Benicio del Toro, the acclaimed Puerto Rican actor, revealed his family’s hesitance about his acting career, even after his Oscar win for Traffic. Appearing on the Happy Sad Confused podcast while promoting Wes Anderson’s latest film, The Phoenician Scheme, del Toro discussed how Benicio del Toro family reaction after Oscar win highlighted deep-seated worries from his loved ones.
A Lifetime of Roles Across Genres
The actor, born in Puerto Rico, has spent nearly four decades tackling an impressive range of characters. Del Toro’s filmography moves easily from intense dramas like Che, 21 Grams, The Usual Suspects, Jimmy P: Psychotherapy of a Plains Indian, to high-octane thrillers such as Sicario and comedic fare with his newest project. His versatility has long set him apart in Hollywood, landing him major roles and a coveted Academy Award.
Despite these achievements, family pressure for a fallback option remained. Del Toro recounted how his relatives expressed concern for his future, even after industry validation, underscoring a dynamic familiar to many performers balancing passion and relatives’ practicality.
Persistent Advice for a Safer Career Path
Following his Oscar win, del Toro’s godmother suggested he consider a legal career, doubt lingering despite his triumph.
“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,’”
—Godmother
This advice reflected his family’s background. Del Toro grew up in a household of professionals—both parents were lawyers, and his great-grandfather held political office. With no ties to the stage or film industry, their uncertainty about a Hollywood path was pronounced.
“I don’t come from a family of theater people or movie people, so they were very nervous with me. I come from a family of professionals, not in the movie world or the theater world, so they were very concerned.”
—Benicio del Toro
Understanding Parental Worries
As a parent himself, del Toro recognizes the anxieties that come with raising children interested in uncertain fields. He expressed his own open-minded attitude regarding his daughter’s possible ambitions while also understanding why his family felt unease about his choices.
“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.”
—Benicio del Toro
There is also an added Hollywood connection; del Toro’s daughter is the child of Kimberly Stewart, making Rod Stewart her grandfather. Despite a sometimes daunting entertainment landscape, del Toro appears unburdened by concern should his daughter pursue acting.
Changing Opportunities in Entertainment
In his reflections on the current state of the business, del Toro noted the expansion of opportunities for aspiring actors today versus when he started his own career. The explosion of TV series and new stories present more chances than the limited avenues of earlier eras.
“I think there’s more opportunity now than when I was going out for auditions for an actor,”
—Benicio del Toro
“I think that now there’s more. There’s all these TV series, a lot of stories being told as we speak.”
—Benicio del Toro
These sentiments reflect the shift in the industry since del Toro’s early breaks, which included his TV debut on Miami Vice and bit parts such as his background work in Madonna’s “La Isla Bonita” video directed by Mary Lambert, and his role as Robert Davi’s henchman in Licence to Kill.
Making a Mark with Unconventional Roles
Del Toro’s breakthrough in The Usual Suspects, directed by Bryan Singer and featuring stars like Kevin Spacey and Christopher McQuarrie, came when he chose to play his character with a bizarre style—an artistic risk that paid off.
“My character died on page 38 or 39. It was, like, I had five scenes. So they trusted me to create that character and give whatever to it,”
—Benicio del Toro
“The cast was very encouraging too, with what I was doing. I remember when I finished my last day of shooting, I felt like, ‘Yeah, I don’t know if this is gonna work,’ you know?”
—Benicio del Toro
His willingness to experiment and take creative leaps, even as a relative newcomer, set a tone for the rest of his career, winning both critical respect and family skepticism.
The Lasting Impact of Family Expectations
Del Toro’s story is a testament to how family expectations can linger long after success is achieved. His experiences highlight a reality for many in creative fields: professional recognition does not always silence doubts from home. The actor’s reflections suggest an evolving approach as both an artist and a parent—one that balances legacy, individual passion, and the wisdom of caution. As more opportunities emerge for the next generation, del Toro appears committed to letting his daughter carve her own path, much as he did.
