Benicio Del Toro's Surprising Family Dream for His Career and His Latest Wild Roles

Benicio Del Toro is an actor who really makes his roles his own. Whether he is playing a gritty cop a strange sidekick or a powerful villain he brings something special to every character. You might think that after all his success and even an Oscar win his family would be completely on board with his acting career. But it turns out that was not quite the case. It is a surprising twist in the story of a Hollywood star.

The Puerto Rico-born actor has been around for nearly 40 years. He has taken on all kinds of characters. You have seen him in serious dramas like Che and 21 Grams. He was also in action-packed films like Sicario. He even played some truly wild parts in movies like Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Now he is even doing a full-blown comedy, Wes Anderson's new picture The Phoenician Scheme. Despite this amazing range and clear talent his family still wanted him to have a backup plan. This desire for a different path lasted longer than you might think.

Del Toro shared this surprising detail on the Happy Sad Confused podcast. He said his family, who are mostly professionals not actors, were very worried about him. They did not come from the movie or theater world. They were concerned about his choice of career. His parents were both lawyers. His great-grandfather was a well-known politician. This background explains why they might have wanted something more "stable" for him. But what he said next really sticks out.

Even After Winning An Oscar His Family Thought Benicio Del Toro Should Consider Law School

The Unexpected Pressure To Find A More "Normal" Career Path For The Accomplished Actor

Imagine this: you have just won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. You are at the top of your game. You are celebrated for your work. You would think that would settle any doubts about your career choice. Not for Benicio Del Toro's godmother. He remembers that just three days after he won his Oscar for the film Traffic in 2000, she suggested something else entirely. "You'd be a great lawyer. You could do law school at night. You could be a great lawyer," she told him. This shows how much his family worried about his future, even after he had achieved such a high level of success.

Keep in mind that Traffic came out a full 13 years after he first appeared on an episode of Miami Vice. It was 12 years after his movie debut in Big Top Pee-wee. It was 11 years after he played a bad guy in the James Bond film Licence to Kill. One of his first jobs was even in the background of Madonna’s "La Isla Bonita" music video. He had already been working for a long time before the Oscar. Yet the concern from his family remained strong. It is easy to see why he understands their worry now that he is a father himself.

Del Toro mentioned that if his daughter wants to be a lawyer, that is great. If she wants to be a designer the next day, that is also great. But if she wants to be an actress he knows he would just have to let her do it. He feels there are more chances now for actors than when he was starting out. He sees all the TV series and stories being told. This open view shows how much the industry has changed over the years. It also shows a deep understanding of what it is like to follow an unconventional path.

Benicio Del Toro's Unique Acting Style And How He Made His Mark In Early Roles

Remembering The Standout Performances That Defined His Early Career And Approach To Characters

For many of us, our first real encounter with Benicio Del Toro was in Bryan Singer's crime drama The Usual Suspects. This movie is famous for its twists. Kevin Spacey won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his work in the film. Christopher McQuarrie also won an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. Del Toro's character in this movie had a strange way of speaking. He had a "wait, what did he say?" manner. This was a risky choice, especially for an actor who was not very well known at the time. But Del Toro shared that everyone on set was fine with his approach.

He explained that his character died pretty early in the script, around page 38 or 39. He only had five scenes. So the team trusted him to create that character and put his own spin on it. He added that the cast was also very encouraging with what he was doing. He remembers finishing his last day of shooting and thinking, "Yeah, I don’t know if this is gonna work." That doubt is common for actors trying something different. But his performance made his character stand out. It proved that sometimes, taking a risk with a unique acting choice really pays off.

His ability to disappear into various roles and make them feel authentic is a testament to his skill. He has a way of being quiet and intense or completely over the top. This makes him hard to pin down but always interesting to watch. His approach to characters is often about finding something different and unexpected. This sets him apart from many other actors in Hollywood.

The Collector's Return To The Marvel Cinematic Universe And Other Future Prospects

What Benicio Del Toro Has Said About Reprising His Fan-Favorite Marvel Role

Fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe are always hoping to see their favorite characters come back. Benicio Del Toro's character, The Collector, is one of those fan favorites. Recent comments from Del Toro have given fans hope about his potential return to the MCU. He was speaking on the Happy, Sad, Confused podcast when he gave a hopeful update. This is a big change from what he said just a few days before when he seemed unsure about coming back.

"There’s definitely more on the table," Del Toro stated. "I mean, it’s not up to me, but I think there is." This comment is a clear contrast to what he said earlier while promoting his new film. In that interview, he was more uncertain about a return. He had said, "You gotta get invited to play in that international tournament, and I’d love to play in it, but fingers crossed that’ll happen soon. I haven’t been invited yet for a second round." The change from hoping for an invitation to suggesting a return is a real possibility. This could mean that talks with Marvel Studios are moving forward.

The Collector, whose real name is Taneleer Tivan, first showed up in Thor: The Dark World. He became a key supporting character in Guardians of the Galaxy. He ran a huge museum of strange creatures and items on Knowhere. His last proper appearance was in Avengers: Infinity War. Thanos arrived on Knowhere to claim the Reality Stone. The Collector seemed to be trapped, but this was an illusion. His actual fate after meeting Thanos was unclear. He later sold Knowhere to the Guardians of the Galaxy. His current location in the universe is not known. His unique personality and his interest in collecting rare items make him a good fit for future Marvel stories, especially with all the multiverse craziness happening now.

With Avengers: Doomsday recently delayed, Marvel Studios has more time to finalize its cast. This could open the door for characters like The Collector. As an old being obsessed with collecting, The Collector would be interested in all the different versions of heroes and villains popping up from multiversal events. He could be a useful source of information in the upcoming fight against Doctor Doom. The next film, Avengers: Secret Wars, could be an even better place for him. That comic book storyline involves a patchwork planet made from pieces of dead universes. A being like The Collector would do well in such a place. He might even rule his own area made of his prized collections. Marvel Studios' head, Kevin Feige, has said that more cast members for Avengers: Doomsday will be announced. Combined with Del Toro's hopeful comments, this strongly suggests The Collector will be part of future plans.

Benicio Del Toro Steps Into Wes Anderson's World For The Phoenician Scheme

His Latest Role Proves His Continued Versatility And Appeal In Different Genres

Benicio Del Toro is starring in Wes Anderson's latest film, The Phoenician Scheme. This movie is a refreshing change because it focuses heavily on Del Toro's character, Zsa-Zsa Korda. He is a shadowy, extremely wealthy industrialist. This is different from many Anderson films that spread the focus across many characters. Del Toro's performance really stands out. He plays a detached but charismatic businessman. The movie has received good reviews, and Del Toro's acting is often highlighted as a major strength.

The film is an espionage comedy. It touches on big ideas like unchecked wealth and the environment. But it is also a very human story, focusing on the relationship between Zsa-Zsa and his estranged daughter, Liesl (Mia Threapleton). This blend of quirky style and emotional depth is something Anderson has been exploring more recently. Del Toro fits right into this world. He delivers his lines with precision, even at Anderson's signature fast pace.

The Phoenician Scheme is another example of Del Toro's willingness to take on varied roles. He keeps surprising audiences with his choices. His ability to work with directors who have very distinct styles, like Wes Anderson, shows his versatility. He is not afraid to try new things and push his acting boundaries. This makes his career always interesting to follow. Whether he is in a serious drama, a Marvel movie, or a quirky comedy, Benicio Del Toro brings a level of talent that ensures he will continue to be a memorable presence on screen for years to come.