Vincent D’Onofrio is best remembered for his iconic role as the chubby, awkward Marine recruit Leonard in Stanley Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket. This role, however, came with a dramatic physical transformation that ultimately led to a shift in his career.

D’Onofrio, who turned 64 on June 30, 2023, noted that the role was a turning point in his life and career. He had to gain 70 to 80 pounds for the part, a dramatic weight increase that would remain the largest ever gained for a movie role. The transformation, while physically demanding, had a lasting impact on how the actor was perceived. His once-athletic build and curly hair were replaced by a hefty figure and a shaved head, leading to a significant shift in his interactions with the world.

The actor’s rise to fame didn’t happen overnight. Born in Brooklyn, D’Onofrio’s early years were filled with side jobs and theater performances. Before breaking into film, he worked as a nightclub bouncer, delivery man, and cab driver to support his dream of becoming an actor. He even worked as a bodyguard for Yul Brynner and Robert Plant. It wasn’t until his friend, actor Matthew Modine, urged him to send an audition tape to Stanley Kubrick that D’Onofrio’s career truly took off.

The role of Leonard in Full Metal Jacket required D’Onofrio to put on significant weight and adopt an entirely different persona. The physical transformation, paired with the intense nature of Kubrick’s boot-camp scenes, left a lasting impact on D’Onofrio, both mentally and physically. His portrayal of Leonard, the heavyset, dim-witted recruit, earned praise from critics, but also led to a shift in how people treated him. “People treat you differently when you’re that size,” D’Onofrio reflected, noting that he was often mistaken for his character and treated as if he were the bumbling, mentally challenged Marine recruit.

The role changed his life in many ways. D’Onofrio recalls women no longer showing interest in him. “Most of the time, I was looking at their backs as they ran away,” he said, sharing how his physical transformation led to a dramatic shift in his social life. People even used to talk to him twice, thinking he was stupid because of his character portrayal. It wasn’t until a year later, after the filming ended, that D’Onofrio lost the weight and returned to his more familiar, athletic appearance.

In the years following Full Metal Jacket, D’Onofrio built a career that spanned film and television. He became a household name for his roles in both TV series and movies. His role as Detective Robert Goren on Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001–2011) gained him widespread recognition, and he went on to appear in a variety of notable films, including Dying Young, The Break-Up, and Jurassic World. He even became a part of the Marvel universe, portraying Wilson Fisk (Kingpin) in Daredevil (2015–2018), a role that further solidified his standing as a versatile actor.

Reflecting on his success, D’Onofrio credits Stanley Kubrick for launching his career. “Stanley made my career, there’s no question about it,” D’Onofrio said, acknowledging that he has been able to star in over 50 films thanks to that pivotal role in Full Metal Jacket.

In his personal life, D’Onofrio faced challenges as well. The actor grew up in a family affected by his parents’ divorce, and he later found solace in a relationship with actress Greta Scacchi in the early 1990s. Together, they had a daughter, Leila George, who followed in her father’s footsteps and pursued an acting career. In 1997, D’Onofrio married Carin van der Donk, a Dutch model, and the couple had two children. However, their relationship went through difficulties, leading to a separation in the early 2000s. They later reconciled, and D’Onofrio welcomed a second son in 2008. In June 2023, D’Onofrio filed for divorce after 26 years of marriage.

More recently, D’Onofrio has continued to work in film, appearing alongside Sandra Bullock in The Unforgivable (2021) and starring in the upcoming comedy Dumb Money. Despite the significant changes in his appearance over the years, D’Onofrio’s performances continue to captivate audiences. Fans still remember him fondly for his unforgettable role in Full Metal Jacket, and his ongoing contributions to film and television demonstrate the actor’s enduring talent and versatility.