Hector Elizondo

Four-time Emmy nominee, Hector Elizondo, received the prestigious Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 1997 for his portrayal of Dr. Phillip Watters on CBS Chicago Hope. Entering his sixth season on Chicago Hope, Elizondo is pleased about the continued development of his character. He feels, Watters is a multifaceted person and we are peeling the onion one layer at a time to reveal his inner-most feelings, as well as demons. Elizondo jokes, "I have little in common with Dr. Watters in real life. However, we both love Havana Cigars, basketball, boxing and playing the guitar." In addition to Chicago Hope, Hector has a successful film career as well. Runaway Bride opened in theaters nationwide to an audience who anxiously anticipated the re-teaming of Pretty Woman's Richard Gere, Julia Roberts, and Gary Marshall in Paramount Pictures' Runaway Bride directed by Marshall. The film opened number one in the weekend box office and will be one of the most successful movies of the summer. Hector can also be seen this year in Entropy starring Stephen Dorff. Elizondo is one of those rare actors who continues to move back and forth freely between starring roles on Broadway, television and feature films. Nominated for a Golden Globe Award for his portrayal of a hotel manager in the mega feature hit Pretty Woman, Elizondo is fortunate to have been able to continue acting in feature films and movies for television, while continuing to film Chicago Hope. Hector's other film credits include: Beverly Hills Cop III, Getting Even With Dad, Frankie and Johnny, Final Approach, Necessary Roughness, Taking Care of Business, The Flamingo Kid, Nothing in Common, Young Doctors in Love, American Gigolo, The Fan, Leviathan, Report to the Commissioner, and The Taking of Pelham 1-2-3, among others. Pretty Woman is one of his most renowned performances, winning him a Movie Award as well as nominations for both a Golden Globe and American Comedy Award. In addition to big screen success, Elizondo starred in the critically acclaimed Broadway revival of Arthur Miller's The Price, alongside Eli Wallach at the Roundabout Theatre. Hector's numerous television appearances began with guest starring roles on now classic episodes of Columbo, All in the Family and Kojak. He quickly moved on to numerous television projects opposite such leading ladies as Michelle Pfeiffer, Sophia Loren, Victoria Principal and Candace Bergen. He played the starring role in the ABC miniseries of Scott Turow's Burden of Proof. Hector received another Best Supporting Actor nomination for his riveting performance opposite Anne Bancroft in the two-character drama, Mrs. Cage, for PBS's acclaimed series American Playhouse. Also, last season he made a special appearance on Murphy Brown as himself. A native New Yorker, Elizondo gained recognition on the New York stage for his portrayal of God in Steambath, which earned him an Obie Award. High praise followed for his Broadway roles in Neil Simon's Prisoner of Second Avenue, The Great White Hope, and Sly Fox, for which he received a Drama Desk Award nomination.