Paul Calderon
He was born in Puerto Rico 1959. Calderon moved to New York with his family at the age of six, where he grew up on the streets of the Lower East Side and Spanish Harlem. Following some time in college, he enlisted in the United States Army and served overseas as an infantryman. Returning to the States, Calderon set his sights on an acting career. Starting out on the New York stage, he won an Obie Award for his performance in Blade to the Heat at the Public Theatre. His most notable Broadway role was opposite Robert De Niro in Cuba and His Teddy Bear. Calderon also appeared off-Broadway in such plays as Requiem For A Heavyweight and Divine Horsemen, and played Achilles in the New York Shakespeare Festivalโs production of Troilus and Cressida in Central Park. He is a founding member of the Touchstone Theatre, the American Folk Theatre and the Labyrinth Theatre Company. Calderon was originally slated to portray the role of Jules Winnfield in Pulp Fiction; Samuel L. Jackson was subsequently given the role. Correction Samuel Jackson told Tarantino he had messed up by not casting him in Reservoir Dogs. Tarantino agreed and told him he was writing a script and had a character that he had written specifically with Jackson in mind. Calderon had a better initial reading than Jackson and Tarantino gave serious consideration to casting him as Jules Winnfield. Calderon portrays Paul the bartender in dialogue scene between Butch Coolidge and Marsellus Wallace. Calderon also co-wrote Abel Ferrara's 1992 crime drama Bad Lieutenant, starring Harvey Keitel. Calderon acted in The Last Castle and the critically acclaimed independent feature Girlfight. His more than three dozen film credits also include Out of Sight, Cop Land, Four Rooms, Pulp Fiction, Bad Lieutenant, The Firm, The Addiction, Q & A, Sea of Love, Clockers and King of New York. In addition, he has made numerous guest appearances on television series, including recurring roles on Dream Street, Law & Order and Miami Vice. In 2010, Calderon is set to star as The Businessman in Sanzhar Sultanov's crime drama - The Story.
Known For
Credits
- 2024 ยทStaging Annaas Director
- 2023 ยทJustified: City Primevalas Raymond Cruz
- 2022 ยทEast New Yorkas Father Frank Suarez
- 2021 ยทQuentin Tarantino: From a Movie Buff to a Hollywood Legendas Self (archive footage)
- 2016 ยทThis Is Usas Older Risto Rivas
- 2016 ยทThe Strikeas Walt Whitman
- 2015 ยทBlindspotas Drill Instructor
- 2015 ยทFear the Walking Deadas Alejandro Nรบรฑez
- 2015 ยทBoschas Det. Santiago 'Jimmy' Robertson
- 2014 ยทWest Endas Robert Mackey
- 2014 ยทWelcome to New Yorkas Pierre
- 2014 ยทGunas Detective Jenkins
- 2013 ยทBiodegradableas Profesor Lopez
- 2013 ยทBolaetrapoas Cuenta
- 2013 ยทThe Blacklistas Manuel Esteban
- 2012 ยทElementaryas Zuniga
- 2010 ยทBurning Daylightas Hughie Luke
- 2010 ยทBlue Bloodsas Lieutenant Perez
- 2010 ยทDown This Roadas Father
- 2009 ยทLa Sogaas
- 2009 ยทA Kiss of Chaosas Oscar Perez
- 2009 ยทThe Hungry Ghostsas Carl
- 2009 ยทLie to Meas Manny Trillo
- 2008 ยทPistol Whippedas Blue
- 2007 ยทThe Black Donnellysas Detective at Prison
- 2006 ยทThe Sentinelas Deputy Director Cortes
- 2005 ยทLaw & Order: Trial by Juryas Detective
- 2003 ยท21 Gramsas Brown
- 2003 ยทKill the Pooras Carlos DeJesus
- 2001 ยทThe Last Castleas Dellwo
- 2001 ยทLaw & Order: Criminal Intentas Marcus Feingold
- 2001 ยทLaw & Order: Criminal Intentas Jojo Rios
- 2001 ยทThe Education of Max Bickfordas Danny Martinez
- 2001 ยท3 A.M.as Ralph
- 2001 ยทThe Atlantis Conspiracyas Guy
- 2000 ยทOnce in the Lifeas Manny Rivera
- 2000 ยทBaitas Cop (uncredited)
- 2000 ยทGirlfightas Sandro Guzman
- 1999 ยทOxygenas Jesse
- 1999 ยทThird Watchas Bobby's father
- 1999 ยทLaw & Order: Special Victims Unitas Eric Molina
- 1998 ยทOne Tough Copas Sgt. Diaz
- 1998 ยทOut of Sightas Raymond Cruz
- 1998 ยทAll Revved Upas Carl
- 1998 ยทMontanaas Boulez
- 1997 ยทDellaventuraas Detective Rosario
- 1997 ยทCop Landas Hector - Medic
- 1996 ยทDark Angelas Vance Pickett
- 1995 ยทFour Roomsas Norman
- 1995 ยทCondition Redas Angel Delgado
- 1995 ยทThe Addictionas Professor
- 1995 ยทClockersas Jesus at Hambones
- 1995 ยทSweet Nothingas Ray
- 1994 ยทHand Gunas Landwick
- 1994 ยทPulp Fictionas Paul
- 1994 ยทNew York Undercoveras Emilio Vasquez
- 1993 ยทThe Firmas Thomas Richie
- 1992 ยทBad Lieutenantas Cop #1
- 1992 ยทCrissCrossas Blacky
- 1992 ยทThe Keysas Garcia
- 1990 ยทLaw & Orderas Father Torres
- 1990 ยทLaw & Orderas Rodriguez
- 1990 ยทLaw & Orderas Jesse Castillo
- 1990 ยทLaw & Orderas Defense Attorney Palmieri
- 1990 ยทLaw & Orderas Kenneth Silva
- 1990 ยทKing of New Yorkas Joey Dalesio
- 1990 ยทQ & Aas Roger Montalvo
- 1989 ยทPenn & Teller Get Killedas Juan
- 1989 ยทSea of Loveas Serafino
- 1988 ยทThe Chairas Pizza
- 1988 ยทSticky Fingersas Speed
- 1986 ยทBand of the Handas Tito
- 1985 ยทDoubletakeas Bitong
- 1985 ยทTenementas Hector
- 1985 ยทThe Equalizeras Rat Heart
- 1985 ยทThe Equalizeras Chacon
- Future ยทPrickas President
- 1984 ยทCommunity Plotas
- 1984 ยทMiami Viceas Nicky