Santiago Segura Silva (born 17 July 1965) is a Spanish filmmaker and actor. He also worked to a lesser extent as a television presenter, voice actor and comic book writer, as well as being a collector of original comic books. At 12, he began making films with a Super-8 camera, and, after a recommendation from

Fernando Trueba Fernando Rodríguez Trueba (born 18 January 1955), known as Fernando Trueba, is a Spanish filmmaker, writer, producer and book editor. Career Between 1974 and 1979, Trueba worked as a film critic for Spain's leading daily newspaper '' El Paí ...

, began to make films in 35 mm, funded by his appearances in TV game shows. He earned early recognition for his performance as a metalhead in 1995 film '' The Day of the Beast'' (billed as a "satanic comedy"), which won him the

Goya Award for Best New Actor The Goya Award for Best New Actor () is one of the Goya Awards, Spain's principal national film awards. The category was first presented at the 9th Goya Awards, ninth edition of the Goya Awards, with Saturnino García being the first winner for h ...

. Great success would come with his directorial feature debut, 1998 dark action comedy and box-office hit '' Torrente, the Dumb Arm of the Law'', in which he stars as

José Luis Torrente José Luis Torrente is a fictional character created by Spanish actor and director Santiago Segura and the main character in the ''Torrente'' scatological and dark comedy-action film series. The series so far includes five films; '' Torrente: El ...

, a racist, homophobic, xenophobic, and fascist former police cop. The film, that won Segura the

Goya Award for Best New Director The Goya Award for Best New Director () is the Goya Awards, Goya awarded yearly to the best debuting director. The award was first presented at the 4th Goya Awards, fourth edition of the Goya Awards with Ana Díez being the first winner for her fi ...

, was followed by four sequels ('' Torrente 2: Mission in Marbella'', '' Torrente 3: El protector'', '' Torrente 4: Lethal Crisis'' and '' Torrente 5: Operación Eurovegas'') that made the highest-grossing Spanish film series. He then went on to direct films with a lighter tone, likewise churning domestic box-office hits with children comedies such as '' Father There Is Only One'' (and its two sequels) and '' The Kids Are Alright''.

Life and career

Santiago Segura Silva was born in

Madrid Madrid ( ; ) is the capital and List of largest cities in Spain, most populous municipality of Spain. It has almost 3.5 million inhabitants and a Madrid metropolitan area, metropolitan area population of approximately 7 million. It i ...

on 17 July 1965. He was raised in the city's district of

Carabanchel Carabanchel is a district of Madrid, Spain. It lies on the southern (right) bank of the Manzanares, spanning southward down to the M-40 ring road. The district is made up of the neighbourhoods of Abrantes, Comillas, Opañel, Puerta Bonita, S ...

. After studying Arts at the

Complutense University of Madrid The Complutense University of Madrid (, UCM; ) is a public research university located in Madrid. Founded in Alcalá in 1293 (before relocating to Madrid in 1836), it is one of the oldest operating universities in the world, and one of Spain's ...

, he decided to pursue a career as a filmmaker and in 1989 he directed the short ''Relatos de medianoche'' with a budget of 7000 pesetas (around

US$ The United States dollar (Currency symbol, symbol: Dollar sign, $; ISO 4217, currency code: USD) is the official currency of the United States and International use of the U.S. dollar, several other countries. The Coinage Act of 1792 introdu ...

50). In 1992 he went on to direct his first professional short ''Evilio'', followed with ''Perturbado'' in 1993. Segura is a recurring actor in the works of directors Alex de la Iglesia and

Guillermo del Toro Guillermo del Toro Gómez (; born 9 October 1964) is a Mexican filmmaker, author, and artist. His work has been characterized by a strong connection to fairy tales, Gothic fiction, gothicism and horror fiction, horror often blending the genres ...

. In 1993, he had a small role in Alex de la Iglesia's film ''

Acción mutante ''Mutant Action'' () is a 1993 science fiction black comedy film co-written and directed by Álex de la Iglesia. It stars Antonio Resines, Álex Angulo, and Frédérique Feder. Plot A future post-apocalyptic world is ruled by the good-looking ...

''. Two years later, he starred in '' El día de la Bestia'', from the same director and that role made him famous in Spain. In 1998 he directed the film that brought him to stardom, ''Torrente: El brazo tonto de la ley'' (

1998 1998 was designated as the ''International Year of the Ocean''. Events January * January 6 – The ''Lunar Prospector'' spacecraft is launched into orbit around the Moon, and later finds evidence for Lunar water, frozen water, in soil i ...

), in which he also acted as the lead character

, a sleazy crime-fighter. Its popularity led to a sequel ('' Torrente 2: Misión en Marbella'') and a

computer game A video game or computer game is an electronic game that involves interaction with a user interface or input device (such as a joystick, controller, keyboard, or motion sensing device) to generate visual feedback from a display device, mo ...

(''Torrente: El juego''). ''Torrente 2: Misión en Marbella'' made €22,838,500 at the Spanish

box office A box office or ticket office is a place where ticket (admission), tickets are sold to the public for admission to an event. Patrons may perform the transaction at a countertop, through a hole in a wall or window, or at a Wicket gate, wicket. ...

, becoming the highest grossing Spanish film of all time. '' Torrente 3: El protector'', the third film in the series, was released in September 2005. Its advertising campaign parodied ''

Batman Begins ''Batman Begins'' is a 2005 superhero film directed by Christopher Nolan, who co-wrote the screenplay with David S. Goyer. Based on the DC Comics character Batman, it stars Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne (Dark Knight trilogy), Bruce Wayne / B ...

'', using the phrase "Torrente Acabado" ("Torrente Finished"). Although he declared ''Torrente 3: El protector'' would be the last of the Torrente series, '' Torrente 4'' was released in 2011. In 2010, he played the title role in '' El gran Vázquez'', based on the life of the legendary cartoonist/wastrel Manuel Vázquez Gallego. In 2014 he released '' Torrente 5: Operación Eurovegas'' with

Alec Baldwin Alexander Rae Baldwin III (born April 3, 1958) is an American actor and film producer. He is known for his leading and supporting roles in a variety of genres, from comedy to drama. He has received List of awards and nominations received by A ...

as guest star, and was the top release of 2014 in Spain. He has since made his way into American culture by making appearances in movies such as ''

Pacific Rim The Pacific Rim comprises the lands around the rim of the Pacific Ocean. The '' Pacific Basin'' includes the Pacific Rim and the islands in the Pacific Ocean. The Pacific Rim roughly overlaps with the geological Pacific Ring of Fire. List ...

'', ''

Hellboy Hellboy is a superhero created by Mike Mignola and appearing in comic books published by Dark Horse Comics. The character first appeared in ''San Diego Comic-Con Comics'' #2 (August 1993), and has since appeared in various miniseries, one-shots ...

'', '' Hellboy II: The Golden Army'' and ''

Blade II ''Blade II'' is a 2002 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character Blade, directed by Guillermo del Toro and written by David S. Goyer. The sequel to ''Blade'' (1998), it is the second installment in the ''Blade'' franchise. T ...

'' (all of them by Del Toro), '' Perdita Durango'' (by De la Iglesia), Jack and Jill and '' Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London''. He has also dubbed video games to Spanish, like

Jack Black Thomas Jacob "Jack" Black (born August 28, 1969) is an American actor, comedian, and musician. He is known for roles in family and comedy films, in addition to his voice work in animated films. His awards include a Children's and Family Emmy ...

's role in ''

Brütal Legend ''Brütal Legend'' is an action-adventure video game with real-time strategy game elements created by Double Fine and published by Electronic Arts for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The game was released during October 2009 in North America, ...

''. Because of his success, Santiago Segura has become a producer. He owns Amiguetes Entertainment company, he is associated with the theater in Estación del Norte in Madrid, and has produced ''Promedio rojo'' (2004) (featuring Nicolás López) and ''Aquí mando yo... y punto com''. In 2018 he appeared in the third season of '' MasterChef Celebrity''. He was the 10th contestant to be eliminated.

Filmography

Film

Producer only

Short film

Associate producer *''Wild Flower'' (2012)

As an actor

* ''Relatos de medianoche'' (1989, Short) * ''Eduardo'' (1990, Short) * ''Evilio'' (1992, Short) * ''El cobrador del gas sólo llama una vez'' (1992, Short) * ''

'' (1993) .... Ezequiel * '' Everyone Off to Jail'' (1993) .... Ecologista * ''Perturbado'' (1993, Short) * '' Todo es mentira'' (1994) .... Vendedor * ''Evilio vuelve'' (1994, Short) .... Evilio * ''Cuernos de mujer'' (1995) .... Ciego * '' El día de la Bestia'' (1995) .... José María * '' Two Much'' (1996) .... Paparazzi * ''Matías, juez de línea'' (1996) .... Antidisturbios 1 * '' Killer Barbys'' (1996) .... Baltasar * ''

Tengo una casa ''I Have a House'' () is a 1996 Spanish comedy film written and directed by (in her directorial debut feature). It stars Nancho Novo, Pedro Alonso, Silke, and Ernesto Alterio. Plot Searching for a 1500, two young males (Nico and Ferrari) e ...

'' (1996) .... Guardia 1 * '' La buena vida'' (1996) * ''Sólo se muere dos veces'' (1997) .... Amilibia * ''

Airbag An airbag is a vehicle occupant-restraint system using a bag designed to inflate in milliseconds during a collision and then deflate afterwards. It consists of an airbag cushion, a flexible fabric bag, an inflation module, and an impact sensor. ...

'' (1997) .... Candidato Paiño * '' Perdita Durango'' (1997) .... Shorty Dee * '' Torrente: El brazo tonto de la ley'' (1998, actor, writer and director) .... Torrente * '' La niña de tus ojos'' (1998) .... Castillo * '' Muertos de risa'' (1999) .... Nino * '' París-Tombuctú'' (1999) .... El Cura * ''Pídele cuentas al rey'' (1999) .... Vagabundo * '' La mujer más fea del mundo'' (1999) .... El presidente de la República (uncredited) * '' El corazón del guerrero'' (1999) .... Netheril / Carlos José * ''Sabotage!'' (2000) .... Cyrille Léotard * ''

Obra maestra ''Masterpiece'' () is a 2000 Spanish comedy-drama film directed and written by David Trueba David Rodríguez Trueba (born 10 September 1969) is a Spanish filmmaker and author. Biography David Rodríguez Trueba was born on 10 September 1969 ...

'' (2000) .... Benito Cañaveras * '' Torrente 2: Misión en Marbella'' (2001, actor, writer, director and producer) .... Torrente * '' Girl from Rio'' (2001) .... Paulo * ''Manolito Gafotas en ¡Mola ser jefe!'' (2001) .... Himself (uncredited) * ''

'' (2002) .... Rush * '' Asesino en serio'' (2002, co-producer) .... Padre Gorkisolo * ''Zero/infinito'' (2002) .... (voice) * '' El oro de Moscú'' (2003) .... Íñigo Fuentes * '' Beyond Re-Animator'' (2003) .... Speedball * ''

Tiptoes ''Tiptoes'' is a 2002 American comedy-drama film written and directed by Matthew Bright. The film stars Gary Oldman, Kate Beckinsale, Patricia Arquette, and Matthew McConaughey. The film's plot revolves around an average-sized man (McConaughey ...

'' (2003) .... Motel Manager * '' Una de zombis'' (2003, actor and producer) .... Padre Pelayo / Entrecot / Himself * ''Noin'' (2003) .... Himself * '' Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London'' (2004) .... Santiago * ''

'' (2004) .... Train Driver * '' Isi Disi'' (2004) .... Isi * '' Promedio rojo'' (2004, producer) .... Doctor * ''

Di que sí ''Say I Do'' () is a 2004 Spanish screwball comedy film directed and written by Juan Calvo. Plot Víctor Martínez is a shy 36-year-old man working as an usher at a movie theater. He still lives with his mother. By some mistake, he ends up in ...

'' (2004) .... Oscar Vázquez * '' El asombroso mundo de Borjamari y Pocholo'' (2004, actor and producer) .... Borjamari * '' Torrente 3: El protector'' (2005, actor, writer, director and producer) .... Torrente * '' Bienvenido a casa'' (2006) * ''La máquina de bailar'' (2006) .... Johnny * '' Isi & Disi, alto voltaje'' (2006) .... Isi * ''Ekipo Ja'' (2007) .... Santiago Segura * ''

Asterix at the Olympic Games ''Asterix at the Olympic Games'' is the 12th comic book album in the Asterix series. Serialized in Pilote issues 434–455 in 1968 (to coincide with the Mexico City Olympics), it was translated into English in 1972 (to coincide with the Muni ...

'' (2008) .... Docteurmabus * '' Hellboy II: The Golden Army'' (2008) .... Distinguished Buyer * ''

Manolete Manuel Laureano Rodríguez Sánchez (4 July 1917 – 29 August 1947), known as Manolete, was a Spanish bullfighter. Career Manuel Laureano Rodríguez Sánchez was the son of a bullfighter (who also went by the name Manolete) and his wife An ...

'' (2008) .... Guillermo * '' King Shot'' (2009) * ''Tensión sexual no resuelta'' (2010) .... Hacker (uncredited) * '' The Last Circus'' (2010) .... Padre-Payaso tonto * '' El gran Vázquez'' (2010) .... Vázquez * '' Torrente 4: Lethal Crisis'' (2011) .... Torrente * ''Koma'' (2011) .... Vendedor * '' Jack and Jill'' (2011) .... Eduardo (uncredited) * '' As Luck Would Have It'' (2011) .... David Solar * '' Pa' Habbo'' (2011) * '' El Chef'' (2012) .... Juan * ''

'' (2013) .... Wizened Man * '' Gente en sitios'' (2013) * '' Witching & Bitching'' (2013) .... Miren * '' Torrente V: Operación Eurovegas'' (2014) .... Torrente * ''Pos eso'' (2014) .... Damián / Obispo / Satán (voice) * '' Rey Gitano'' (2015) .... Conde de Segura * ''

The Strain ''The Strain'' is a 2009 vampire literature, vampire horror fiction, horror novel by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan. It is the first installment in ''The Strain Trilogy'', and was followed by ''The Fall (del Toro and Hogan novel), The Fal ...

'' (2015, TV Series) .... Evil Boxing Coach * '' My Big Night'' (2015) .... Benítez * '' Wild Oats'' (2016) .... Carlos * '' The Queen of Spain'' (2016) .... Castillo * '' Herederos de la bestia'' (2016) * ''Casi leyendas'' (2017) .... Axel * '' You Only Live Once'' (2017) .... Tobías López * ''Los resucitados'' (2017) .... Don Lorenzo, Conde de Evilio * '' Las grietas de Jara'' (2018) ... Mario Borla * '' Sin rodeos'' (2018) * '' Padre no hay más que uno'' (2019) .... Javier * '' Little Red Riding Wolf'' (2023) .... Pharmacist

Accolades

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Segura, Santiago 1965 births Male actors from Madrid Complutense University of Madrid alumni Living people Spanish male film actors Spanish male comedians Spanish stand-up comedians Spanish film directors 20th-century Spanish male actors 21st-century Spanish male actors 20th-century Spanish screenwriters 20th-century Spanish male writers 21st-century Spanish screenwriters Comedians from Madrid