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Pimps, Hos, Playa Hatas, and All the Rest of My Hollywood Friends: My Life
Fans of John Leguizamo's smash-hit one-man shows (Mambo Mouth, Spic-o-rama, Freak, and Sexaholix) have already gotten a glimpse into his life, but this book tells the whole story, carrying readers along on a wild journey from his childhood in Queens to his current home at the top of the Hollywood pyramid. An acclaimed director, producer, and play-wright, and one of the highest-paid Latin actors in the world, Leguizamo shares the stories behind his many roles—what inspired them and what transpired as he created them—while dishing on his personal relationships with his family, friends, and celebrity colleagues. Here is both an intimate self-portrait and a unique behind-the-scenes look at the magic and chaos of stardom, a keenly intelligent and insanely funny book that celebrates a remarkably talented artist's greatest achievement: growing up Latino in America and succeeding on his own terms.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 31, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
December 16, 2013
Great book. Anyone who enjoys John Leguizamo and has seen his acts will love this book. He also speaks of how it was back in the day when raicism was a little more in your face than it is now. His views in how he saw life then and now is a great learning experience. Leguizamo inspires anyone to chase after their dreams, passion and goals. Leguizamo in this book reminds you that if you work hard enough for what you want it actually may be possible to achieve it. The thing is that you have to want it bad enough. This book in my eyes was amazing.
September 7, 2008
I found this book at Half Price Books for $2 and it was WELL worth the price..I'm a whore for celebrity gossip autobiographies and this filled my need. I always liked John Leguizamo and he dished just enough dirt and called out just enough people for it to be entertaining and not too awful smutty :)
April 25, 2016
I’d recommend this book if you are an aspiring actor, or if you are interested in the inner workings of Hollywood. I read quite a lot of books but I don’t think I’m a fast reader- I finished this in about three days. The speed with which I read Leguizamo’s Pimps, Ho’s, Playa Hatas, and All the Rest of My Hollywood Friends was certainly expedited because I am an actor. I also definitely think that I got through the book quicker than I normally would because I was reading it during the breaks in filming of my latest project. I had a good time filming but there were some difficulties on set - the leading lady was… let’s just say that maybe she is on a mission to sabotage her career.
Leguizamo’s memoir was an autobiographical expose on the actor/writer/comedian’s rise from being a Colombian immigrant in Queens, New York, to his sell-out one-man shows and appearances in Hollywood Blockbusters such as Romeo and Juliet, and Moulin Rouge. At one stage John Leguizamo was the “highest paid Latino actor in Hollywood.” Despite ultimately being a book about his triumphs, the actor also documents his failures. For every successful movie or show he starred in, Leguizamo’s resume also includes terrible flops such as the The Super Mario Brothers movie, in which he starred alongside Bob Hoskins. Pimps and Ho’s doesn’t only highlight his awards - he won a Primetime Emmy in 1999 for his one man show Freak. There are also tales of the difficulties he has endured as he worked hard to navigate his career away from stereotypes as much as possible. The actor recalls the times he was “ignored” by certain method actors on set, “Sean Penn never spoke to me.”
A highlight for me is when Leguizamo recalls working on the drag queen road movie To Wong Foo with Wesley Snipes and Patrick Swayze. Cross-dressing in the heat took it’s toll on the cast and John’s famous ad-libbing didn’t go down too well with Swayze, “Are you gonna say that? Cuz that's not the line that’s written.” Swayze yelled. “Come on you know the routine,” Leguizamo tells him. “I ad-lib. That’s why they hired me.” The exchange continues. “Why don’t you just say the line?” “Make me.” “I’m going to punch you in the face!” “You must be PMSing,” Johnny says. “Beeyatch!” Patrick Swayze and John Leguizamo then start throwing punches at each other, dressed in full drag, and rolling about in the sands of Nevada. All this whilst the director is losing patience and Wesley Snipes relaxes in the background casually saying, “let them handle it.” To clarify Wesley Snipes is also dressed in drag during this unscripted scenario. As far-fetched as stories like this can seem I actually have no trouble believing it - I have many stories myself. Like I said the timing of me reading this book coincided with the speed with which I got through it, and my enjoyment. I saw it as a way to step away from the madness of my industry and see it in black and white. It also got me wondering whether I could write a memoir. I have countless, very hard to believe stories, but I do think there is a certain bravery in putting that information out there. Unless one’s career is on a big downward curve and therefore anything goes. But what stands out to me about Pimps and Ho’s is that it came out in 2006 which was certainly closer to the peak of the actors’ career than now. Despite this he still managed to come across as if he wasn’t holding back, and I liked that.
“I didn’t want to share the spotlight. It was all about me.” That’s what John writes after explaining how he fell out with his best friend and (somewhat dodgy) producing partner. The actor never seemed to be biased towards himself when writing about his multiple fallouts with friends, family and colleagues - “I did everything I could to stop him from standing in my light… constantly competing with one of my own cast members, I exhausted myself. That’s when I realised that jealousy and rivalry are destructive.”
The part of the book that tugged on my heartstrings the most was when he wrote about his dysfunctional family. Perhaps there’s an element of me taking comfort in the fact that somebody else's family was/is fucked up. And that the way my being an actor affected the dynamics of my family, simply mirrors the way Leguizamo’s did decades earlier. The money, the jealousy, and sibling rivalry. The way those tales formed the basis of his one-man shows also made smile as a writer. There was a part of his family story I couldn’t relate to, though - his desperately seeking the approval of his father. My father (rest his soul) never left us yearning for his approval. He did great there. But that element of John Leguizamo’s story makes him even more human to me, and it makes his high points even more triumphant.
Leguizamo’s memoir was an autobiographical expose on the actor/writer/comedian’s rise from being a Colombian immigrant in Queens, New York, to his sell-out one-man shows and appearances in Hollywood Blockbusters such as Romeo and Juliet, and Moulin Rouge. At one stage John Leguizamo was the “highest paid Latino actor in Hollywood.” Despite ultimately being a book about his triumphs, the actor also documents his failures. For every successful movie or show he starred in, Leguizamo’s resume also includes terrible flops such as the The Super Mario Brothers movie, in which he starred alongside Bob Hoskins. Pimps and Ho’s doesn’t only highlight his awards - he won a Primetime Emmy in 1999 for his one man show Freak. There are also tales of the difficulties he has endured as he worked hard to navigate his career away from stereotypes as much as possible. The actor recalls the times he was “ignored” by certain method actors on set, “Sean Penn never spoke to me.”
A highlight for me is when Leguizamo recalls working on the drag queen road movie To Wong Foo with Wesley Snipes and Patrick Swayze. Cross-dressing in the heat took it’s toll on the cast and John’s famous ad-libbing didn’t go down too well with Swayze, “Are you gonna say that? Cuz that's not the line that’s written.” Swayze yelled. “Come on you know the routine,” Leguizamo tells him. “I ad-lib. That’s why they hired me.” The exchange continues. “Why don’t you just say the line?” “Make me.” “I’m going to punch you in the face!” “You must be PMSing,” Johnny says. “Beeyatch!” Patrick Swayze and John Leguizamo then start throwing punches at each other, dressed in full drag, and rolling about in the sands of Nevada. All this whilst the director is losing patience and Wesley Snipes relaxes in the background casually saying, “let them handle it.” To clarify Wesley Snipes is also dressed in drag during this unscripted scenario. As far-fetched as stories like this can seem I actually have no trouble believing it - I have many stories myself. Like I said the timing of me reading this book coincided with the speed with which I got through it, and my enjoyment. I saw it as a way to step away from the madness of my industry and see it in black and white. It also got me wondering whether I could write a memoir. I have countless, very hard to believe stories, but I do think there is a certain bravery in putting that information out there. Unless one’s career is on a big downward curve and therefore anything goes. But what stands out to me about Pimps and Ho’s is that it came out in 2006 which was certainly closer to the peak of the actors’ career than now. Despite this he still managed to come across as if he wasn’t holding back, and I liked that.
“I didn’t want to share the spotlight. It was all about me.” That’s what John writes after explaining how he fell out with his best friend and (somewhat dodgy) producing partner. The actor never seemed to be biased towards himself when writing about his multiple fallouts with friends, family and colleagues - “I did everything I could to stop him from standing in my light… constantly competing with one of my own cast members, I exhausted myself. That’s when I realised that jealousy and rivalry are destructive.”
The part of the book that tugged on my heartstrings the most was when he wrote about his dysfunctional family. Perhaps there’s an element of me taking comfort in the fact that somebody else's family was/is fucked up. And that the way my being an actor affected the dynamics of my family, simply mirrors the way Leguizamo’s did decades earlier. The money, the jealousy, and sibling rivalry. The way those tales formed the basis of his one-man shows also made smile as a writer. There was a part of his family story I couldn’t relate to, though - his desperately seeking the approval of his father. My father (rest his soul) never left us yearning for his approval. He did great there. But that element of John Leguizamo’s story makes him even more human to me, and it makes his high points even more triumphant.
March 20, 2012
Many of the stories that are featured in Ghetto Klown (John's latest one-man show) appear in this book, but I don't care.
I love John Leguizamo's writing.
It's honest, funny, heartfelt, and real.
I don't think everything he says is the truth. I like to think of it more as "fictionalized memoirs" or "heightened honesty". LOL Whatever! I love it.
I'm a huge fan. I remember House of Buggin AND The Pest (saw it more than once).
My favorite chapter is the one where he talks about his wedding. The bravado veneer came down and we got a real glimpse of the insecure and honest John. Made me smile.
The reason why his plays are so successful and this book is so entertaining is because it's real. It's just John being John and I don't think we can ask more from our writers. Just write your truth and John does just that.
I love John Leguizamo's writing.
It's honest, funny, heartfelt, and real.
I don't think everything he says is the truth. I like to think of it more as "fictionalized memoirs" or "heightened honesty". LOL Whatever! I love it.
I'm a huge fan. I remember House of Buggin AND The Pest (saw it more than once).
My favorite chapter is the one where he talks about his wedding. The bravado veneer came down and we got a real glimpse of the insecure and honest John. Made me smile.
The reason why his plays are so successful and this book is so entertaining is because it's real. It's just John being John and I don't think we can ask more from our writers. Just write your truth and John does just that.
June 4, 2024
Celebrity memoirs are a guilty pleasure. They usually offer zero substance or insight into someone’s mind outside of their need for attention and gratification. John Leguizamo’s Pimps, Hos, Playa Hatas, and All the Rest of My Hollywood Friends was no different. Although, I won’t lie; the $2.99 price tag* for the Kindle edition influenced my decision to purchase (and read) the book. I may have gone my entire life without reading it otherwise.
And maybe it would have been better had I not read it. Not that it was a terrible book; it did have several hilarious moments and the writing oozes with John Leguizamo’s wit and humor. You can almost hear his voice as you read each chapter. And it was a joy to read something not written by a white shock rocker, a white porn star, or a white actor**. He does give you some insight in his early life, and that of his parents. A lot of which feels familiar, like something playing out of my own childhood or the family of a close friend.
What grates me, however, is the language used throughout the book. While I kept reminding myself the book was first published in 2006, it still doesn’t excuse his usage of the n-word and the portmanteau he created with it using the slur spic. While I do pardon him for using spic (afterall, we get to use the slurs used against us as we see fit), it’s unnerving how he feels comfortable using one of the most vile words imaginable. And the way he spun his usage (as he spun Lenny Bruce’s and, in part, Richard Pryor’s, but do we really have to argue the difference between the two comedians?) “as a way to drain if of its negative force…and making it harmless, like defusing a bomb” is downright baffling considering the history of anti-blackness in the Latinx community—but that’s a topic worthy of its own post.
It’s not just n-word either; there are moments in the book rife with transphobic and homophobic, anti-semitic, and misogynistic terminologies and caricatures. It’s just an unfriendly reminder how bigoted the early years of the millennia was (and, in many ways, still is). It makes it hard to truly enjoy the book, as the moment he reaches a serious point, where he’s focusing on something major in his life, he suckerpunches you in the face with something unsettling and tee-heeing it a way as being just a comedian. It makes it hard to even suggest the book even though the good parts outweigh the ugly. (originally posted to Chapin City Blues)
And maybe it would have been better had I not read it. Not that it was a terrible book; it did have several hilarious moments and the writing oozes with John Leguizamo’s wit and humor. You can almost hear his voice as you read each chapter. And it was a joy to read something not written by a white shock rocker, a white porn star, or a white actor**. He does give you some insight in his early life, and that of his parents. A lot of which feels familiar, like something playing out of my own childhood or the family of a close friend.
What grates me, however, is the language used throughout the book. While I kept reminding myself the book was first published in 2006, it still doesn’t excuse his usage of the n-word and the portmanteau he created with it using the slur spic. While I do pardon him for using spic (afterall, we get to use the slurs used against us as we see fit), it’s unnerving how he feels comfortable using one of the most vile words imaginable. And the way he spun his usage (as he spun Lenny Bruce’s and, in part, Richard Pryor’s, but do we really have to argue the difference between the two comedians?) “as a way to drain if of its negative force…and making it harmless, like defusing a bomb” is downright baffling considering the history of anti-blackness in the Latinx community—but that’s a topic worthy of its own post.
It’s not just n-word either; there are moments in the book rife with transphobic and homophobic, anti-semitic, and misogynistic terminologies and caricatures. It’s just an unfriendly reminder how bigoted the early years of the millennia was (and, in many ways, still is). It makes it hard to truly enjoy the book, as the moment he reaches a serious point, where he’s focusing on something major in his life, he suckerpunches you in the face with something unsettling and tee-heeing it a way as being just a comedian. It makes it hard to even suggest the book even though the good parts outweigh the ugly. (originally posted to Chapin City Blues)
May 25, 2011
It is safe to say if you are a John Leguizamo fan this is the book for you. Simply put there are countless hilarious stories about his up brining and rise through the Hollywood Scene.
It also offers a lot of insight into the deep insecurities, drug problems, personality issues and “humble beginning” that most comics seem to come from. His life story is not typical in in it's truest essence because you unlike most other comics who talk about there plight, there is no "feel sorry for me vibe"
If you saw him in any of his 1 Man Shows on the stage or Video, you will simply love this book. His current play “Ghetto Klown” is basically this book live.
I read this book in 4-5 hours and loved every minute of it, this is very rare for me!
It also offers a lot of insight into the deep insecurities, drug problems, personality issues and “humble beginning” that most comics seem to come from. His life story is not typical in in it's truest essence because you unlike most other comics who talk about there plight, there is no "feel sorry for me vibe"
If you saw him in any of his 1 Man Shows on the stage or Video, you will simply love this book. His current play “Ghetto Klown” is basically this book live.
I read this book in 4-5 hours and loved every minute of it, this is very rare for me!
January 7, 2009
I really enjoyed reading this book - Leguizamo comes across as highly personable (aswell as having a slightly larger than usual ego, though with enough humour to recognise this and poke fun at himself), and very, very funny, especially when talking about his family and kids. There's enough gossip to keep even the least film-y person interested (I particularly enjoyed the To Wong Foo moments!), and he doesn't pull his punches when discussing some of the bigger players as you might have expected.
July 31, 2015
Excellent book!!! Loved every gory, nasty, vulgar minute of it. Fascinating, sad, exciting, heart breaking, enlightening, HILARIOUS!! When John Leguizamo tells a story, he makes you laugh at the same time you want to hit him and then hug him!! I can only imagine what it's like to know him. And now I want to see his plays, read any other book he writes and watch all of his movies, even the horribly rotten, sucky ones that he points out in his book.
May 14, 2009
A great laugh, however, got a bit tired of John's overinflated ego by the end. Despite the fact that he admits it himself and is also self critical I felt like he was interviewing for the job of my favourite actor/playwrite rather than giving a biography. The honesty throughout the book was refreshing though, it's enlgihtening to read a biog from someone who doesn't mind pissing others off.
June 10, 2009
If you're a fan of John's acting, you'll love this book. His book is written just the way I'd imagine a conversation with him would go. I never knew much about him before I read this book, but it makes me admire him even more now that I have.
January 17, 2011
Funny, laugh out loud autobiography.
Interesting back story about Latins in Hollywood.
I also didn't realize he was in such a vast number of movies. I did see Sexaholics on Broadway and remember laughing with it.
Fun, quick read.
Interesting back story about Latins in Hollywood.
I also didn't realize he was in such a vast number of movies. I did see Sexaholics on Broadway and remember laughing with it.
Fun, quick read.
March 20, 2012
Love this book. It was hysterical and had me laughing out loud on the train. It also made me fall in love with John Leguizamo, as well as wish he was my best friend. I think it's an enjoyable read for anyone.
December 26, 2012
You have to love John Leguizamo to enjoy this book! I do love John Leguizamo, so this book is funny and helps get a little insight to his life. I enjoy his movies that he has acted in and also his stand up. I have even been to his live shows and they are great, and full of laughter!
August 4, 2013
This book lead to John's latest one man show "Ghetto Klown." He has a great knack for story telling, and you can tell that no matter what he does he pours himself completely into his work. A great read, not the typical memoir.
September 27, 2014
More a 2.5 than a 3 for me, but pretty good. John L is a very smart fellow who veers in this book between sophistication, sophistry, and the sophomoric. I may have to watch a couple of his films that I missed.
August 24, 2015
Shocker! There are a lot of egos in Hollywood. This book also has a lot of name dropping. But overall, an interesting read.
My favorite part was learning about the making of Super Mario Brothers and Summer of Sam.
My favorite part was learning about the making of Super Mario Brothers and Summer of Sam.
December 8, 2008
Great story teller and very authentic guy.
May 7, 2009
Pretty funny, plus you get the scoop on a lot of Hollywood actors
September 5, 2011
Funny guy. Nice writing style. VERY enjoyable read.
February 19, 2017
Not the best written book and slightly filthy but an enjoyable and I suspect very honest read
October 18, 2021
I generally enjoyed JL's memoir and found it interesting to learn a little more about an actor I knew little about, but whose movies I'd seen several of. I was intrigued by the title and happily surprised to see that it was written solely by him and not with an accompanying writer, as so many celebrity memoirs are, though it took me a moment to get acclimated to his writing style, which is direct, honest, and with a tell-it-like-it-is rawness to it, which I enjoyed, and which I should have guessed by the title.
As far as content goes, again, it was interesting to get some behind-the-scenes looks at his childhood and start in acting, as well as stories about several of the movies he'd done, though, despite the title, there weren't as many anecdotes about his fellow actors or Hollywood cohorts as I would have guessed, with the exception of saying he pissed everyone off by bitching because people wouldn't let him "ad-lib" or go off-script enough. That part felt a little like whining after a while. He did bemoan more than once that he wished he done this part or that movie instead of what he had (which got a tad annoying by the end), though his memoir was also filled with some funny stories and moments he was proud of as well, which gave me a list of one-man shows he's done to check out.
Overall, worth one read if you're curious about this actor and looking for a fairly quick-read.
As far as content goes, again, it was interesting to get some behind-the-scenes looks at his childhood and start in acting, as well as stories about several of the movies he'd done, though, despite the title, there weren't as many anecdotes about his fellow actors or Hollywood cohorts as I would have guessed, with the exception of saying he pissed everyone off by bitching because people wouldn't let him "ad-lib" or go off-script enough. That part felt a little like whining after a while. He did bemoan more than once that he wished he done this part or that movie instead of what he had (which got a tad annoying by the end), though his memoir was also filled with some funny stories and moments he was proud of as well, which gave me a list of one-man shows he's done to check out.
Overall, worth one read if you're curious about this actor and looking for a fairly quick-read.
August 2, 2020
Someone mentioned this book in the comments section following a compilation list of the best memoirs you’ve never read, so I thought I’d give it a shot. John Leguizamo writes like he’s hanging out around a burning barrel in Queens, which is entertaining in small doses. I think I can safely say that I prefer watching Leguizamo to reading him. The book covers his tough start in life, through his early years in show business and his later success as an actor, writer and producer. There’s some light dish on other actors but the focus stays mostly on him, his bad boy behavior and his wild journey. A little too macho for me.
January 5, 2021
This is the most anti White people book that I have ever read and the book is peppered throughout with this racism. The title of the book, which drew me into it, as well as my appreciation for his film work, refers to actors as ho's and producers as pimps. Though it's interesting to read about his full disclosure about his salary for films and how he used it for his specials, along with interactions with fellow costars: Abraham, Lawrence, Swayze, Snipes & Segal to name a few, the underlying narrative ruined it for me.
October 13, 2021
Been a fan of John for as long as I can remember, even knew how to spell his last name when I couldn't tell you another single actor's name when asked.
That being said this is a wonderful glimpse into his mind, life, and mania. It honestly felt more intimate than any of his specials he did and I'm happy to see his life working for him with all the work he put in.
That being said this is a wonderful glimpse into his mind, life, and mania. It honestly felt more intimate than any of his specials he did and I'm happy to see his life working for him with all the work he put in.
January 28, 2025
28th January 2025
I've owned a copy of Pimps, hos, playa hatats, and all the rest of my Hollywood friends, for a while now. I brought this second-hand, and my dumbass thought it was a males POV on the adult industry.
Turns out John Leguizamo isn't a porn star. 🤦♀️ but rather a actor. A Latin actor, who has spent his career trying to not only break the stereotype mould, but also to prove himself in his personal and public life.
For a biography, it read differently to what I'm used too. Like, sure there's mention of his work and the people he worked with, but it's more about John's life struggles at a Latin actor and how he was trying to prove he was more than a dealer or a gangsta.
The productions mentioned throughout the book aren't really ones I'm overly familiar with. I vaguely remember watching Moulin Rouge and not liking it, i vaguely remember watching Lurhmanns Romeo and Juliet, and not like it..see the running theme? I didn't realise he was sid the sloth in ice age..childhood memory unlocked.
Though the funny thing about this book is because Leguizamo has a distinctive voice, i could hear his voice and oddly enough, it seemed more like a conversation he and I were having, rather than a person reading a book. FYI, I don't actually know him in real life...
I've owned a copy of Pimps, hos, playa hatats, and all the rest of my Hollywood friends, for a while now. I brought this second-hand, and my dumbass thought it was a males POV on the adult industry.
Turns out John Leguizamo isn't a porn star. 🤦♀️ but rather a actor. A Latin actor, who has spent his career trying to not only break the stereotype mould, but also to prove himself in his personal and public life.
For a biography, it read differently to what I'm used too. Like, sure there's mention of his work and the people he worked with, but it's more about John's life struggles at a Latin actor and how he was trying to prove he was more than a dealer or a gangsta.
The productions mentioned throughout the book aren't really ones I'm overly familiar with. I vaguely remember watching Moulin Rouge and not liking it, i vaguely remember watching Lurhmanns Romeo and Juliet, and not like it..see the running theme? I didn't realise he was sid the sloth in ice age..childhood memory unlocked.
Though the funny thing about this book is because Leguizamo has a distinctive voice, i could hear his voice and oddly enough, it seemed more like a conversation he and I were having, rather than a person reading a book. FYI, I don't actually know him in real life...
October 11, 2025
Entertaining and funny memoir. The life and career of John Leguizamo.
Jam packed with personal stories about his youth and how he came up in Hollywood. Standard memoir stories but he spills some gossip about actors and directors he worked with, so there’s some cautionary tales. Some hot takes and perspectives about a kid who grew up in Queens.
Jam packed with personal stories about his youth and how he came up in Hollywood. Standard memoir stories but he spills some gossip about actors and directors he worked with, so there’s some cautionary tales. Some hot takes and perspectives about a kid who grew up in Queens.
May 9, 2019
Therapy
Interesting to follow Leguizamo’s evolution as a writer/actor. He has blazed trails for Latin actors and comedians, participating in and blowing up stereotypes. A fun read.
Interesting to follow Leguizamo’s evolution as a writer/actor. He has blazed trails for Latin actors and comedians, participating in and blowing up stereotypes. A fun read.
January 25, 2021
I like this guy and whilst the book does have its entertaining chapters, it can be a little too honest for its own good, but thats the way John is. Candid, honest and whilst that should be respected, it can be a little jarring at times. Worth reading but its not a book I will revisit.
July 22, 2021
Definitely has moments of hilarity but for me his ego was somewhat oft putting. He’s not scared to name names from a film set grudge but I noticed he’s had those on every film. Makes you wonder what the common denominator is?
May 19, 2019
I'm a fan of most things John Leguizamo does. Writing isn't one of them.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews