Tribes"
NYPD Blue Jimmy CortezEpisode: "I Love Lucy"
1998 Diagnosis Murder Boyd HarcourtEpisode: "Rear Windows '98"
The Defenders: Taking the FirstNelson RodriguezTV movie
1999 Martial Law Episode: "Friendly Skies"
2000–01 Resurrection Blvd. James GarciaRecurring cast: season 1
2002 The Twilight Zone Andy PerezEpisode: "Last Lap"
2003 Alias Javiar ParezRecurring cast: season 3
Undefeated LocoTV movie
2005Bounty HuntersMouseTV movie
2006 Thief Jack "Bump" HillMain cast
2007 The Shield HernanEpisode: "Haunts" & "Exiled"
Masters of Science Fiction Frendon BlytheEpisode: "Little Brother"
2008 Fear Itself Richard "Family Man" BrautiganEpisode: "Family Man"
2010 Southland Detective Ray SuarezEpisode: "The Runner"
2010–11 The Event ThomasMain cast
2011 CSI: NY Raymond HarrisEpisode: "Nothing for Something" & "Life Sentence"
Pound Puppies Scar/Weasel (voice)Episode: "Rebel Without a Collar"
2013 Red Widow James RamosMain cast
Cleaners JulianMain cast: season 1
The Blacklist Hector LorcaEpisode: "The Stewmaker (No. 161)"
2015–17 Ballers Maximo GomezRecurring cast: seasons 1-3
2016–20 Westworld Lawrence/"El Lazo"Main cast: seasons 1–2, guest: season 3
2019 Veronica Mars Alonzo LozanoMain cast: season 4
2021 The Stand Bobby TerryEpisode: "The Vigil"

Video games

YearTitleVoice roleNotes
2004 Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Cesar Vialpando
2021 Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition Archival recordings
Remaster of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas only

Awards and honors

InstitutionYearCategoryWorkOutcome
ALMA Awards 2002Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Television Series The Last Castle Nominated
2006Outstanding Actor in a Television Series Capote Nominated
2009Outstanding Actor in Film Star Trek, Crank: High Voltage Nominated
Boston Society of Film Critics Awards 2010 Best Cast Star Trek Won
Imagen Award 2011Best Supporting Actor - Television The Event Nominated
Independent Spirit Awards 2021 Best Male Lead Jockey Nominated
Satellite Award 2022 Best Actor in a Motion Picture JockeyNominated
Screen Actors Guild Awards 2001 Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Traffic Won
2006CapoteNominated
Sundance Film Festival 2021Dramatic Special Jury Award: Best ActorJockeyWon
Primetime Emmy Awards 2006 Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie Thief Nominated
Phoenix Film Festival 2007Best Cast Little Chenier Won

In 2019, Collins was awarded an Impact Award by the National Hispanic Media Coalition for Outstanding Performance in Film and Television. [14] On October 29, 2021, he received the Distinguished Performance Award at the SCAD Savannah Film Festival. [15]

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References

  1. ↑ Beale, Lewis (April 13, 2010). "Clifton Collins Jr. feels safe at home with his Mexican heritage in 'The Perfect Game'". New York Daily News . Retrieved June 9, 2012.
  2. ↑ Roger Ebert (January 1, 2001). "Traffic Movie Review".
  3. ↑ "And the nominees are ..." Los Angeles Times . July 7, 2006. Archived from the original on January 17, 2013. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  4. ↑ Lyford, Kathy (June 4, 2007). "Clifton Collins Jr. to star in 'Game'". Variety . Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  5. ↑ Wolcott, Gary (April 16, 2009). "Q & A with Clifton Collins Jr. of 'Sunshine Cleaning'". Tri-City Herald . Archived from the original on February 4, 2013. Retrieved August 21, 2009.
  6. ↑ Kroll, Justin (July 5, 2009). "Clifton Collins Jr". Variety. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  7. ↑ Debruge, Peter (October 29, 2009). "Review: 'The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day'". Variety. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  8. ↑ "Clifton Collins Jr. Joins The Event". TVGuide.com.
  9. ↑ Fleming, Mike Jr. (June 12, 2014). "Clifton Collins Jr. Joins Triple 9". Deadline Hollywood .
  10. ↑ "Westworld". Entertainment Weekly .
  11. ↑ "Anthony D'Alessandro". Deadline. August 16, 2021. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  12. ↑ Collins, Clifton; Alvarez, Gustavo "Goose" (November 3, 2015). Prison Ramen: Recipes and Stories from Behind Bars. Workman. ISBN   978-0761185529.
  13. ↑ JOCKEY
  14. ↑ Clifton Collins accepts NHMC Impact Award for Outstanding Performance in Film and Television, March 2, 2019, archived from the original on December 21, 2021, retrieved August 4, 2021
  15. ↑ "2021 Honored Guests". SCAD Savannah Film Festival. Archived from the original on March 27, 2022. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
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