Multi-talented Mexican artist who began as a dancer before turning to acting and eventually writing, directing and producing motion pictures. Arau made his feature directing debut with the Mexican-lensed "The Barefoot Eagle" (1967), before playing what would be the first in a series of somewhat stereotypical characters for Hollywood in Sam Peckinpah's landmark Western "The Wild Bunch" (1969). Subsequently, the thin, handsome and often mustached Arau alternated between acting assignments in the US and producing, directing, writing and starring in his own projects in Mexico. Arau's better known American credits include Kirk Douglas' "Posse" (1975), as a bandit, "Romancing the Stone" (1984), as a friendly drug-dealing bandit, and "Three Amigos!" (1986), as El Guapo the "jefe" of a group of bandits.Arau's greatest success came as the producer-director of the sensuous art-house hit, "Like Water for Chocolate" (1992). Adapted by his former wife, Laura Esquivel, from her acclaimed novel, "Chocolate" went on to become the most successful film in Mexican history and received ten of 12 possible Ariel Awards (Mexico's Oscar equivalent). This success caught the attention of Hollywood and projects began coming his way.
Profession(s):
director, Actor, producer, screenwriter, dancer, mime
Sometimes Credited As:
Ariel Best Film "Like Water for Chocolate" 1992
Ariel Best Director "Like Water for Chocolate" 1992
2002 Helmed the three-hour A&E TV remake of "The Magnificent Ambersons", utilizing Orson Welles' screenplay adaptation; production edited as international theatrical release
2000 Directed the black comedy "Picking Up the Pieces", starring Woody Allen and Sharon Stone; film premiered on Cinemax in lieu of theatrical release
1995 Helmed the period romance "A Walk in the Clouds"
1992 Directed and produced the art-house hit "Like Water for Chocolate", adopted by his wife Lara Esquival from her novel
1974 Wrote, directed, produced and acted in "Calzonzin Inspector"
1969 Feature acting debut, Sam Peckinpah's "The Wild Bunch"
1967 Feature directing debut, "The Bearfoot Eagle"
Born and Raised in Mexico City, Mexico
Studied medicine before switching to dance and drama
Worked as a professional classical dancer
Toured for four years in a one-man pantomime show
