Coming to PBS’s American Masters tomorrow, Friday, September 13:
RAÚL JULIÁ: THE WORLD’S A STAGE
Director:
Ben DeJesus
World Premiere:
Los Angeles Latino 2019
About:
A tribute to the life and legacy of acclaimed Puerto Rican actor Raúl Juliá.
Twenty-five years after Raúl Juliá’s untimely passing comes this affectionate and informative tribute to the pioneering actor, one of the few Latinos to break through into mainstream success in Hollywood. Known for iconic roles in THE ADDAMS FAMILY series and KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN, Juliá first had a celebrated career on the stage. Director Ben DeJesus traces the actor’s trajectory from his native Puerto Rico to 1960s New York City, where Juliá struggled for a time before coming to the attention of Joseph Papp for his fabled New York Shakespeare Festival, beginning a notable professional relationship that included Tony and Drama Desk nominations, and that led to film and television work. This comprehensive, if standard, biography assembles a who’s who of collaborators, admirers, and loved ones to reflect on Juliá’s life and work, and the impact his career has had on those Latinx performers who have followed.
