John Leguizamo Reveals What He Bought with His First Paycheck After His 1986 TV Debut in “Miami Vice” (Exclusive)

Brian Anthony Hernandez, Abby SternSat, October 10, 2026 at 5:30 PM UTC

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John Leguizamo in 2026; a young Leguizamo early in his acting careerCredit: Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty; Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty‘The Odyssey’ actor tells PEOPLE he spent that paycheck on “two things that actors don’t have when you’re young” -

John Leguizamo revealed in an exclusive interview with PEOPLE how he used his first acting paycheck during the ‘80s

In 1986, the aspiring actor made his TV debut in Miami Vice

The Odyssey star said he spent that paycheck on “two things that actors don’t have when you’re young”

John Leguizamo is reminiscing about his humble beginnings as an actor.

Speaking with PEOPLE at the Critics Choice Association’s 6th Celebración of Cinema & Television in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Oct. 2, the 66-year-old actor opened up about returning to the Miami Vice universe 40 years after making his TV debut in Miami Vice in 1986.

“Oh, it’s incredible,” Leguizamo said of his upcoming villain role in the Miami Vice ‘85 movie, which will also star Austin Butler and Michael B. Jordan.

He added of his debut in the Miami Vice TV series, “It was my first check. I was starving to death. I was able to eat. And now here, 40 years later in my 60s … playing kind of the lead role in the film, it’s pretty exciting.”

John Leguizamo as Angelo Alvarez in ‘Miami Vice’ season 5 (1989)Credit: NBCU Photo Bank

Asked to elaborate on how he spent his first acting paycheck, The Odyssey actor revealed that the money went directly to cover living expenses.

“It was food and rent — two things that actors don’t have when you’re young, yeah,” explained Leguizamo, who was honored with a Career Achievement Award at the recent Celebración of Cinema & Television.

John Leguizamo at the Cable Ace Awards in 1994Credit: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Inc

He continued, “Oh, my God, to get a career achievement award after four decades in the biz? It feels pretty damn good. It feels like it was all worth something.”

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This isn’t the first time the actor has been candid about what he has purchased with his paychecks from acting gigs.

While discussing the upcoming sixth Ice Age film, Ice Age: Boiling Point, in July, he shared how the franchise has financially helped him and his family.

“It paid my bills! It got me a second and a triple home. It paid for my kids’ college,” the actor told Entertainment Tonightwith a laugh at the time.

John Leguizamo receiving a Career Achievement Award at the Critics Choice Association’s 6th Celebración of Cinema & Television in Los Angeles on Oct. 2, 2026Credit: Rodin Eckenroth/Getty

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Elaborating on his upcoming role in the Miami Vice ‘85 film, Leguizamo feels as though karma played a part in the full-circle moment.

“It’s like a boomerang effect because I was playing the son of the villain [as Orlando Calderone in the Miami Vice series], and now I’m the dad [in the film spinoff]. Yeah, it’s a karmic kind of thing, circular,” he said of his first role in the show, which also saw him return as another character, Angelo Alvarez, in a later season.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”