Raul Julia was an actor best known for his character, “Gomez Adams” in the films “The Addams Family” and “Addams Family Values” with Angelica Huston, Christopher Lloyd and Christina Ricci. Raul Julia was born Raul Rafael Carlos Julia y Arcelay on March 9, 1940 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Julia was one of four siblings. Julia’s mother was a singer while his father owned the restaurant known as “La Cueva del Chicken Inn”. The restaurant was so profitable that Julia attended the best schools. Julia spent a year at Fordham University and then attended the University of Puerto Rico.
In 1964, Julia moved to New York to seek a career in acting. Julia later studied drama with Wynn Handman and soon found work on the stage. The following year, Julia married Magda Vasallo. In 1969, Julia made his debut with the film, “Stiletto”. That same year, he starred in the television series, “Love of Life”. He also ended his four year marriage to Vasallo. In 1971, Julia starred in the films, “The Panic in Needle Park” with Al Pacino, “Been Down So Long It Looks Like Up to Me” and the thriller entitled “The Organization” with Sidney Poitier. Television movies followed such as “Death Scream” with Ed Asner, “The Gumball Rally” with Gary Busey and “Eyes of Laura Mars” with Faye Dunaway and Tommy Lee Jones. In 1976, Julia married actress, Merel Poloway and the marriage would produce two children. In 1979, Julia won the lead role in the film “Othello”. In 1982, more films followed including “The Escape Artist” with Teri Garr and Desi Arnaz and “Tempest” with Gena Rowlands, Susan Sarandon and Molly Ringwald. In 1985, Julia appeared in the film, “Kiss of the Spider Woman” with William Hurt. The film was nominated for four Academy Awards with one win. Later that year, Julia won the role of “Count Galeazzo Ciano” in the mini series, “Mussolini: The Untold Story” which was nominated for two Emmys. The next year, Julia starred in the film, “The Morning After” with Jane Fonda and Jeff Bridges. In 1988, Julia appeared in the film, “Tequila Sunrise” with Mel Gibson, Michelle Pfeiffer and Kurt Russell. Three years later, Julia starred in Barry Sonnenfeld’s “The Addams Family”. He followed it up with “Addams Family Values”. “The Burning Season” came for Julia in 1994. His performance would earn him an Emmy, Golden Globe as well as a Screen Actors Guild Award. Soon after, Julia would appear in the film, “Street Fighter” with Jean-Claude Van Damme. Julia’s last film was the television movie entitled “Down Came a Blackbird” with Laura Dern and Vanessa Redgrave.
In 1991, tests determined that Julia was suffering from stomach cancer though he continued on with his career. Two years later though, he became extremely ill due to the disease. On October 16, 1994, Raul Julia had a stroke and eventually went into a coma. A little over a week later, Julia passed away. He was 54 years old. Julia is currently buried at Buxeda Cemetery in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
