Rising star and burgeoning teen idol Legendproudly carries the name of his deceased father, the Latino star of the popular 1970s sitcom "Chico and the Man". Only ten months old at the time of his father's tragic suicide, Prinze counts among his legacy more that just the comedian's dark good looks and palatable screen presence. He has made a point both to stay away from the fast Hollywood lifestyle and to be open-hearted with his loved ones, remaining remarkably grounded and free of pretense,
Raised in suburban New Mexico, Prinze, by all reports, experienced an average childhood. After graduating from high school, faced with his family's increasing financial hardships and noting the limitations on his future if he remained in his hometown, he chose to pursue a career in show business. Settling in L.A. to study acting, with little more than a dream and a healthy ambition, the reed-thin, darkly handsome Prinze quickly landed his first job: a four line role on a 1994 episode of ABC's sitcom "Family Matters" playing a character named simply Tough Guy. His initial breakthrough as well as first lead came with "Too Soon For Jeff". a 1996 "ABC Afterschool Special", in which the young actor portrayed a high-school senior faced with the responsibility of a pregnant girlfriend (Jessica Alba). That same year, Prinze made his film debut in the relatively small role of Claire Danes' boyfriend in "To Gillian On Her 37th Birthday", proving to be an engaging presence with a pleasant, easygoing screen manner. "Detention: Siege at Johnson High" (ABC, 1997) cast Prinze as a misfit student turned hero in this high school hostage drama starring Rick Schroeder. He followed that compelling performance with an endearing turn as the awkward, none-too-bright brother to Parker Posey's highly eccentric Jackie-O in the sharp indie "The House of Yes" and his first entry into the teen thriller genre, playing Ray Bronson in the successful "I Know What You Did Last Summer" (both 1997). He would later cement his teen idol status, reprising his role in the following year's "I Still Know What You Did Last Summer". Playing the token poor kid in the largely unremarkable horror series, Prinze gave decent performances in both films, but his talent seemed wasted. 1998 saw him play a very different role in "VIG" (aired on Cinemax), as Tony, an up and coming wise guy, which allowed him to stretch his acting muscles in a charismatic, over-the-top role. While the actor also played a bad boy in the 1997 indie "Sparkler", his "VIG" performance seemed more inspired, perhaps due to his pairing with legend Peter Falk. In "She's All That", a chart-topping 1999 teen film, audiences saw Prinze capably take the lead. Playing golden boy Zack Siler, the ascendant star handled the character's sensitive and scared side as well as his egotistical big man on campus persona, making him honestly likable and sympathetic. Starring opposite Rachael Leigh Cook, Prinze proved to be a solid leading man, and avoided being upstaged by the zany supporting performances of Matthew Lillard and Jodi Lyn O'Keefe. Prinze followed with a stint as an action hero in 1999's "Wing Commander", a sci-fi adventure based on the popular computer game, which also featured Lillard. Having tackled an array of roles and genres in his young career, Prinze seemed to be well on his way to a long and prosperous career.
In 2002, Prinze co-starred with his then girlfriend, Sarah Michelle Geller for summer flicks "Scooby Doo", the Hanna and Barbera cartoon turned summer comedy feature
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