Vincent D’Onofrio is best known for his unforgettable role as Leonard in Full Metal Jacket, where he underwent a dramatic transformation by gaining nearly 80 pounds and shaving his head — still considered one of the biggest weight gains for a movie role.
Born in Brooklyn, D’Onofrio worked various jobs, including nightclub bouncer and cab driver, before landing the life-changing role after encouragement from actor Matthew Modine. Director Stanley Kubrick pushed him to fully transform into the troubled Marine recruit Leonard, a performance that earned critical praise but also changed how people treated him in real life.
D’Onofrio later admitted women stopped recognizing him, and strangers often assumed he was unintelligent because of the character.
After returning to his normal appearance, he built a long Hollywood career with roles in Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Daredevil, Jurassic World, and The Unforgivable. He has credited Kubrick and Full Metal Jacket for launching his success.
Off-screen, D’Onofrio has three children and was married to Dutch model Carin van der Donk for 26 years before filing for divorce in 2023.