Biography Magazine

(August 2000)

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Vincent D'Onofrio

CLAIM TO FAME Chameleon-like, compelling character actor. Memorable for his debut as the Marine recruit who kills his drill instructor, then himself in Full Metal Jacket (he gained over 70 lbs. for the part). Has made over 30 films in the '90s alone.

NOTABLE ROLES Often unrecognizable from one part to the next, he's been the buglike alien terrorist in '97's Men in Black (his hideous makeup took 6 hours a day to apply); pulp fiction author Rober E. Howard (creator of Conan the Barbarian) in '96's The Whole Wide World (Best Actor, Seattle International Film Festival); a young Orson Welles in '94's Ed Wood; the murdered screenwriter in '92's The Player.

CURRENTLY STARRING IN Steal This Movie as the radical activist Abbie Hoffman (he's also executive producer); the supernatural thirller The Cell, as a serial killer experimented upon by scientist Jennifer Lopez; and in the drama Clair Dolan as a call girl's boyfriend.

COMING UP The indie Happy Accidents with Marisa Tomei and a sci-fi-film, The Imposter.

BEGINNINGS Born June 30, 1959, in Brooklyn, New York; grew up in Hawaii, Colorado, and Florida. Inspired by his dad's interest in community theater, he hit the amateur stage with a magic act. Studied at NY's Actors Studio and later joined the American Stanislawski Theatre company. At 6'4", got work as a bouncer to pay the bills. Broadway debut: Open Admissions (1984); First feature: '83's The First Turn-On! about kids at summer campt caught in an avalanche. Landed Full Metal Jacket when actor/friend Mathew Modine introduced him to Stanley Kubrick (subsequently fended off offers to play "fat guys and bad guys"; held out till land the role of Lili Taylor's boyfriend in Mystic Pizza).

DID YOU KNOW? Played Kennedy assassination witness Bill Newman in both JFK and Malcolm X.

QUOTE "I don't ever want people to say 'Vincent D'Onofrio type.' I always want to throw people for a loop."

BY MIRANDA SPENCER