Ghetto Klown

In his autobiographical graphic novel, Ghetto Klown, actor, playwright, and comedian John Leguizamo presents a “study of the life of an artist as a Latin man working in ‘Hollywouldn’t.’” With candor and his trademark humor, Leguizamo shares the story of his life, from his rocky childhood in Queens, through his acting, writing, and film career. Leguizamo bares his personal demons in Ghetto Klown, describing his struggles with bouts of depression, self-destructive tendencies, and his conflicted relationship with his father. American film director and producer, Spike Lee, calls Ghetto Klown, “DOPENESS.” The novel was nominated for a 2016 Will Eisner Comic Industry Award for Best Adaptation from Another Medium.

Illustrations by Christa Cassano and Shamus Beyale capture Leguizamo’s creative energy. Their bold, expressive drawings, rendered in dark shades of blue, reflect Leguizamo’s moods and feelings. Characters in Leguizamo’s life communicate in speech bubbles, while Leguizamo’s explanatory narration appears as separate text. Translations of Spanish cusswords and phrases appear as footnotes. In the Preface to Ghetto Klown, Leguizamo appreciates how “freeing” the graphic novel medium is in its ability to express perspective and inner personality. Leguizamo praises his two illustrators for depicting the places and people in his life “as if I’ve simply taken a tour through my memories.”

Leguizamo’s family leaves “El Anus” of Colombia and settles in “the scrotum of Queens.” His Moms works three jobs, while his Pops does not pull his weight. His parents argue constantly, and Leguizamo takes to the streets to avoid their fights. To protect himself from being a victim of the bad guys in the neighborhood, Leguizamo distracts them with his impressions. He becomes good friends with Rayray, one of the local “hoodlums.” When Leguizamo takes over the microphone in the conductor’s booth of an IRT train, he is arrested. His father beats him, and Leguizamo becomes even more of a delinquent. He is the class clown in high school until a teacher gives him the phone number of an acting coach, changing his life.



Leguizamo’s coach, Tweety, an old lady with a voice like Katherine Hepburn’s, becomes his mentor. She teaches him to respect her and to respect himself. She turns him on to plays by O’Neill, Miller, and Piñero. Leguizamo is blown away that “No matter how fucked up your life was, you could put that shit down on paper.” Tweety coaches Leguizamo in diction and elocution and gets him an audition with the famous acting teacher, Lee Strasberg. Leguizamo’s father does not approve of his career choice and kicks him out of the home. Leguizamo discovers that he can channel his anger and other negative emotions into “creative impulses.”

Leguizamo lands a role on Miami Vice and signs with the Irving Resnick and Sons management company, which lands Leguizamo his first minor movie role in Casualties. Playing opposite method actor Sean Penn, Leguizamo must endure being slapped in the face by Penn until the director is satisfied with the shot. Ultimately, the scene is cut from the film. Disillusioned and depressed, Leguizamo returns to New York and writes Mambo Mouth, an autobiographical one-man play. Leguizamo’s brief, early marriage to a “political, poetical” girl lasts only two years. Meanwhile, Leguizamo continues to take movie roles: he appears in Executive Decision with Steven Segal but a violent encounter with the actor leaves him dispirited. Leguizamo writes to combat his depression. Freak, his third one-man play, features Leguizamo’s messed-up relationship with his father. Leguizamo’s shows further alienate his family. He gets larger movie parts in Carlito’s Way and To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything Julie Newmar. On these sets, Leguizamo falls for the wardrobe girl, Teeny, but does not follow through with a long-term relationship.

Rayray is back in Leguizamo’s life, and Leguizamo makes him a writer on his Latino-themed TV show, House of Buggin’. Unfortunately, Rayray takes advantage of Leguizamo and bankrupts him. The show folds to bad reviews, and Leguizamo now must audition again for parts. He stars as Tybalt in Romeo + Juliet but still is not happy. Leguizamo’s grandfather advises him that he has the “Disney Disease”: Leguizamo does not want to grow up.



Leguizamo returns to Teeny and proposes. Together they have a son and a daughter; Leguizamo vows to be the “dad I never had.” But he still is not happy. Teeny tells Leguizamo to get himself together. Leguizamo realizes that he needs to be a better man for himself. He confronts his father about their love/hate relationship. Finally, he thanks his mentor, Tweety and the people in his life who were there for him and who helped him realize who he is. Leguizamo concludes, “Yes, I am a clown. And this is my thing, and no one can take it from me.”

Ghetto Klown is the novelization of Leguizamo’s 2011 Broadway play of the same name. The show earned both Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards and went on to become an HBO special.