Shamus Beyale – Illustratör

In Ghetto Klown, John Leguizamo lays bare his early years, discovering acting and his career trajectory. He shares his childhood memories and the tribulations of balancing life with old friends from his lower-income neighborhood in Queens while trying to maintain a professional persona. He brings us onto the sets of TV series and major motion pictures opposite some of Hollywood’s biggest stars, such as Al Pacino, Patrick Swayze and Steven Seagal and with directors like Baz Lurhrman and Brian DePalma. And Leguizamo opens up about his loves and marriages, while addressing his recurring feelings of self-doubt and melancholy in a way that enlightens and still entertains. Originally staged on Broadway in 2011, Ghetto Klown won Leguizamo the Drama Desk Award and Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Outstanding Solo Performance. The show was later adapted into a highly rated HBO special in March 2014.Now, teaming up with Brooklyn-based artist and illustrator Christa Cassano, Leguizamo is sharing his life story as a vibrant, funny graphic novel memoir that is sure to reach a whole new audience.

This Eisner Award nominee, a graphic novel adaptation of the award-winning Broadway play Ghetto Klown, is a "hilarious Hollywood memoir" (Lin-Manuel Miranda, from his introduction) and "autobiographical dynamite” (Pulitzer Prize–winning author Junot Díaz).Tony Award winner John Leguizamo lays bare his life story in this graphic novel illustrated by artists Christa Cassano and Shamus Beyale.He shares memories of his early years as an actor on stage, on television, and in major motion pictures opposite some of Hollywood’s biggest stars—including Al Pacino, Patrick Swayze, and Steven Seagal—and working for directors Baz Luhrmann and Brian De Palma.Leguizamo also opens up about his loves and marriages, while addressing self-doubt and melancholy in a way that enlightens and entertains.“[John] is a pioneer in theater and comedy, not just for Latin people, but as much as any comic or playwright I’ve ever seen or read. No one makes me laugh louder than this man. We are better because of him.” —Sofía Vergara“The graphic novel of Ghetto Klown captures the infectious spirit of John Leguizamo’s live performances with the same surprising humor and cultural insight. These pages make John seem like the coolest super hero in New York.” —Jesse Eisenberg