Vincent D’Onofrio is probably best remembered for his unforgettable role as the chubby, troubled Marine recruit in Stanley Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket. But after that iconic performance, his popularity took a surprising dive.
The ruggedly handsome actor, who turned 64 on June 30, 2023, said that playing this role required a dramatic physical transformation. This transformation was so intense that it ended up repelling the women who once swooned over his dark curls and athletic build.
Vincent D’Onofrio has a résumé as long as it is diverse. He’s the kind of actor who puts 200% into every part, becoming the character so fully that you forget who he is.
Born in Brooklyn, D’Onofrio started his acting journey in stage productions, performing both off-Broadway and on. To support his dreams of becoming an actor, he took on all sorts of side jobs, including being a bodyguard for stars like Yul Brynner and Robert Plant.
In those early days, he made a living as a nightclub bouncer, delivered flowers, hung drapes, and even drove a cab. But after appearing in a few low-budget films, his friend, actor Matthew Modine, urged him to send an audition tape to Stanley Kubrick, who was casting for his next big movie.
33 years old.
— Vincent D'Onofrio (@vincentdonofrio) January 1, 2021
I'm glad I'm not that guy anymore. He was dumb. pic.twitter.com/xAYMCfklJJ
Standing at 6-foot-3, D’Onofrio was incredibly fit at the time. But to land the role of the fat, dim-witted Leonard, he had to agree to some drastic changes.
Working with Kubrick was a transformative experience for D’Onofrio. It allowed him to dive deep into his character and test his acting skills in a demanding and intense environment.
The father of three, now 64, had to shave his head and gain a staggering 70 to 80 pounds, the most weight ever gained by an actor for a role.
“[Kubrick] asked me early on if I’d be okay with gaining the weight,” D’Onofrio recalled. “I went over and gained about 30 pounds, but when he saw me, he said I still looked like I could kick everyone’s ass. He thought I needed to gain more.” Reflecting on the role he took on at 24, D’Onofrio added, “I think I ended up gaining around 80 pounds… going from 200 to 280.”
Gaining the weight wasn’t easy, especially when it came time to film the grueling boot-camp scenes. Obstacle courses that would have been manageable with his original athletic build became almost impossible at 280 pounds.
D’Onofrio’s powerful portrayal of the chubby, mentally disturbed Leonard earned him high praise from critics. However, it also led to fans confusing the actor with his character.
“People treat you differently when you’re that size,” D’Onofrio shared. “My head was shaved, and I looked like a completely different person. Women didn’t look at me; I mostly saw their backs as they ran away. People would even repeat things to me, thinking I was stupid.”
A year after the film, D’Onofrio had regrown his hair and returned to his original size. Despite the challenges, he credits his lengthy career to that transformative role.
“Stanley made my career, no question about it. I’ve done over 50 films because of him, because of that part,” D’Onofrio said, referring to his many roles in both film and TV. He’s best known for being a series regular on Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001-2011) and Marvel’s Daredevil (2015-2018), with films like Dying Young, The Break-Up, and Jurassic World also under his belt.
D’Onofrio’s personal life has had its ups and downs as well. His parents’ divorce deeply affected him as a child. His mother later remarried George Meyer, a famous American producer and writer, and the family moved to Florida. Growing up, D’Onofrio was a quiet boy who often kept to himself.
While living in Florida, he became fascinated with magic and sleight of hand, learning tricks from Cuban performers at a small magic shop.
In the early 1990s, D’Onofrio was in a relationship with actress Greta Scacchi. The two appeared in several films together, including The Player and Fires Within. They had a daughter, Leila George, who was born around 1991 or 1992 and has since pursued her own acting career.
In 1997, D’Onofrio married Dutch model Carin van der Donk. They had their first son in 1999, but the relationship faced challenges in the early 2000s, leading to a separation. The couple later reconciled and had a second son in 2008.
In June 2023, D’Onofrio filed for divorce in Manhattan Supreme Court, ending his 26-year marriage with Carin van der Donk.
D’Onofrio continues to act, appearing with Sandra Bullock in the 2021 film The Unforgivable and in the soon-to-be-released comedy Dumb Money.
Vincent D’Onofrio was phenomenal in Full Metal Jacket, and his portrayal of Leonard’s mental decline was chillingly believable. He looks quite different now, as you’d expect after several decades, but his performances are still a joy to watch!
What do you think about his portrayal of Leonard?
