As one of two children born to lawyers Gustavo Del Toro and Fausta Sanchez-Del Toro in Santurce, Puerto Rico, Benicio was expected to follow the family's tradition and become a lawyer. Though when he started College at the University of California in San Diego he intended on becoming a lawyer, he soon found his passion was in acting. Not long after this discovery he left San Diego to study acting at the New York Circle in the Square Acting School and won a scholarship to study under the famed Stella Adler at the Stella Adler Conservatory in Los Angeles. Though he broke his father's heart when he chose acting, Benicio stuck with it and has proven his worth with a 2001 Academy Award win for Best Supporting Actor.

Born February 19, 1967, Benicio moved to Pennsylvania with his family after the death of his mother when he was nine. Known in grade school as a "hell raiser" his first roles followed this persona. When studying at the Stella Adler Conservatory, Benicio won a role as a drug dealer in the hit TV show "Miami Vice". By taking on small roles in a number of TV and films, Benicio managed to pay the bills and stick with his passion. It wasn't until 1995 when he won the role of con man Fred Fenster in Bryan Singer's crime drama "The Usual Suspects" that Benicio caught the attention of critics and began to win awards for his work. In 1995 and 1996 he won the Independent Spirit Best Supporting Actor award for "The Usual Suspects" and "Basquiat". He has since gone on to win the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor (2001) for his role as a Mexican Cop in "Traffic".

Benicio Del Toro has hit the big time, and though in the beginning of his career he was in danger of becoming stereotyped as a drug-dealing heavy, Benicio has proven his versatility and ability to critics and directors alike. Blessed with the Latin good looks with a bit of James Dean thrown in, he is fast become the number one choice for romantic leading man. Personally though, Benicio has managed to avoid marriage and romantic ties. He has dated a few fellow acting professionals but so far has not been romantically linked to anyone. Professionally and romantically, Benicio is sure to figure prominently in the years to come.