DiNK Comic & Art Expo 2018 Guest Spotlight: John Leguizamo

Written by John Edward Betancourt

(Photo: Timothy Greenfield-Sanders)

Stephen King once said, and I paraphrase, that one of the keys to a successful writing career is in essence to diversify. Because the creative mind needs to be challenged and pushed in order to stay vibrant and hungry and truth be told, that’s advice that extends well beyond the creative sector because pushing one’s self to be more and to do more often equates to great success. But, that aside, that mantra is absolutely paramount when it comes to the creative field, and the titans and legends of that industry have taken that lesson to heart.
 
After all, writers that work outside of their comfort zone, often see longevity in their careers and oddly enough, that same rule applies to actors as well. Because the men and women that we see on screen that try new things and take on challenging roles are the ones that stick around for a good long time and it’s why you see your favorite actors pop up in a movie or a show with a role that seems out of place from what they normally do and really, if there’s one actor out there that truly lives and breathes this notion, it would have to be John Leguizamo.
 
Because John is an actor who has dared to try anything and everything when it comes to acting. There’s no genre he’s afraid to take part in and that mindset has provided him with an illustrious career that’s allowed for him to portray memorable characters throughout the years such as Toulouse-Lautre from Moulin Rouge! or Cholo DeMora in Land of the Dead and that kind of diversity acting wise has in fact made him a household name. But what separates John from the rest of the pack, is the sheer fact that he is willing to reach beyond the acting world to challenge and push himself creatively, to the point where he has adapted some of his biographical stage shows…into comic books. 
 
In fact, Freak and Ghetto Klown, are such magnificent pieces of work that the latter of those two books has been nominated for an Eisner Award and we’re celebrating John’s incredible career in print and on screen today for one reason and one reason alone, because DiNK Denver is bringing him in as a guest this weekend, and in classic DiNK style, fans of this talented actor and writer will get to spend time with John in unconventional fashion. Because often times when a celebrity comes to a convention, you stand in line and shake their hand and move on, but at DiNK, John will take the time to participate in upgraded meet and greet (and selfie) sessions, and panel discussions with the fans over the course of the weekend and by way of a private movie screening and Q&A session.
 
Unfortunately, that event, which will be hosted at the Alamo Drafthouse Denver is SOLD OUT, but the lucky fans that will be in attendance there can get their hands on a copy of Ghetto Klown and have it signed the following Sunday. As for the rest of the fans out there looking for an opportunity to shake hands with John, don’t waste any time and head to DiNK Denver’s website today to purchase your tickets and when all is said and done, this is just a stellar announcement for DiNK. Because John is a modern screen legend, and a ridiculously talented writer, and it’s just awesome to know he will be in Denver to celebrate his career with his fans and I have no doubt that his appearance at this event will serve to remind all of us that trying something new…can pay off in spades…  

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