Discipline, teamwork, commitment, and a sense of belonging are often forged on the court or the field before they’re carried into other parts of life. Few stories capture that journey as clearly as that of Puerto Rican actor Benicio del Toro, who still credits basketball with giving him the foundation he needed long before Hollywood came calling.
As a kid growing up in San Juan, Del Toro dreamed of becoming a professional basketball player. The game consumed him, teaching lessons that extended far beyond the scoreboard. At the YMCA, punctuality was his first discipline; arriving on time for practice and games wasn’t optional, it was everything. That habit, he recalls, became the seed of a work ethic that would later fuel his acting career.
His basketball dream shifted, but the mindset stayed the same. “To be an athlete, you have to stay focused and keep grinding all the time. In what I do now, I understand that lesson thanks to sports,” he said during his recent visit to Puerto Rico. “In sports, you have to be like that too, so I believe sports are cousins of the arts.”
Carrying Millo Romero’s Legacy Forward
Del Toro’s visit home was purposeful. As the official ambassador of the Millo Romero Foundation, the Oscar-winning actor continues the legacy of Emilio “Millo” Romero, a legendary Puerto Rican coach who mentored generations of young athletes, including Del Toro.
Speaking from the gym at Academia del Perpetuo Socorro in Miramar, he emphasized how essential it is to give opportunities to the youth of Puerto Rico, especially those from underprivileged backgrounds.
“I also had help when I decided to be an actor in Los Angeles,” he explained. “I was given a scholarship at a school called Stella Adler, and without that scholarship, I wouldn’t be here today. So I understand the purpose of helping those kids who already have dreams. It’s important to support them—whether they want to be athletes, or maybe eventually show talent in something else, like literature or music.”
Through its scholarship program, the Millo Romero Foundation already offers young athletes academic and athletic support, but Del Toro revealed that the organization is determined to grow its reach and impact even more in the years ahead.
Basketball Meets Hollywood
Even while talking about his new movie, Del Toro couldn’t resist comparing filmmaking to the sport that shaped him. Ahead of the Puerto Rico premiere of "One Battle After Another," co-starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Sean Penn, he shared what it was like to finally work side by side with DiCaprio.
“The experience was fantastic. DiCaprio and I have been friends for a long time. This is the first time we’ve worked together, but we’ve been friends for years. He shares the ball, he’s not selfish. I’ve admired him for decades, and it’s an honor and a pleasure to work with him.”
Del Toro sees no difference between running plays on the court and working on set. “In basketball, as in other team sports, it’s very similar to filmmaking. A team needs a focus—a goal and a direction. You need to know your role, and I need to know mine. In a movie, it’s the same. My role changes in every project, but you have to understand that many things can’t be achieved alone. Cinema is a lot like sports—you have to do it together.”
Giving Back Through Film and Philanthropy
Del Toro’s passion for teamwork will shine both on screen and off this week. Tomorrow, September 26, his new film debuts in the United States, while tonight he’ll host the Dream Ambassadors Cocktail at the Sheraton Convention Center in Puerto Rico. The benefit will raise funds for the Millo Romero Foundation, ensuring that more young athletes on the island get the opportunities they deserve.
By combining his Hollywood platform with his love for basketball and his roots in Puerto Rico, he’s proving that discipline and teamwork can lead to something far greater than winning a game; they can transform communities.