Nelson Vasquez
Actor
Nelson Vasquez – American actor, dancer, and choreographer of Puerto Rican descent, born in Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan, New York City (no publicly recorded birthday). His parents emigrated from Lares, Puerto Rico. He began his career as a break dancer during the 1980s hip hop explosion, became a professional dancer and choreographer (touring with Aretha Franklin), and made his acting debut in the Off-Broadway play Blade to the Heat at The Public Theater, directed by George C. Wolfe. He worked with Spike Lee on four films.
His most notable film roles include Stevie's Friend in Do the Right Thing (1989), a Pimp in The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990), a Blanco Associate in Carlito's Way (1993), a Subway Robber in Money Train (1995), Skicap in Extreme Measures (1996), Ronnie in Girl 6 (1996), Officer Cruz in Summer of Sam (1999), Tito Goya in Piñero (2001, opposite Benjamin Bratt), Manny in Carlito's Way: Rise to Power (2005), and Johnny Pacheco in El Cantante (2006, opposite Marc Anthony, for which he was nominated for a Paoli Award). On television he is best known for Correction Officer Eugene Rivera in Oz (1997–2002, HBO), and guest appearances in Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, NYPD Blue, and New York Undercover.
His most notable film roles include Stevie's Friend in Do the Right Thing (1989), a Pimp in The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990), a Blanco Associate in Carlito's Way (1993), a Subway Robber in Money Train (1995), Skicap in Extreme Measures (1996), Ronnie in Girl 6 (1996), Officer Cruz in Summer of Sam (1999), Tito Goya in Piñero (2001, opposite Benjamin Bratt), Manny in Carlito's Way: Rise to Power (2005), and Johnny Pacheco in El Cantante (2006, opposite Marc Anthony, for which he was nominated for a Paoli Award). On television he is best known for Correction Officer Eugene Rivera in Oz (1997–2002, HBO), and guest appearances in Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, NYPD Blue, and New York Undercover.
Filmography
| 2006 | El cantante · as Johnny PachecoOn Plex |
| 2005 | Carlito's Way: Rise to Power · as Manny |
| 2005 | Jonny Zero · as Manny Delgado |
| 2001 | 'R Xmas · as Niece's Husband |
| 2001 | Piñero · as Tito Goya |
| 2001 | The Way She Moves · as Armand |
| 2001 | Home Invaders · as Manny |
| 2000 | Wannabes · as Hector |
| 1999 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit · as Mark Ocurro |
| 1999 | Summer of Sam · as Officer Cruz |
| 1998 | A Brooklyn State of Mind · as Cessie |
| 1997 | Oz · as Eugene Rivera |
| 1996 | Extreme Measures · as Skicap |
| 1996 | Girl 6 · as Ronnie - The Guard |
| 1995 | Money Train · as Subway Robber |
| 1994 | New York Undercover · as Bobby |
| 1994 | Men Lie · as Male Fantasy Witness |
| 1993 | Carlito's Way · as Blanco Associate |
| 1993 | NYPD Blue · as David Fernando Lobo |
| 1990 | The Bonfire of the Vanities · as PimpOn Plex |
| 1990 | Street Hunter · as Vasquez |
| 1990 | Law & Order · as Ricardo Hernandez |
| 1990 | Kojak: It's Always Something · as Escobar |
| 1989 | Do the Right Thing · as Stevie's Friend |
| 1987 | Heart · as OteroOn Plex |
| 1985 | Delivery Boys · as Izzie |
| 1968 | One Life to Live · as Fernando Mercedes |
| 1956 | As The World Turns · as Unidentified Role (unconfirmed) |
| 1952 | Guiding Light · as Marco |