Pimps, Hos, Playa Hatas, and All the Rest of My Hollywood Friends: My Life [Hardcover]

John Leguizamo (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 31, 2006

Fans of John Leguizamo's smash-hit one-man shows ("Mambo Mouth," "Spic-o-rama," "Freak," and "Sexaholix") have already gotten a glimpse into his life, but this book tells the whole story, carrying readers along on a wild journey from his childhood in Queens to his current home at the top of the Hollywood pyramid. An acclaimed director, producer, and play-wright, and one of the highest-paid Latin actors in the world, Leguizamo shares the stories behind his many roles--what inspired them and what transpired as he created them--while dishing on his personal relationships with his family, friends, and celebrity colleagues. Here is both an intimate self-portrait and a unique behind-the-scenes look at the magic and chaos of stardom, a keenly intelligent and insanely funny book that celebrates a remarkably talented artist's greatest achievement: growing up Latino in America and succeeding on his own terms.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this brash autobiography, comic Leguizamo recalls a life lived "on the fine line between acting and acting out." Readers who know his celebrated one-man shows, Mambo Mouth and Spic-O-Rama among them, will recognize some of the same people and topics: the doting mom, authoritarian father, brother Serge and the author's perpetually adolescent fascination with sex. Familiar, too, are the chameleonlike shifts of tone and theme— Leguizamo's trickster charm and outspoken ethnic pride can morph to candid yet searing takes on money, fame and the acting life. Mostly, Leguizamo tracks his maturation and unlikely rise from a smart-ass acting tyro born in Colombia and raised in Queens, N.Y., to an award-winning actor, director and family man. As he puts it: "I'm a horrible example of how to have a successful career." Yet Leguizamo makes this story full of behavioral quirks and professional beefs memorable. Whether he is being tough on Latin stereotypes or describing his sexual conquests, the text is hilarious—propelled by jokes, quips and situations in which the author usually finds himself driven to reaction instead of reflection. This mix of the glib and the sometimes glam presents a refreshing cultural tonic. (Nov.)
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Review

“Leguizamo is one of the most excting talents to come along in some time.” (USA Today )

“[Leguizamo is] a remarkably mature writer . . . Astonishing.” (Newsweek )

“Brutally funny.” (The New York Times )

“Leguizamo’s autobiography is as singular as the man himself. ” (Library Journal )

“This mix of the glib and the sometimes glam presents a refreshing cultural tonic.” (Publishers Weekly )

“The high point: his breezy honesty.” (Entertainment Weekly )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Ecco (October 31, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 006052071X
• ISBN-13: 978-0060520717
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,182,006 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Raw! Real! Righteous! Radioactive! and so Readable!, November 27, 2006

By 

PC Lo-Air (New York, New York USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pimps, Hos, Playa Hatas, and All the Rest of My Hollywood Friends: My Life (Hardcover)

How'd you like to spend a couple of nights, sitting down for a bunch of beers with Johnny Legs, and talking with him about life, liberty and the pursuit of meaning in the manic world of "showbiz". Well he's so mad busy performing, writing, directing, producing, voicing (bring on Ice Age III!!) and raising his family, that reading Pimps, Hos etc. is as close as you'll probably ever get to this creative Tazmanian Devil. But that's pretty much what this expansive autobio feels like, in a unique and engaging way - a deeply personal, brutally honest conversation with one of America's most illuminating observers of the dog-eat-dog entertainment scene, the harsh realities of a first-generation immigrant family, and the struggle and rise of the Latino demographic in America. The bonus is that he does all the talking, and all you have to do is listen (not enough of that going on in the world), laugh out loud, wince uncomfortably now and then, and join John on his amazing journey from young class clown to cutting edge star of stage, screen and centerfold (I mean...book reviews). As Pimps opened, I was afraid it was going to be merely a written reprise of his one-man tour de force, Sexaholix, because he starts out with a hilarious introduction of his boyhood crew. But very quickly, he is taking you much deeper into his private, personal experiences and the profound impact each had in shaping the kind of artist - and person - he is today. Let me tell you, he's amazingly divers and complex. Don't get me wrong, the book is frikkin' ridiculously funny; I couldn't stop bothering everyone, reading excerpts out loud. The difference between Pimps and the stand-up/HBO material is that you feel less like an observer, and more like an intimate insider; you really appreciate WHY the images, characters, situations, conflicts, arguments, triumphs and tragedies are as funny as they are. The personal connection he makes for you is SO much more satisfying. John covers a lot of ground in this work, opening a lot of old wounds and opening some new ones as well! But he is never unfair (unless some maricone really deserves it!). John's life has so far been an amazing ride, and there are a lot of lessons in it for everyone. Give a copy to all your homies, pimps, hos, playas, conos, maricones, and grandparents for Christmas, Qwanza or Hannukah. If you're a friend of Patrick Swayze or Steven Segal, you might want to get them a snowglobe instead...

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pimps, Hos, Playa Hatas, and All the Rest of My Hollywood Friends: My Life, January 9, 2007

By 

S. Lee "Movie addict" (Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pimps, Hos, Playa Hatas, and All the Rest of My Hollywood Friends: My Life (Hardcover)

I bought this book for my husband for his birthday -He is not much of a reader -We really like John Leguizamo as an actor and saw him on David Letterman promoting the book -It sounded so interesting and my husband was like -I want to read that -I was kind of surprised because he rarely ever reads. He loves the book -He's even got me reading it -John did a great job -If you like John and movies -You will love this book -It's got a lot of dirt on celebrities -But done in a playful way -Even some of the names have been changed -I would recommend this book -Excellent work John!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great!!, March 8, 2007

By 

Stephanie Vega "Steph" (Idaho) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pimps, Hos, Playa Hatas, and All the Rest of My Hollywood Friends: My Life (Hardcover)

I can't complain at all about this book. John Leguizamo is hilarious. I felt like I was sitting front row at one of his stand up comedies. He talks about his struggles and some 'beefs' he has with actors I certainly never knew about. I also admired the way he was completely honest about every role he played and every person he worked with.