Vincent D’Onofrio is best known for playing the overweight Marine recruit Leonard in Full Metal Jacket. To land the role, he shaved his head and gained around 70–80 pounds — one of the biggest weight transformations ever for a movie role. The drastic change affected both his health and public image, with many people treating him differently afterward.
Before fame, D’Onofrio worked many jobs, including nightclub bouncer, cab driver, and bodyguard, while pursuing acting. His breakthrough came after actor Matthew Modine encouraged him to audition for director Stanley Kubrick.
Although the role brought critical praise, it also caused people to associate him with the mentally troubled character he played. Still, D’Onofrio credits Kubrick for launching his long career, which later included major roles in Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Daredevil, Jurassic World, and The Unforgivable.
In his personal life, D’Onofrio dated actress Greta Scacchi and shares a daughter, actress Leila George, with her. He later married Dutch model Carin van der Donk in 1997, and they had two sons before filing for divorce in 2023 after 26 years together.