He played his break-through role so convincingly that women ran from him, believed he was dumb

Most people most likely associate Vincent D’Onofrio with his memorable performance in Stanley Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket as the overweight, clumsy Marine recruit.

However, his popularity declined after it.

The actor, who turned 64 on June 30, 2023, claimed that the part demanded a significant physical change, making him appear unappealing to the women who had previously been enamored with his curling dark hair and toned physique.

Vincent D’Onofrio has an extensive and varied resume. He always gives every role his all, and he never fails to fully inhabit the role to the point that you lose track of his true identity.

The Brooklyn-born actor began his career in stage shows, both on and off Broadway. To finance his acting ambitions, he worked other side jobs, such as bodyguarding Robert Plant and Yul Brynner.

He used to make a living by driving taxis, hanging curtains, delivering flowers, and working as a nightclub bouncer.

However, D’Onofrio’s buddy, actor Matthew Modine, encouraged him to send an audition tape to Stanley Kubrick, who was casting for his next major success at the time, after he had a few low-budget roles.

The 6-foot-3, very fit D’Onofrio was cast in the role of the obese, dim-witted Leonard, but there were certain restrictions.

Working with Kubrick was a life-changing event for D’Onofrio since it gave him the chance to really inhabit his role and hone his acting skills in a demanding and demanding setting.

The 64-year-old father of three had to shave his lovely full head of hair and put on 70–80 pounds—still the greatest weight an actor has put on for a part.

I went over there and gained about thirty pounds after [Kubrick] asked me early on if I would be okay with acquiring this weight. I recall him remarking that I only looked like I could kick everybody’s ass. He believed that additional weight would be required. “I think it went up to 80 pounds…from 200 to 280,” D’Onofrio said, referring to the character he played at the age of 24.

Gaining the weight was not an easy task for D’Onofrio, who was then faced with the gruelling demands of the movie’s boot-camp scenes.

Obstacle courses would have been easy with his athletic build but it was particularly taxing for someone weighing in at 280 pounds.

D’Onofrio’s impressive portrayal of the chubby, dumb and mentally disturbed Leonard earned him a lot of praise from critics but he also had to deal with fans who mistook the actor for the character.

“People treat you differently when you’re that size you gotta remember my head was shaved so it was like a completely different persona from me being this long lanky actor to a big burly guy with a bald head…it was a very strange life change.” The Broken Horses star continued, “It changed my life. Women didn’t look at me, most of the time I was looking at their backs as they were running away. People used to say things to me twice, because they thought I was stupid.”

One year later, the Magnificent Seven star had a full head of hair and his body was back to his earlier size.

Today, the New York-born director, producer, screenwriter and actor, who authored the 2023 book “Pigs Can’t Look Up,” credits his lengthy career to Kubrick.

“Stanley made my career, there’s no question to that I’ve done over 50 films, because of him. Because of that part.” D’Onofrio was referring to his numerous roles in both film and TV, most notably as a series regular on Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001 to 2011) and Marvel’s Daredevil (2015 to 2018). His films include starring roles in Dying YoungThe Break-Up and Jurassic World.

Vincent D’Onofrio wife and children

D’Onofrio’s life was greatly affected by his parents’ divorce when he was a child. His mother re-married George Meyer, a renowned American producer and writer.

As a result, the family moved to the Hialeah, Florida area. During his childhood, D’Onofrio was a reserved boy who often retreated to his room, lost in his thoughts.

While residing in Florida, he developed an interest in magic and the art of sleight of hand, skills he acquired from Cuban performers who operated a small magic store.

During the early 1990s, Vincent D’Onofrio was romantically involved with actress Greta Scacchi. They appeared together in multiple films during this time, such as The Player and Fires Within. From their relationship, they have a daughter named Leila George, who was born around 1991 or 1992, and she has since pursued a career as an actress.

Wikipedia Commons / David Shankbone

In 1997, Vincent D’Onofrio tied the knot with Carin van der Donk, a Dutch model.

Together, they welcomed their first son in 1999. However, their relationship faced difficulties in the early 2000s, leading to a separation. They later reconciled and had a second son in 2008.

In June 2023, D’Onofrio initiated divorce proceedings in Manhattan Supreme Court, marking the end of the 26-year-long marriage with Carin van der Donk.

D’Onofrio can be seen with Sandra Bullock in 2021 film The Unforgivable and the soon-to-be released comedy Dumb Money.

Vincent D’Onofrio was fantastic in Full Metal Jacket and his mental decline as Leonard is incredibly believable!

He looks totally different now, as to be expected many decades later, but we still enjoy his performances!

What do you think about his portrayal of the dumb, fat Leonard?

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