IPRHFF 2023 Honorees
Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient
Luis Guzman
With over 30 years in the movie industry, Luis Guzmán is finally bringing his vast knowledge and experience into producing films. Best known for years as a favorite of director Steven Soderbergh, who cast him in Out of Sight, The Limey, and Traffic, and Paul Thomas Anderson, who cast him in Boogie Nights, Magnolia, and Punch-Drunk Love. Also seen on television in hits shows such as Netflix’s Wednesday, Showtime’s Shameless, Epix’s Godfather of Harlem and Perpetual Grace, LTD. As one of the FOUNDERS of Dark Rabbit Productions, he has set a clear vision to creating high quality original content for the universe.
Born in Puerto Rico and brought to New York City as an infant, he grew up in Manhattan’s Lower East Side where he took a keen interest in advocacy work for the benefit of his community. Since the 1970s, he has worked with the organization CHARAS, a group noted for its community-based urban ecology, and arts and culture where he also collaborated with Cesar Chavez during the grape boycott.
His early work strengthened his passion for helping others and has and continues to support to the East LA Rising (formerly East LA Boys & Girls Club), Advocates for Children, and the Henry Street Settlement House among others where he goes to speak and help in any way he can anytime he has an opportunity.
He began his career as an actor by chance. He started by doing street theater in the Lower East Side as a favor for friends who wrote plays and asked him to perform. Being an actor is not something he dreamed of pursuing, but nevertheless continued to do so as a hobby. After graduating from The City College of New York and taking a job as a social worker, a friend offered him a part in a TV show he was writing and auditioned, unaware that the project was the hit show, Miami Vice. He then continued his career as a social worker for six more years in a leading program with one of the highest success rates of getting people off government aid and starting new lives, while also continuing to act. Acting then became his primary craft and other notable credits include the films The Count of Monte Cristo, Carlito’s Way, and the television series Narcos, OZ, and How to Make it in America.
An active family man and proud father of five, Luis has instilled his strong work ethic in his children who are each pursuing their own careers in entertainment. When he is not on set, he enjoys dancing, playing music, photography, cooking (signature dish, Chicken a la Louey) and being a good human that helps others.
Currently, he splits his time between Los Angeles, New York, and his farm in Vermont.