Vincent D'Onofrio

BIRTHDATE: June 30, 1959
BIRTHPLACE: Brooklyn, New York
MARITAL STATUS: Married to model Carin Van Der Donk, two children
WHY HE DESERVES HIS BIG BREAK:
It's not a question of whether or not Vincent D'Onofrio deserves his big break, but whether or not he wants it. He's been quoted as saying that being a big star would make it very difficult to hide behind different film roles, which is what he does best.

D'Onofrio first attracted attention by gaining 70 pounds to play the tragic Marine private "Gomer Pyle" in Stanley Kubrick's Vietnam epic Full Metal Jacket (1987). Directing the abuse he suffers at the hands of his fellow soldiers and drill sergeant into a shocking act of violence, D'Onofrio created an unforgettably sympathetic character that audience members found they could relate to all too closely.

Since then, Vincent D'Onofrio has maintained a comfortable balance between big box office extravaganzas, such as playing the alien bug creature Edgar in Men in Black, and independent film for limited audiences, such as playing a bisexual porn star in The Velocity of Gary. More often than not he's been seen playing the heavy in such films as Strange Days and The Thirteenth Floor, but he's also played a surprisingly affecting romantic lead in films like The Whole Wide World, a performance that won him several awards.

Most recently, D'Onofrio scared audiences by playing a serial killer with a vivid dream world in The Cell (2000), but more audiences were scared away by the prospect of Jennifer Lopez playing a brilliant psychologist. Think of what a great film it could have been with Jodie Foster in the lead...

FILMOGRAPHY
Films highlighted in yellow present Vincent at his best

Bark (2002)--????
The Salton Sea (2002)--Pooh Bear
The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys (2002)--Father Casey
Impostor (2002)--Agent D.H. Hathaway
"Law and Order: Criminal Intent" (TV Series--2001)--Detective Robert Goren
Chelsea Walls (2001)--????
Red Sneakers (TV Movie--2001)--Mercado
Impostor (2000)--Hathaway
The Cell (2000)--Carl Stargher
Steal This Movie (2000)--Abbie Hoffman
Happy Accidents (1999)--Sam Deed
Spanish Judges (1999)--Max
That Championship Season (TV Movie--1999)--Phil Romano
The Thirteenth Floor (1999)--Whitney/Ashton
The Velocity of Gary (1998)--Valentino
Claire Dolan (1998)--Elton Garrett
The Newton Boys (1998)--Dock Newton
The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (TV Movie--1998)--Mr. Blue
Nunzio's Second Cousin (1997)--????
Men in Black (1997)--Edgar/Bug
Boys Life 2 (1997)--Tony Randozza
Good Luck (1997)--Tony "Ole" Olezniak
"Homicide: Life on the Street" (1997)--John Lange (TV guest appearance)
Guy (1996)--Guy
Feeling Minnesota (1996)--Sam Clayton
The Winner (1996)--Philip
The Whole Wide World (1996)--Robert E. Howard
Hotel Paradise (1995)--????
Strange Days (1995)--Burton Steckler
Stuart Saves His Family (1995)--Donnie Smalley
Imaginary Crimes (1994)--Mr. Webster
Ed Wood (1994)--Orson Welles
Being Human (1993)--Priest
Mr. Wonderful (1993)--Dominic
Household Saints (1993)--Joseph Santangelo
Malcolm X (1992)--Bill Newman
Salt on Our Skin (1992)--Gavin
The Player (1992)--David Kahane
Crooked Hearts (1991)--Charley Warren
Dying Young (1991)--Gordon
Fires Within (1991)--Sam
The Investigator (TV Movie--1991)--????
JFK (1991)--Bill Newman
Naked Tango (1990)--Cholo
Signs of Life (1989)--Daryl Monahan
The Blood of Heroes (1988)--Young Gar
Mystic Pizza (1988)--Bill
Full Metal Jacket (1987)--Private Leonard 'Gomer Pyle' Lawrence
Adventures in Babysitting (1987)--Dawson
"The Equalizer" (1987)--Davy Baylor (TV guest appearance)
"The Equalizer" (1986)--Thomas Marley (TV guest appearance)
The First Turn-On!! (1983)--Lobotomy