He was born in Puerto Rico 1959. Calderon moved to New York with his family at the age of six, where he grew up on the streets of the Lower East Side and Spanish Harlem. Following some time in college, he enlisted in the United States Army and served overseas as an infantryman. Returning to the States, Calderon set his sights on an acting career. Starting out on the New York stage, he won an Obie Award for his performance in Blade to the Heat at the Public Theatre. His most notable Broadway role was opposite Robert De Niro in Cuba and His Teddy Bear. Calderon also appeared off-Broadway in such plays as Requiem For A Heavyweight and Divine Horsemen, and played Achilles in the New York Shakespeare Festival’s production of Troilus and Cressida in Central Park. He is a founding member of the Touchstone Theatre, the American Folk Theatre and the Labyrinth Theatre Company.
Calderon was originally slated to portray the role of Jules Winnfield in Pulp Fiction; Samuel L. Jackson was subsequently given the role.
Correction Samuel Jackson told Tarantino he had messed up by not casting him in Reservoir Dogs. Tarantino agreed and told him he was writing a script and had a character that he had written specifically with Jackson in mind. Calderon had a better initial reading than Jackson and Tarantino gave serious consideration to casting him as Jules Winnfield.
Calderon portrays Paul the bartender in dialogue scene between Butch Coolidge and Marsellus Wallace.
Calderon also co-wrote Abel Ferrara's 1992 crime drama Bad Lieutenant, starring Harvey Keitel.
Calderon acted in The Last Castle and the critically acclaimed independent feature Girlfight. His more than three dozen film credits also include Out of Sight, Cop Land, Four Rooms, Pulp Fiction, Bad Lieutenant, The Firm, The Addiction, Q & A, Sea of Love, Clockers and King of New York. In addition, he has made numerous guest appearances on television series, including recurring roles on Dream Street, Law & Order and Miami Vice.
In 2010, Calderon is set to star as The Businessman in Sanzhar Sultanov's crime drama - The Story.
2023
as Raymond Cruz
2022
as Father Frank Suarez
2021
as Self (archive footage)
2016
as Older Risto Rivas
2016
as Walt Whitman
2015
as Drill Instructor
2015
as Alejandro Núñez
2015
as Det. Santiago 'Jimmy' Robertson
2014
as Robert Mackey
2014
as Pierre
2014
as Detective Jenkins
2013
as Profesor Lopez
2013
as Cuenta
2013
as Manuel Esteban
2012
as Zuniga
2010
as Hughie Luke
2010
as Lieutenant Perez
2010
as Father
2009
2009
as Oscar Perez
2009
as Carl
2009
as Manny Trillo
2008
as Blue
2007
as Detective at Prison
2006
as Deputy Director Cortes
2005
as Detective
2003
as Brown
2003
as Carlos DeJesus
2001
as Dellwo
2001
as Marcus Feingold
2001
as Jojo Rios
2001
as Danny Martinez
2001
as Ralph
2001
as Guy
2000
as Manny Rivera
2000
as Sandro Guzman
2000
as Cop (uncredited)
1999
as Jesse
1999
as Bobby's father
1999
as Eric Molina
1998
as Sgt. Diaz
1998
as Raymond Cruz
1998
as Carl
1998
as Boulez
1997
as Detective Rosario
1997
as Hector - Medic
1996
as Vance Pickett
1995
as Norman
1995
as Angel Delgado
1995
as Professor
1995
as Jesus at Hambones
1995
as Ray
1994
as Landwick
1994
as Paul
1994
as Emilio Vasquez
1993
as Thomas Richie
1992
as Cop #1
1992
as Blacky
1992
as Garcia
1990
as Father Torres
1990
as Rodriguez
1990
as Jesse Castillo
1990
as Defense Attorney Palmieri
1990
as Kenneth Silva
1990
as Joey Dalesio
1990
as Roger Montalvo
1989
as Juan
1989
as Serafino
1988
as Pizza
1988
as Speed
1987
as Dealer
1986
as Tito
1985
as Bitong
1985
as Hector
1985
as Rat Heart
1985
as Chacon
1984
1984
as Nicky
as Director
as President