Vincent D’Onofrio is widely recognized for playing the struggling Marine recruit in Full Metal Jacket.
But after that, his popularity faded for a while.
The actor, who turned 64 in 2023, said the role required a big physical change. He had to gain a lot of weight, which affected how people saw him. Before, many admired his athletic build and curly dark hair. After the role, that changed.
D’Onofrio’s acting career is long and diverse. He puts everything into his roles, fully becoming each character. His journey began in theater, performing in both off-Broadway and Broadway productions. To support himself, he worked several jobs, including being a bodyguard for Yul Brynner and Robert Plant.
In his early days, he also worked as a nightclub bouncer, cab driver, and even delivered flowers. His big break came when actor Matthew Modine encouraged him to audition for Full Metal Jacket.
D’Onofrio, who was 6’3″ and in great shape, got the role of Leonard. But there was a condition—he had to gain weight.
Working with director Stanley Kubrick was a major learning experience for him. It pushed him to explore his acting skills in a new way.
For the role, he had to shave his head and gain about 80 pounds, the most any actor has gained for a role at the time.
Filming was tough. The boot-camp scenes were especially difficult because of his weight. At 280 pounds, the physical demands were much harder than before.
His performance got great reviews, but some people confused him with the character.
“People treated me differently at that size,” he said. “With my shaved head, I didn’t look like myself. Women stopped noticing me, and people talked to me like I wasn’t smart.”
A year later, he lost the weight and grew his hair back.
Looking back, D’Onofrio credits Kubrick for his career. “Stanley made my career,” he said. Since then, he’s starred in over 50 films and TV shows, including Law & Order: Criminal Intent and Daredevil.
Even decades later, fans still enjoy his performances.