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Why John Leguizamo's Agents Told Him 'Not To Get Too Dark' (VIDEO)

WATCH: Why John Leguizamo's Agents Told Him 'Not To Get Too Dark'
Carolina Moreno
By 

Reporter, HuffPost

John Leighton or Jon Lee?

Those were two of the professional names suggested to comedian John Leguizamo when he first got into show business. He said no to both, and to a number of others. While promoting his new HBO special "Ghetto Klown" this week, Leguizamo revealed to Fusion's Jorge Ramos what other types of things he was told to do when he first started acting in order to hide his Latin roots.

Leguizamo, 49, appeared on "AMERICA with Jorge Ramos" on Tuesday and spoke about what it was like to enter the industry in the 1980s.

"When I started out acting, I was about age 18, 19. We weren't the flavor at the time, us Latin people," Leguizamo told Ramos. "My agents and casting people would tell me to change my name to Jon Lee, John Leighton, something with an L. And they told me not to go out in the sun, and tell people I was Italian. Not to get too dark so I could tell people I was half-French, half-Irish."

At the time, Leguizamo, who was born in Colombia and raised in New York City, brushed off the suggestions. When Ramos noted that Latinos' popularity is now on the rise, the comedian was quick to point out there's still work to be done.

"Now we're the flavor again. This is the fifth time," Leguizamo joked. "This time, we're 20 percent of the population, over a trillion dollars of buying power, but only 3.8 percent of the media."

The actor and comedian first appeared in the 1984 action movie "Mixed Blood" and gradually began building a career in film and TV. In 1998, Leguizamo won an Emmy for Outstanding Performance in a Variety or Music Program for Spike Lee's "Freak."

The actor has written and performed five one-man shows, and "Ghetto Klown" is his third autobiographical work. The show was highly praised when it first opened on Broadway in 2011. It premiered Saturday as a 90-minute special for HBO.

Leguizamo said that when he first finished writing "Ghetto Klown," he feared he was revealing too much about his life. Yet in a recent interview with The Miami Herald, the actor explained why he felt the need to write and perform his life's story.

"I tell my stories because I always felt so invisible," the actor told the Herald. "When I was growing up, there weren't a lot of Latin people in the media, in the sports. I only saw it from the news, which is not where I wanted to see it. I felt kind of like we didn't exist in a way. I always had this great desire to craft a story to show our point of view -- and my own point of view."

Check out Leguizamo's interview with Ramos above, and a trailer for "Ghetto Klown" below.

Before You Go

1
It's megadiverse
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Colombia is one the few "megadiverse" countries in the world. It manages to house 10 percent of the world's biodiversity. And it ranks first in bird and orchid species diversity, and second in plants, butterflies, freshwater fishes and amphibians.

To put all of this in perspective, 68.7% of Colombia's surface is covered by natural ecosystems.
2
It's also racially diverse
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Colombia is profoundly racially diverse, too. As of 2005, 10.4 percent of the country's population was Afro-Colombian and 3.4 percent was Amerindian, according to the CIA's World Fact Book.

Many of the country's afro communities reside along Colombia's coasts, near port cities that use to be hubs for slave trading in the Americas.
3
It has world-renowned emeralds
AFP PHOTO/Guillermo LEGARIA
Colombia is known for exporting many things, but did you know the South American country is responsible for 60 percent of the world’s emeralds? That’s right, it’s likely that the green gem in your jewelry box originated from the emerald deposits of Muzo. Known for its deep green color and brilliance, Colombia’s emeralds are some of the most sought-after in the world.
4
It has (almost) every climate under the sun
Kike Calvo/Getty Images
While many know the country as a tropical paradise thanks to its location near the Equator, its rich ecosystems are possible due to its varied climate zones (rainforest, savanna, steppe, desert, mountain climate, etc.). Colombia’s temperatures vary based on elevations and rainfall.The country's capital, Bogotá, for example, is almost 9,000 feet above sea level and its average temperature is 57 °F.
5
It has the best coffee in the world
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Ahh yes, if there’s one thing Colombia has always been synonymous with, it’s delicious freshly ground coffee. The “Eje Cafetero” (Colombian Coffee-Growers Axis), also known as the “Triángulo del Café”, located mainly within the Caldas, Risaralda, and Quindío departments is home to what many consider the best coffee in the world.

Fun Fact: The figure of Juan Valdez that represents the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia is not based off a real person. The fictional poncho-wearing character widely referenced abroad (remember that scene from “Bruce Almighty”?) is simply used to represent Colombian coffee farmers.
6
It's home to the river that ran away from paradise
The world is full of amazing rivers and lakes, but how many are as colorful as Caño Cristales? It's commonly referred to as "the river that ran away to paradise." Why? Because from September to November, the water level dips, and the moss on top of rocks begins to change and bloom in a variety of beautiful colors.
7
Se habla español...y muy bien
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While the Spanish language may have its roots in the motherland of Spain, Spanish is considered to be particularly well-spoken in Colombia.

In 2007, Víctor García de la Concha, the director of la Real Academia de la Lengua Español, the official royal institution overseeing the Spanish language praised the country's Spanish while speaking to Caracol Radio.
8
It's growing as a fashion hub
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“La ciudad de la eterna primavera” (the city of the eternal Spring) says plenty about the beauty of Colombia’s second biggest city, Medellín. Once known as the home of the ruthless drug lord Pablo Escobar, its thriving textile industry has helped shed its past reputation and replace it with a growing fashion industry. Medellín hosts two important annual fashion-related events: Colombia Moda and Colombiatex.
9
It's a country that values rest
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Only bested by Argentina, Colombia has the second highest number of national holidays in the world. With 18 public holidays and an average of 15 paid vacation days, it’s clear that this South American country values rest. In comparison, according to ABC, the U.S. only has 10 public holidays.

Most Colombians take advantage of the long weekends, also known as “puentes festivos,” to travel within the country with friends and family.
10
It prioritizes a healthy lifestyle
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Since 1974, on Sundays and national holidays the country’s capital closes its usually congested main roads to give Bogotá’s residents a chance to walk, run, bike, skate and skip with its ciclovía. In other words, from 7 AM to 2 PM Colombian families and tourists can use the over 75 miles of asphalt as their playground.
11
It's filled with amazing food
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All that Ajíaco, Sancocho, Bandeja Paisa, Mojarra might be the real reason Colombians need the ciclovías to exercise on the weekends. With delicious typical stews hailing from different corners of the country, Colombians hardly lack gastronomic splendor. For more delicious food reason, click here.
12
It's home to salsa Caleña
AP Photo/William Fernando Martinez
“¡Oiga, Mire, Vea....vengase a Cali para que vea!”

Colombia’s third most populous city, Cali, is sometimes called La Capital de la Salsa (World’s Salsa Capital). With significant differences from other styles of salsa, “Salsa Caleña” is known for its quick footwork with a mostly still upperbody. But Colombians do more than dance Salsa, the country is most well known for both its Cumbia and Vallenato genres.
13
It was Gabo's birthplace
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Nobel Laureate and novelist Gabriel García Márquez was perhaps the most well-known figure in Colombian literature. Author of “One Hundred Years of Solitude" (1967) and "Love in the Time of Cholera" (1985), his works have not only been critically acclaimed but have made “Gabo” an icon within the Magic Realism genre.
14
It's where the legend of El Dorado originates
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If you’ve ever heard of the Legend of El Dorado, then you know of Colombia’s pre-Columbine history. The original narrative told the story of the Muisca people who used gold not as a symbol of material wealth but as a sacred metal for religious offerings. The legend describes the famed El Dorado ceremony which welcomed the new cacique (chief). Covered in gold dust, the chief would travel atop a raft. Later he would dive into the lake with his offerings as bystanders cheered.

Bogotá’s International Airport “El Dorado” was named after the ceremony, and gold artifacts, like the Muisca Raft, can be found in the capital city’s Museo del Oro (Gold Museum).
15
La Selección Colombia is full of love and talent
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Colombians rarely miss a chance to socialize over a good soccer match thanks to their common love of fútbol. Whether it’s celebrating a La Selección Colombia win or coming together after a defeat, Colombian wear their yellow, blue, and red with pride.

James Rodriguez and los Cafeteros showed the world their growing power and dance moves at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Rodriguez took home the Golden Boot for most goals scored in the tournament and also won Best Goal of the Tournament.
16
It's given the world beloved megastars
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Despite all of the country’s qualities perhaps what shines the brightest internationally are its stars. The country has produced everyone from the charitable Juanes and Shakira to the hilariously sexy Sofía Vergara. And don't forget about the musically talented Fonseca, Carlos Vives, J Balvín and Maluma. There's no shortage of stars in Colombia.
17
It's made the art world fall in love with the chubby
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For all those chubby-loving art fiends, Colombian artist Fernando Botero’s work is nothing short of innovative. His figurative style “Boterismo” is characterized by portraying subjects in exaggerated volumes. His works are known to depict chubby women, men, children, animals, and even still-life in daily life with a sense of humor. Botero has also taken classics, like Leonardo Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, and given them his own unique touch.
18
It has more festivals than you know what do with
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It's not enough to have astonishing biodiversity and ethnic diversity, you need to celebrate it. Colombia has the world's biggest theater festival (Festival Iberoamericano), salsa festival and flower parade. It also has the second biggest carnival in the world!
19
It's made a hell of a comeback
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TIME magazine said it best when they featured the Colombian president on the cover of their international edition in April 2012, and praised the country as thus: "From nearly failed state to emerging global player -- in less than a decade."

Colombia's economy has been growing over the years and despite some setbacks, the country currently has one of Latin America's most stable economies.
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