The bestLuis Guzmánmovies and TV shows prove just how magnetic and versatile theWednesdaystar can be. Born on August 12, 2025, in Cayey, Puerto Rico, and raised in New York City’s Lower East Side, Guzmán has been bringing flavor, heart, and grit to screens big and small since the ’80s. With a career that spans over four decades, he’s known for scene-stealing roles in gritty crime dramas, offbeat comedies, and prestige television. Whether he’s playing a streetwise hustler or a compassionate medic, Guzmán always brings an unforgettable mix of humor, intensity, and authenticity.
After breaking outin Paul Thomas Anderson’sBoogie NightsandMagnolia, Luis Guzmán carved a niche for himself as Hollywood’s go-to guy for memorable supporting roles. Today, he’s loved for his unique voice, expressive face, and the way he makes even the smallest roles pop with personality. He’s collaborated with auteurs like Steven Soderbergh and Steven Spielberg, yet he’s just as comfortable in quirky indie gems and buzzy TV shows. From cult classics to Netflix hits, the best Luis Guzmán movies and TV shows showcase a career packed with charisma, depth, and pure cinematic joy.
Mind Gamesis a high-concept psychological drama that aired for a brief run on ABC in 2014. Created by Kyle Killen (the mind behindAwakeandLone Star), the show centered on two brothers running an unorthodox problem-solving firm that manipulates human behavior using psychological tricks. While the series only lasted 13 episodes, it gave Luis Guzmán a chance to flex his acting muscles in a cerebral, emotionally charged setting. As Nate, the firm’s streetwise operations manager, Guzmán brought heart and levity to a show that danced on the edge of science fiction and psychological drama.
Luis Guzmán played off leads Christian Slater and Steve Zahn with ease, adding grounded, no-nonsense charm to their wild schemes. Even in a series with such a complex premise, Guzmán’s character stood out as the emotional glue holding the chaos together. ThoughMind Gamesdidn’t earn any major awards, Guzmán’s performance is one of its brightest spots. It’s a hidden gem among the best Luis Guzmán movies and TV shows, and one that perfectly demonstrates the skills he’s built a career from.
HBO’sHow To Make It In Americawas a stylish, short-lived dramedy from creator Ian Edelman that followed a group of friends hustling to break into the New York fashion scene. With its hip-hop-heavy soundtrack and downtown grit, the series quickly built a cult following. Amid its sleek ambition, Luis Guzmán dropped in as Rene Calderon, a recently paroled hustler with a dream of selling an energy drink called “Rasta-Monsta.”As Rene, Guzmán was nothing short of hilarious.He brought swagger and unpredictable energy to the role, elevating every scene with his fast-talking, no-holds-barred attitude.
Luis Guzmán’s chemistry with Bryan Greenberg and Victor Rasuk was undeniable, and he provided some of the series’ most memorable moments. It’s one of those roles where you can’t imagine anyone else doing it justice. Despite only lasting two seasons,How To Make It In Americaremains a fan favorite, and Guzmán’s performance is a big reason why. He brought authenticity to a character that could’ve easily been a caricature, cementingHow To Mae It In America’splace among the best Luis Guzmán movies and TV shows.
2019’sPerpetual Grace, LTDis one of the most underrated shows in recent memory. Created by Steve Conrad, the twisted noir drama aired on Epix and featured a surreal, slow-burn story filled with morally gray characters. Luis Guzmán joined this star-studded ensemble as Hector Contreras, a weary, world-worn private investigator entangled in a web of cons and corruption. Playing opposite Ben Kingsley, Jimmi Simpson, and Jackie Weaver, Guzmán delivered a restrained yet captivating performance.
Guzmán imbued Hector with quiet wisdom and a hint of melancholy, balancing out the show’s eccentric energy with a grounded presence.Director Steven Conrad’s unique tone -part Coen Brothers, part David Lynch - gave Guzmán a playground to explore emotional depth in a rare leading role. Though the show didn’t get the mainstream love it deserved, critics praised Guzmán’s performance, calling it one of the series’ many highlights. With its rich characters and dreamlike atmosphere,Perpetual Grace, LTDis a must-watch for fans of unconventional TV.
InCode Black,a gritty medical dramacreated by Michael Seitzman, the emergency room is constantly in chaos, and that’s exactly where Luis Guzmán thrives. As Jesse “Mama” Salanda, he plays the veteran senior nurse who keeps the ER running with equal parts toughness and compassion.The nickname “Mama” isn’t ironic - he’s the heart and soul of the hospital, and the show just wouldn’t work without him.Guzmán was a mainstay throughoutCode Black’sthree-season run, and his performance added a necessary emotional anchor to the adrenaline-fueled drama.
Guzmán’s chemistry with Marcia Gay Harden and Raza Jaffrey added depth to the ensemble, and his no-nonsense mentorship of younger staff made Jesse a fan-favorite character. Directed by an array of TV veterans, including David Semel and Rob Bowman,Code Blackstood out for its intense realism and moral complexity. Guzmán’s portrayal of Jesse earned widespread praise, even earning him a nomination from the Imagen Awards. It’s one of the best Luis Guzmán movies and TV shows because it showcases his ability to command the screen in a more dramatic, leadership-driven role without losing his trademark warmth.
Paul Thomas Anderson’sBoogie Nightsis a sprawling, stylized deep dive into the adult film industry of the late ’70s and early ’80s, and it’s the movie that catapulted Luis Guzmán into the mainstream. As club owner and aspiring porn actor Maurice t.t. Rodriguez, Guzmán lit up every frame he appeared in - even when surrounded by a stacked cast that included Mark Wahlberg, Julianne Moore, Burt Reynolds, and Philip Seymour Hoffman.
Maurice isn’t the central character, but Guzmán made sure he was unforgettable.With his loud shirts, lovable enthusiasm, and desperate need to be part of the “artistic” side of the adult film biz, he brought levity and heart to a story filled with chaos and dark turns. His comedic timing was razor-sharp, and his scenes always added a welcome dose of levity to the film’s heavier moments. Guzmán’s performance made a lasting impact - and it’s whyBoogie Nightsabsolutely deserves its place among the best Luis Guzmán movies and TV shows.
InTony Scott’s slick and suspenseful action thrillerThe Taking of Pelham 123, Luis Guzmán steps into the role of Phil Ramos, a former subway driver turned accomplice to a hijacking led by John Travolta’s unhinged villain, Ryder. It’s a tight, high-octane thriller that pits criminals against New York’s mass transit authority, with Denzel Washington anchoring the movie as a transit dispatcher caught in the middle.Guzmán’s Phil is more than just a sidekick - he’s a crucial part of the crew, bringing both grit and moments of surprising vulnerability.
As the tension rises, Luis Guzmán expertly humanizes Phil, showing us a man torn between criminal loyalty and the ticking clock of inevitable consequences. In a movie that moves at breakneck speed, he still finds a way to make a deep impression. Tony Scott’s direction keeps the energy relentless, and the ensemble - including James Gandolfini and John Turturro - is top-tier. Guzmán, in the mix with these heavyweights, more than holds his own. It’s a slick, underrated performance in one of the most entertaining thrillers of the 2000s, and another must-see in the lineup of the best Luis Guzmán movies and TV shows.
HBO’sOzbroke all the rulesof television when it debuted in the late ’90s. Created by Tom Fontana, this gritty, graphic prison drama pulled no punches, and neither did Luis Guzmán as Raoul “El Cid” Hernandez. Joining inOzseason 2, Guzmán played the fearsome leader of the Latino gang in Oswald State Penitentiary’s infamous Emerald City unit.El Cid is ruthless, calculating, and deadly - and Guzmán portrayed him with terrifying precision.But what made the performance great wasn’t just the menace; it was the nuance. Guzmán gave El Cid layers, showing us a man navigating power, survival, and fractured loyalty in a brutal environment.
Luis Guzmán’s scenes inOzwere always charged, unpredictable, and often explosive, earning him widespread praise from critics and viewers alike. The cast ofOzincluded Christopher Meloni, Harold Perrineau, J.K. Simmons, and Ernie Hudson, and Guzmán stood toe-to-toe with all of them. The show was a game-changer for prestige television, and El Cid remains one of its most iconic and complex characters. There’s no doubt thatOzearns its place among the best Luis Guzmán movies and TV shows thanks to his unforgettable performance.
Netflix’sNarcostook the world by storm with its raw, gripping retelling of the rise and fall of drug kingpin Pablo Escobar. InNarcosseason 1, Luis Guzmán brought his A-game as Jose Gonzalo Rodriguez Gacha (aka “El Mexicano”) one ofEscobar’s most powerful and dangerous allies. Created by Chris Brancato, Carlo Bernard, and Doug Miro,Narcosblends real historical events with cinematic storytelling, and Guzmán’s role added serious weight to the early episodes.El Mexicano is a ruthless operator, and Luis Guzmán leaned fully into the role, offering a chilling, commanding presence every time he appeared on screen.
What made Luis Guzmán’s performance truly stand out, though, was the restraint. Guzmán never overplayed the more unhinged side of Gacha. Instead, he exuded a quiet menace that felt all the more real because of it. He starred alongside Wagner Moura, Pedro Pascal, and Boyd Holbrook, all delivering career-defining performances. Yet even in such a high-caliber cast, Guzmán managed to shine.Narcosbecame a global phenomenon and a crown jewel in Netflix’s original series lineup. It’s no wonder it remains one of the best Luis Guzmán movies and TV shows, as his turn as El Mexicano is both terrifying and unforgettable.
The Limeyis a stylish, cerebral revenge thriller directed by Steven Soderbergh, and it features one of Luis Guzmán’s most poignant performances. He plays Eduardo Roel, a friend of a murdered woman whose father - played by Terence Stamp - comes to L.A. looking for answers. Guzmán’s character becomes the emotional compass of the film, helping Stamp’s grieving, vengeance-driven father navigate a seedy underworld of lies and cover-ups. As Eduardo, Guzmán tones things down and delivers a soulful, emotionally rich performance.
There’s a quiet sorrow in Luis Guzmán’s performance inThe Limery, as Eduardo reflects on his friend’s death and the sense of helplessness that comes with it.It’s a mature, grounded character that shows off Guzmán’s serious dramatic abilities. The 1999 movie’s fractured narrative, moody score, and elegant editing madeThe Limeya critical favorite and a cult classic. Soderbergh’s direction brought a unique rhythm to the story, and Guzmán’s scenes are among the film’s most impactful.The Limeyis often cited by cinephiles as one of the best revenge stories of the late ’90s - and it absolutely belongs among the best Luis Guzmán movies and TV shows for how he anchors the story with raw, human emotion.
Luis Guzmán reinvented a classic withhis portrayal of Gomez Addamsin Netflix’sWednesday, a supernatural coming-of-age series from Tim Burton. The show follows Wednesday Addams (Jenna Ortega) as she navigates life at Nevermore Academy, but it’s Guzmán’s turn as her adoring, eccentric father that had fans buzzing from the moment he stepped on screen. Unlike previous incarnations, Guzmán leaned into the character’s original Charles Addams cartoon roots - short, stocky, and devilishly charming.
Luis Guzmán’s Gomez inWednesdayis warm, romantic, and deeply devoted to his family.The chemistry with Catherine Zeta-Jones’s Morticia is electric, and his scenes with Ortega are bursting with heart and humor.Guzmán adds texture to Gomez, making him more than just comic relief - he’s a protective father and a man with a mysterious past.Wednesdaybecame a global sensation, racking up millions of views and rave reviews. Guzmán’s performance helped ground the gothic fantasy with genuine warmth and old-school charm. This isn’t just a great role, it’s a cultural moment, andWednesdaywill likely always remain one of the best Luis Guzmán movies and TV shows.
