Q&A - Raymond Cruz (Tuco)
Raymond Cruz explains why his Breaking Bad character had to die, what he'd cook while hanging out in the desert and why he'll never forget playing Tuco in AMCtv.com's exclusive interview.
Q: How did you find out Tuco was going to die?
A: I asked them to kill me. Honestly, I wasn't looking forward to coming back and doing the part. [Laughs]. It's really difficult to pull off. They were like, "We want you to come back and do eight more episodes." And I said, "No. I'll do one more and that's it. You guys have to kill me." They're like, "We never heard of an actor that wanted to die." And I'm like, "You don't understand. This part's really hard."
Q: How did you feel about the way he went down?
A: I love how they did it. Some people are hard to kill. I think it would be really hard to kill this character if you just didn't do it violently and swiftly. The shootout was pretty big and it was a good direct hit. He was willing to face it and he knew it was coming.
Q: In Episode 2, we find out that Tuco cares about someone -- even as he's messing with Walt and Jesse.
A: Right! Dare I say love? For me, it's over. Checkmate. I'm gonna kill them. But I want to watch them squirm. I want to watch them suffer. And then I have to protect my relationship with my uncle who is very vulnerable. I make burritos, try to feed him and comfort him. And all of that is filtered through the gauze of a drug-induced paranoid. So yeah, it's really difficult.
Q: In your own life, do you like to cook?
A: Yeah. One of my favorite dishes to grill is a real thick pork chop. I use some of my mom's homemade green chile. I'll put it on a bed of lettuce with a grilled jalapeno or a small green chile, take it to the point just before it starts to cook completely through and I'll top it with my mom's chile and a couple slices of cheese. Man, it's the best thing ever. Then you cook a small can of chile con queso with tomato sauce and onions and cheese. Man, it's good. Am I making you hungry?
Q: Yes!
A: Growing up there were 5 kids and we were happy to take turns cooking dinner. I cook a really good breakfast too.
Q: Is there any part of Tuco that you'll take with you?
A: The thing that I take away from doing the part, honestly, is the experience of being able to test boundaries on television -- see how far you can push something. You think at any moment the director is going to pull you back and say, "Hey you can't go that far." But with this part, given the dictates of the character, it gave me free reign. I've never experienced anything like that on television before. The closest thing I could think of was when I did this movie, Training Day, with Denzel Washington. We did a scene in the house with a lot of energy, but still that was only for a brief moment. This was so sustained for a long period of time. I think I was very fortunate to have that earlier experience, to get an idea of how far you can go. You're testing your own physical and emotional mental limits.
Q: Did you sustain any injuries this season?
A: I almost broke my nose on the first episode. I wear these boxing gloves around my neck and they have weight to them. When we did the fight scene they swung up and hit me right in the face and broke off the chain -- that's how hard it hit me. I strained a tendon in my left arm from when I was carrying the guy at the beginning. The gun must have weighed about 190 pounds. I try to stay in the best physical shape that I can because I do most of my own stunts. It looks amazing if you can do it, but I don't advocate it because you always get injured.
Q: Did you get to keep the platinum grill?
A: They gave it to me. They encased it in Lucite and they gave me the grill as a parting gift. I have it on top of my mantle.
Q: So, you did take a part of Tuco with you.
A: Yeah. That and the strained tendon.
Raymond Cruz was an absolutely fantastic whack-job on BB - loved it. Have only seen him in The Closer, and a very creepy role in the first season of Nip/Tuck, but he's great! Hope to see more of him elsewhere; his paranoic Tuco gave me the heebie jeebies....
I love Tuco's laugh that's not really a laugh. More than once, probably because of the drugs, Tuco would laugh uproariously at something Walt said and I always found it startling. It wasn't a normal laugh, but it belonged to Tuco.
I think that's what I'll remember best.
Tuco's character was a great one...Raymond played it to the hilt...Bravo...Breaking Bad is one of the finest shows any where..Hands down...I hope it lasts for years...
Raymond Cruz deserves some sort of award for the way he played Tuco. It was chilling.
I never thought I would grow so attached to such a violent, psychotic character, lol, but Raymond Cruz nailed this part. He may have said the character was difficult to play, but he made it look easy as hell! Raymond, if you read this, bravo on the role of Tuco! You're now one of my favorite actors because of it! RIP Tuco!
definitely memorable.
Yes Tuco was one of the best characters on TV in a while.
His scenes were better then what I've seen on the Sopranos for instance.
Great work Raymond Cruz and hope to see you in a lot more stuff.
2 thumbs up!
bravo!
mr. cruz you made it look TOO easy.
I thought they said in a podcast (or whatever they call it) that they wanted him for about half the season but they had to do something different because of the schedule on The Closer. Raymond Cruz, if you read this, you did a great job as Tuco. .......RIP Tuco.......DING...DING...DING...DING
I'll never be able to hear one of those bells again without thinking of BB.
Raymond Cruz brought a very scary person in Tuco to the screen. Excelent job, unforgetable character. RIP Tuco, you scum.
Absolutely right about that damned bell.
DING... Haunting.
I couldn't believe that they're gonna kill off Tuco. It just doesn't make any sense. Then I figured out why. Tuco was stealing the show, and big time too! Not that the rest of the show isn't great cause it is. It's just that I don't remember a more convincing actor on TV for a very long time.
I could only imagine the difficulty of playing a role that insane, but it was incredibly well done. I was watching the most recent episode (2.2) with a friend who was unfamilar with BB, and we both jumped and got scared with Tuco's total freak out (stabbing the knife in the ceramic tile counters?). Amazing acting. Great work Raymond!
I saw Mr. Cruz in Training Day and remember him quite well in that movie. I don't think Breaking Bad would be the same without him. A perfect fit for the part. You never knew when he was going to explode and when he did. Watch Out. Good Luck to you Mr. Cruz and God Bless.
I have to say I wasn't very pleased that Raymond's part as Tuco came to an end. To me, Tuco was as big of a part as Aaron's and Bryan's. I have never seen such dedication and outstanding performance from a television actor as I did in Raymond's performance. In my opinion it kind of killed the thrill of the program. If ever Aaron Paul is to leave the show even though all have gave their best to make the show what it is today I would stop watching it. It surprises me that Raymond wanted out but it was his choice and he wouldn't be where he is today if not for the choices he has made in the past. To sum it up, thank you Raymond for giving us the best ever performance on a television program. This show I believe will boost your career tramendously...
I was surprised, too, that Raymond Cruz wanted his role to be short because it was so demanding. He definitely dominated any scene he was in as Tuco even when he wasn't being outrageously violent. What a villain! Jesse wasn't lying about Tuco's scariness factor. I'd get freaked out over the suspense of what he was going to do next. But, if Tuco is the mold for a drug kingpin, after Walt and Jesse's run-in with his like, they'll know what they're dealing with in the future.
Raymond Cruz had a small role in a continuing story arc on Nip/Tuck, and even then he stood out. Enjoy watching him, that's for sure.
Raymond Cruz, you have a very strong screen presence in this series; albeit short in duration. You will most certainly be remembered. I understand your point about the difficulty in playing the role of Tuco, with the sustained intensity.
Also, understanding that Season 1 was a sleeper and did not have the initial fan response that kept it under most people's radar, AMC ratcheted that aspect way up with the marathon replay of all the episodes and there you were in all your snarling glory!
I think 'Breaking Bad' has the propensity to become a cult classic, based on the comments/observations posted around the site. I hope you, Mr. Cruz - and all of the cast, are thrilled with the response to your roles.
One entry in particular, which insinuated that 'Breaking Bad' should never have been made as it glorified the drug trade - and meth expecially - due to the major problem this drug has been to this country. Which just goes to show you there are trolls everywhere who just don't get it.
I look forward to seeing more of your work in the future; you are one hell of an actor!
Raymond Cruz, OMG, why did you want to die? You are superb, fab, sensational...What else will you be in so I can watch. WOW, you are dynamic and mean as hell! I'm in love with your acting ability. XXXXXXXXXX kisses
Raymond Cruz, your acting is wonderful. Even though you played one of the craziest people on earth, I was more into your character than Walt or Jesse. I understand why you wanted your character killed off. It would be very hard to come back to normal after playing Tuco. Anyway, man you can act.
I was screaming at the top of my lungs when he died. I couldn't believe it. I've been here since the pilot aired and was excited to see him when he first appeared. I hated seeing him go. Scary dude. I know guys like that and he was dead on aim. Great job! Bravo!
I believe that one reason I'm finding myself constantly attracted to this series is it's willingness to introduce us to so many intensities and then forcing us to move on.
The treatment of topics such as one's mortality, hard drugs, mental & physical challenges, relationships (familiar or fringe) has been handled with rare skill and will definitely keep me tuning in.
Mr. Cruz, I salute you for your fine portrayal while also giving this series the opportunity to keep it's dysfunctional travels forward, backward and/or sideways.
No doubt, Tuco's uncle has a big plan to spring when we least expect them;)
Raymond Cruz! First Training Day. Now this. Awsome! Cant wait to see you in the future.