Raúl Juliá

Raúl Juliá

1940-03-09 – 1994-10-24 (age 54) San Juan, Puerto Rico
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Biography

Raúl Rafael Juliá y Arcelay (March 9, 1940 – October 24, 1994) was a Puerto Rican actor. His film career peaked in the US in the early 1990s.

Born in San Juan, he gained interest in acting while still in school. Upon completing his studies, Juliá decided to pursue a career in acting. After performing in the local scene for some time, he was convinced by entertainment personality Orson Bean to move and work in New York City. Juliá, who had been bilingual since his childhood, soon gained interest in Broadway and "Off Broadway" plays. He performed in mobile projects, including the Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre.

Juliá was eventually noticed by Joseph Papp, who offered him work in the New York Shakespeare Festival. After gaining notoriety, he received roles in two television series, Love of Life and Sesame Street. For his performance in Two Gentlemen of Verona, he received a nomination for the Tony Award and won a Drama Desk Award. Between 1974 and 1982, Juliá received Tony Award nominations for Where's Charley?, The Threepenny Opera and Nine. During the 1980s, he worked in several films, receiving nominations for the Golden Globe Awards, for his performance in Tempest, and Kiss of the Spider Woman, winning the National Board of Review Award for Best Actor for the latter.

In 1991 and 1993, Juliá portrayed "Gomez Addams" in two film adaptations of The Addams Family. In 1994, he filmed The Burning Season and a film adaptation of the Street Fighter video games. Later that year, Juliá suffered several health afflictions, eventually dying after suffering a stroke. His funeral was held in Puerto Rico, being attended by thousands. For his work in The Burning Season, Juliá won a posthumous Golden Globe and Emmy Award.

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Known For

Street Fighter
Street Fighter

1994

as Bison

The Addams Family
The Addams Family

1991

as Gomez Addams

Addams Family Values
Addams Family Values

1993

as Gomez Addams

Presumed Innocent
Presumed Innocent

1990

as Sandy Stern

Disclosure
Disclosure

2020

as Valentin Arregui (archive footage)

The Rookie
The Rookie

1990

as Strom

Havana
Havana

1990

as Arturo Duran (uncredited)

Eyes of Laura Mars
Eyes of Laura Mars

1978

as Michael Reisler

Tequila Sunrise
Tequila Sunrise

1988

as Commandante Xavier Escalante

Babenco: Tell Me When I Die
Babenco: Tell Me When I Die

2020

as Self (archive footage)

The Panic in Needle Park
One from the Heart
Kiss of the Spider Woman
Kiss of the Spider Woman

1985

as Valentin Arregui

Romero
Romero

1989

as Archbishop Oscar Romero

Tempest
Tempest

1982

as Kalibanos

Death Scream
Death Scream

1975

as Detective Nick Rodriguez

Frankenstein Unbound
Frankenstein Unbound

1990

as Dr. Victor Frankenstein

The Gumball Rally
The Gumball Rally

1976

as Franco

Compromising Positions
Compromising Positions

1985

as David Suarez

The Organization
The Organization

1971

as Juan Mendoza