Leguizamo Revisits Feud with Patrick Swayze, Reveals Letter-Based Reconciliation

John Leguizamo reflected on a decades-old feud with the late Patrick Swayze and disclosed they reconciled through correspondence, the actor told People magazine on September 19. In a candid interview, Leguizamo explained why their clash over creative differences “gave [him] PTSD” and how exchanging letters and publicist-mediated messages helped them bury the hatchet before Swayze’s passing.

Why It Matters Leguizamo’s remarks underscore the challenges Latino performers faced in early-1990s Hollywood and highlight his ongoing mission to champion more substantive roles for underrepresented artists.

Feud Revisited

During the conversation, Leguizamo recalled feeling demeaned by a heated on-set dispute with Swayze during the making of To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar (1995). He said the tension stemmed from their contrasting improvisational styles, adding, “It was like Jim Crow for Latino actors back then” when only caricature parts were offered.

Letters and Reconciliation

Leguizamo revealed he and Swayze never met in person to patch things up, instead opting to reconcile through letters and intermediaries.

• “We were never in the same location, so that was difficult,” Leguizamo said.
• “I’m a New Yorker and he was West Coast, but we did contact each other through letters and publicists-the polite way of doing it.”

Career Reflection and Upcoming Work

The actor also touched on how early typecasting fueled his advocacy for Latine representation in film and theatre. Leguizamo noted that while opportunities have improved, the pace of change remains slow. He’s currently starring in The Other Americans at New York’s Public Theater, a drama exploring identity and resilience in a Colombian-American family.