Raul Julia was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Olga Arcelay, a renowned mezzo-soprano singer, and Raúl Juliá, a distinguished electrical engineer. He received his primary education at Colegio San Ignacio de Loyola High School in San Juan, where he excelled in the rigorous classical curriculum offered by the Jesuits. Throughout his high school years, Julia was actively involved in student dramatics, showcasing his innate talent for the performing arts.
It was during his time at the nightclub in San Juan that Julia was discovered by actor Orson Bean, who encouraged him to pursue his passion for acting in the mainland. In 1964, Julia made the bold decision to relocate to Manhattan, New York City, where he quickly found work in off-Broadway productions, initially taking on small and supporting roles.
Julia's breakthrough on the stage came in 1966, when he began appearing in Shakespearean roles, earning critical acclaim for his performances as Edmund in "King Lear" in 1973 and Othello in 1979. His versatility as an actor was further showcased through his roles in musical productions, including one of the "Two Gentlemen of Verona" in 1971 and a chilling portrayal of Mack the Knife in "The Threepenny Opera" in 1976.
The stage successes paved the way for Julia's transition to the silver screen, where he established himself as a talented actor with a wide range of memorable roles. One of his most iconic performances was as a passionate political prisoner in "Kiss of the Spider Woman" (1985). Throughout his career, Julia continued to impress audiences with his dramatic heroes and villainous characters in numerous films and made-for-TV movies.
In his later years, Julia's health began to decline due to stomach cancer, which he had undergone surgery for in 1993. Despite his health issues, Julia remained committed to his craft, traveling to Mexico during the winter of 1993-1994 to play the role of Brazilian Amazon forest activist Chico Mendes in "The Burning Season: The Chico Mendes Story" (1994). His posthumous awards for this role included a Golden Globe and an Emmy Award.
Julia's final theatrical movie was "Street Fighter" (1994),in which he played the villainous General M. Bison, filmed shortly after "The Burning Season: The Chico Mendes Story" (1994). His last role was a supporting part in the made-for-TV movie "Down Came a Blackbird" (1995).
Tragically, Julia's life was cut short on October 24, 1994, at the age of 54, when he succumbed to a stroke in New York City. Thousands of fans and admirers gathered for his state funeral in Puerto Rico, where he was laid to rest. Prior to his burial, two honoring ceremonies were held at Colegio San Ignacio de Loyola High School and the Headquarters of the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture.
