Benicio del Toro Visits Prison Theater Group

Celebrities

July 9, 2009 by Tim Saunders

Actor Benicio del Toro made a surprise visit to a Puerto Rican prison on Monday, July 6, to offer encouragement to a theater group set up by convicts.

“I believe everyone needs a second chance,” del Toro told 30 inmates who take part in the theater group at Bayamon Regional Prison in San Juan. “I am here to help reaffirm that as long as there is life, you can still help society in some way, you can improve yourself.”

During his visit, he encouraged inmates to read as part of their rehabilitation.

“It’s a great thing to be able to share with an artist who is famous, who has been making movies in Hollywood,” said Carlos Baez Figueroa, 39, an inmate at the prison.

Lightbulb Liked this? Get future articles by RSS or email, or follow us on Twitter