Yul Vazquez

Biography

Actor Yul Vázquez fit the bill for Hispanic or generalized ethnic roles in Hollywood productions, but worked to some degree against the grain by seeking out some of the more atypical and offbeat assignments within this type. He debuted in the Arne Glimcher-directed period musical drama The Mambo Kings (1992) -- as a member of the 1950s band at the center of the story -- then followed it up with bit parts and supporting roles in big-screen productions including Fresh (1994), Nick of Time (1995), Bad Boys II (2003), and War of the Worlds (2005), as well as occasional guest appearances on such series programs as Seinfeld and Law & Order. In 2007, Vázquez joined the cast of Ridley Scott's period crime melodrama American Gangster, alongside Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide He was a regular for both seasons of the Starz drama Magic City. Set in 1960s Miami, the series centers on the upscale Miramar Playa Hotel amongst the political and organized crime drama of the time. Yul portrays Victor Lazaro, general manager of the Miramar Playa. Additionally, he recurs in three other television series, as Pedro in FX’s Louie, as Christian in CBS's Good Wife and as Det. Anthony Nikolich on the HBO television series Treme. Vázquez is a founding member of the LAByrinth Theater Company and served two terms as co-Artistic Director with Stephen Adly Guirgis and Mimi O'Donnell in New York City. Vázquez starred on Broadway in the Tony nominated Motherf**ker With The Hat opposite Chris Rock. For his portrayal of the eccentric Cousin Julio, he received nominations for a Drama Desk Award, an Outer Critics Circle Award and a Tony Award for "Best Featured Actor in a Play". Additional theater credits include The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (The Public Theater) opposite Sam Rockwell, directed by Philip Seymour Hoffman, Terrence McNally’s Stendhal Syndrome, Primary Stages with Isabella Rossellini and Richard Thomas, and The Floating Island Plays (Mark Taper Forum).