Biografía

16 de junio de 1970 · Los Ángeles, California, Estados Unidos

Clifton Craig Collins Jr.

1.77 m

Of German, Spanish and Mexican ancestry, Collins and his sister, Veronica Collins Rooney, are extremely proud of their grandfather, actor Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez, often a victim of Latino stereotyping in 1950s/1960s John Wayne westerns and sitcoms. In tribute, Clifton changed his professional name to Clifton Gonzalez-Gonzalez in 1990, claiming that he was tired of people not knowing his grandfather or appreciating the significance of his ordeal. He reverted back to the name of Collins in 2000 after the death of his father.

Son-in-law of Clint Eastwood and Frances Fisher.

As of 2022, has appeared in four films that were nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: Tráfico (2000), Truman Capote (2005), Babel (2006) and El callejón de las almas perdidas (2021).

Directed music videos for Zac Brown Band and Jamey Johnson.

Enjoys snowboarding and country music.

I almost got to do Rescatando al soldado Ryan (1998), playing a German. I learned a German monologue in two days. I worked with Marco Hofschneider from Europa Europa (1990). We taped it and I went over it about a hundred times. It got down to me and Jeremy Davies. Even though it didn't work out, I know he's [Steven Spielberg] got his eye on me now so that's kind of cool.

I'm a big fan of Gary Oldman - Sid y Nancy (1986), Drácula (1992), Mi amor inmortal (1994) - I've watched every film he's ever done. I'd also love to work with some of the old school greats like Mike Nichols and Steven Spielberg. And I think Gus Van Sant is totally cool.

[on auditioning] I'm so busy trying to be other people. You start acting just as soon as you walk into the door of that casting office. You can't just be yourself because they don't want to hire you. I am not a killer. I don't beat my mother. I don't do these things, but you have to walk in there and be these things because they don't want to hire somebody who "pretends to be gay" or "pretends to be a gang member".

I try to keep a nice balance of different types of characters. [I don't want to do] too many Anglo roles or too many Mexican roles or too many bad guy roles or too many good guy roles. I've got to really keep it balanced so I can have the freedom to choose and go after the roles that I want without being held back by what they remember me from my past performances.