Benicio del Toro was born on February 19, 1967, and became known for a style of acting that feels lived-in, unpredictable, and intensely human. After early breakout attention in The Usual Suspects, he reached worldwide recognition with Traffic (2000), a performance that brought him major awards and helped cement his reputation as one of his generation’s most distinctive character actors.
Del Toro’s career is defined by bold choices and range. He played Ernesto “Che” Guevara in Che (2008), delivered mainstream thriller gravitas in Sicario (2015), and joined global franchises as the Collector in the Marvel universe and DJ in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. In recent years, he has continued to balance prestige projects with high-profile roles, including starring as Zsa-zsa Korda in Wes Anderson’s The Phoenician Scheme.
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Quick Facts
| Real Name: | Benicio Monserrate Rafael del Toro Sánchez |
| Profession: | Actor, producer |
| Born: | February 19, 1967 |
| Age: | 58 (as of 2026) |
| Birthplace: | San Germán, Puerto Rico |
| Nationality: | Puerto Rican, American |
| Known For: | Traffic, Che, Sicario, The Usual Suspects, Marvel’s Collector |
| Notable Films: | Traffic; 21 Grams; Che; Sicario; The French Dispatch; The Phoenician Scheme |
| Awards: | Academy Award (Oscar), Golden Globe, BAFTA, SAG; Cannes Best Actor |
| Zodiac Sign: | Pisces |
| Relationship: | Not publicly married |
| Children: | 1 (daughter, Delilah) |
| Years Active: | Late 1980s to present |
Early Life & Education
Benicio del Toro was born in Puerto Rico and spent part of his upbringing in Pennsylvania, a move that shaped both his accent and his ability to shift between cultures on screen. He has often described coming from a family of professionals, which made acting feel like a risky path early on.
After school, he studied and trained seriously as an actor, building technique through formal programs and conservatory-style work. That foundation helped him move quickly from small parts into roles that required heavy character transformation, emotional control, and a willingness to take creative swings.
Career Highlights and Milestones
Del Toro’s early screen work included roles that showcased intensity and edge, but his first major breakthrough came with The Usual Suspects (1995). The performance introduced him as a fearless character actor who could turn limited screen time into a lasting impression.
His career accelerated with Traffic (2000), where he played a conflicted law enforcement officer and earned top industry recognition. He followed with challenging, director-driven projects like 21 Grams (2003) and the epic biopic Che (2008). In the 2010s and beyond, he balanced prestige roles with mainstream visibility through films like Sicario, Marvel appearances as the Collector, and later starring work in Wes Anderson’s The Phoenician Scheme.
Selected film and TV highlights
- Licence to Kill (1989)
- The Usual Suspects (1995)
- Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)
- Traffic (2000)
- 21 Grams (2003)
- Che (2008)
- Sicario (2015)
- Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)
- Escape at Dannemora (2018, limited series)
- The French Dispatch (2021)
- The Phoenician Scheme (2025)
- One Battle After Another (2025)
Major recognition
- Academy Award (Oscar) win for Traffic (Best Supporting Actor)
- Golden Globe win for Traffic (Supporting Actor)
- BAFTA win for Traffic (Supporting Actor)
- Screen Actors Guild (SAG) acting wins tied to Traffic
- Cannes Film Festival Best Actor win for Che (2008)
- Academy Award nomination for 21 Grams (Supporting Actor)
- Golden Globe nomination noted for One Battle After Another (supporting performance)
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Awards and Accolades
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Academy Awards (Oscars) | Best Supporting Actor | Traffic | Won |
| 2001 | Golden Globe Awards | Supporting Actor (Motion Picture) | Traffic | Won |
| 2001 | BAFTA Awards | Best Actor in a Supporting Role | Traffic | Won |
| 2001 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Male Actor (Theatrical Film) | Traffic | Won |
| 2004 | Academy Awards (Oscars) | Best Supporting Actor | 21 Grams | Nominated |
| 2008 | Cannes Film Festival | Best Actor | Che | Won |
| 2026 | Golden Globe Awards | Supporting Actor (Motion Picture) | One Battle After Another | Nominated |
Filmography / Notable Works
| Year | Title | Type | Role / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Licence to Kill | Film | Dario, early high-visibility role. |
| 1995 | The Usual Suspects | Film | Fred Fenster, breakout character work. |
| 1998 | Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas | Film | Dr. Gonzo, cult-classic performance. |
| 2000 | Traffic | Film | Javier Rodriguez, Oscar-winning role. |
| 2003 | 21 Grams | Film | Supporting role that earned major awards attention. |
| 2005 | Sin City | Film | Jackie Boy, stylized noir role. |
| 2008 | Che | Film | Ernesto “Che” Guevara, Cannes Best Actor win. |
| 2014 | Guardians of the Galaxy | Film | The Collector, Marvel appearance. |
| 2015 | Sicario | Film | Alejandro Gillick, signature modern role. |
| 2018 | Escape at Dannemora | TV (limited) | Richard Matt, critically praised miniseries role. |
| 2025 | The Phoenician Scheme | Film | Lead role as Zsa-zsa Korda. |
| 2025 | One Battle After Another | Film | Major supporting performance in Paul Thomas Anderson film. |
Net Worth, Income, & Lifestyle
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Net Worth (2026) | Del Toro has not disclosed a verified net worth figure. Online estimates vary widely, so treat any number as speculative unless supported by primary documentation. |
| Income Sources | Acting fees, producer credits, franchise participation, and long-running catalog work from major films and streaming-era licensing. |
| Properties & Assets | He keeps most personal financial details private. Public coverage focuses more on film work than on itemized assets. |
| Lifestyle | Often described as private and work-focused, with a career built around selective roles, director collaborations, and character-driven performances. |
Social Media & Online Presence
| Platform | Details |
|---|---|
| No consistently verified personal Instagram is widely established. Many accounts appear fan-run or unofficial. | |
| X (Twitter) | No clearly confirmed official personal account listed here. Verify before treating any handle as official. |
| Fan pages and repost pages exist. Platform verification can change, confirm before relying on any page as official. | |
| IMDb | Verified credits and filmography: IMDb. |
| Festival Bio | Cannes profile page: festival-cannes.com. |
| Fan Updates | Coming soon, subscribe to follow Benicio del Toro updates. |
Fan communities on social media (unofficial)
NOTE: Many fan-run pages and clip accounts exist. These are not confirmed to be affiliated with Benicio del Toro. Links and usernames can change at any time.
Trivia & Lesser-Known Facts
- He turned early screen time into a lasting breakout impression in The Usual Suspects (1995), despite having relatively few scenes.
- He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for Traffic (2000), one of the defining performances of that awards season.
- He portrayed Ernesto “Che” Guevara in Che (2008) and received the Cannes Best Actor award for the role.
- He plays the Collector in the Marvel universe, a character that made him recognizable to blockbuster audiences.
- He has spoken about coming from a family of professionals, which made his acting career feel like an uncertain choice early on.
- He is a father and tends to keep personal life details relatively private compared to many peers.
Quotes
“After I won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, I remember my godmother, maybe three days later, was like, ‘You’d be a great lawyer. You could do law school at night. You could be a great lawyer.’”
Source: Entertainment Weekly (June 3, 2025)
“I don’t come from a family of theater people or movie people, so they were very nervous with me.”
Source: Entertainment Weekly (June 3, 2025)
“I’m a father now. My daughter, if she wants to be a lawyer, great. [If] the next day she wants to be a designer, great. But I do know that if she wants to be an actress, you just have to let her be.”
Source: Entertainment Weekly (June 3, 2025)
“I think there’s more opportunity now than when I was going out for auditions for an actor.”
Source: Entertainment Weekly (June 3, 2025)
“My character died on page 38 or 39. It was, like, I had five scenes.”
Source: Entertainment Weekly (June 3, 2025)
“The cast was very encouraging too, with what I was doing.”
Source: Entertainment Weekly (June 3, 2025)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What is Benicio del Toro’s age?
A: He was born on February 19, 1967. His age changes each year; as of 2026, he is 58.
Q: What is Benicio del Toro best known for?
A: He is widely known for Traffic (Oscar-winning performance), Che, Sicario, and his early breakout in The Usual Suspects. He is also recognized as the Collector in the Marvel universe.
Q: Did Benicio del Toro win an Oscar?
A: Yes. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for Traffic.
Q: Has Benicio del Toro played major franchise roles?
A: Yes. He appears in Marvel films as the Collector and played DJ in Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
Q: Is Benicio del Toro married?
A: He is not publicly married. He has one daughter.
Upcoming Projects
- Awards-season runway for One Battle After Another: The film has continued strong awards momentum, with major guild and critics recognition reported during the season.
- New collaborations: Del Toro remains a frequent pick for director-driven films and ensemble casts. Watch for official announcements tied to festival lineups and studio release calendars.
- Potential franchise and studio projects: As a recognizable name across both prestige and franchise worlds, he is often linked to rumored packages. Treat unconfirmed casting reports cautiously until trades verify them.
Interviews & Features
- Entertainment Weekly, “Benicio del Toro’s family was still nervous about his career choice days after winning Oscar for Traffic” (June 3, 2025) , a feature built around his “Happy Sad Confused” podcast appearance, including stories about early career risk and how his family reacted even after major success.
- People, “Benicio del Toro’s Family Still Wanted Him to Be a Lawyer Even After He Won an Oscar” (June 2025) , a companion recap that highlights his reflections on stability, family expectations, and what he would tell his own child about the industry.
- AP News, “’One Battle After Another’ brings revolution to the big screen” (Sept 25, 2025) , an interview feature on the film with cast discussion of themes, production approach, and the scale of the project.
- Festival de Cannes profile: Benicio del Toro , an official festival bio overview covering career milestones, major films, and Cannes-related recognition.
- Focus Features, “The Phoenician Scheme Premieres in New York” (June 2025) , a studio feature recap and photo gallery tied to the New York premiere.
Public Appearances & Festivals
- 2025 Cannes Film Festival (May 2025): Del Toro appeared in Cannes during the festival period, where he was photographed on the red carpet in widely distributed festival portrait coverage.
- The Phoenician Scheme world premiere run (May 2025): The film premiered during Cannes, followed by a U.S. rollout that included public-facing press activity.
- New York premiere for The Phoenician Scheme (May 28, 2025): He attended the premiere at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City.
- Awards-season events for One Battle After Another (2025 to 2026): As the film’s awards momentum continued, related ceremonies and press appearances increased throughout the season.
