Antonio Banderas

In the Beginning

Jose Antonio Dominguez Banderas was born in Andalucia, Spain on August 10, 1960. Banderas grew up the son of a school teacher and a police officer, with a little brother named Javier. Soccer was his sport of choice, and the main focus for him growing up until he injured his foot at the age of 14. From that point on, he turned his focus to performing arts and tried his hand at theater. Eventually, as a young teen, Banderas caught the eye of recruiters with the Spanish National Theatre, and thus began his acting career.

Career Accomplishments

The 1980s held many small victories for the actor as he launched his career with the Spanish National Theatre, but it wasn't until his role in “Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!” that he was able to gain the attention of his Hollywood cohorts. Just a few years later, he was sharing the screen with huge American names, such as Tom Hanks in “Philadelphia”, and Brad Pitt in “Interview with the Vampire”.  Other notable performances include “1995”, “Desperado”, “Assassins”, “Spy Kids”, “Original Sin”, “Once Upon a Time in Mexico”, the “Zorro” Movies, and most recently, “Puss in Boots”.

Most Known For

Though Banderas has clearly made a name for himself as one of the most established actors in Hollywood, there are certain films that he is most known for in mainstream America. “The Mask of Zorro” kept him in the spotlight for quite some time, and is one of the most famous leading roles that he's played to date. The success of the film leads to a series of “Zorro” films and remains one of his most well-known performances. Banderas gained the attention of much younger audiences when he played the voice of “Puss in Boots” in “Shrek 2”, “Shrek the Third” and “Shrek Forever After” – so much so, that a movie was created around the character himself, the self-named “Puss in Boots” movie.

Where Is He Now?

Antonio Banderas continues to light up the big screen with stellar performances and resides in his home in Los Angeles, California.