Leo Harlem

Info

Full Name: Leonardo González
Date of birth: November 16, 1962 (63 years old)
Location: Matarrosa del Sil, León
Country: Spain

Leo Harlem has been active for 12 years, participating in 22 movies that average a 5.6/10 score.

Videos eCartelera

Tráiler en VOSE de 'Harry Potter' T1

Biography

Leo Harlem didn't make his film debut until he was past fifty, and he'd spent more than a decade pulling pints before he ever told a joke on television. Born Leonardo González Feliz on 16 November 1962 in Matarrosa del Sil, a small village in the Bierzo area of León, he moved with his family to Valladolid at the age of seven. That's the city where he grew up and the one he's always been closely tied to.

He started degrees in architecture and then law, but didn't finish either. Instead he worked as a baker from the age of 16 until he was 28, and then spent another twelve years behind the counter of the Harlem, a bar in Valladolid that would later give him his stage name.

From the bar to the comedy stage

His break came almost by accident. Some friends filmed him and sent the tape to the auditions for 'El club de la comedia', the show that made monologue comedy popular on Spanish television. He reached the final of its third monologue contest in 2002, when he was nearly forty, and soon afterwards he left the bar behind and moved to Madrid to work in comedy.

His humour, built on everyday situations and a warm, clean tone that works for the whole family, clicked with audiences straight away. He became a familiar face on 'El club de la comedia', appeared on 'La hora de José Mota' and 'Zapeando' and gained a big following as a contributor to 'El Hormiguero', the show hosted by Pablo Motos.

Since 2018 he's had his own slot on the Onda Cero radio show 'Más de uno'. In 2020 he took over from Jorge Cadaval as host of 'El paisano' on La 1, spending 48 hours in small villages and then turning the experience into a monologue. On Movistar Plus+ he fronts 'Leo Talks', a solo show with no guests that reached its sixth season in 2026.

A late start in films

His first screen appearance was a cameo in 'Torrente 5' (2014), directed by Santiago Segura. Two years later Nacho G. Velilla cast him as Anselmo, the mayor in 'Villaviciosa de al lado' (2016).

His first leading role came in 'El mejor verano de mi vida' (2018), directed by Dani de la Orden. He played Curro, a kitchen robot salesman who promises his son an unforgettable holiday if he gets top marks. The comedy sold more than a million tickets in Spain and was one of the surprise hits of that summer.

Segura has called on him regularly ever since. Harlem plays Uncle Paco throughout the family comedy saga that began with 'Padre no hay más que uno' (2019) and continued with 'Padre no hay más que uno 2' (2020), 'Padre no hay más que uno 3' (2022), 'Father There Is Only One 4' (2024) and 'Father There Is Only One 5' (2025).

He also worked with Segura on '¡A todo tren! Destino Asturias' (2021) and 'Vacaciones de verano' (2023), and returned as Felipe in 'A todo tren 2' (2022), which was directed by Inés de León. In 2026 he popped up as a doorman in 'Torrente presidente'.

Along the way he played the title role in 'Superagente Makey' (2020) and turned up in comedies such as 'Perdiendo el este' (2019), 'Hasta que la boda nos separe' (2020), 'El refugio' (2021), 'Very Bald Trip' (2022) and 'Como Dios manda' (2023).

Uncle Trouble and recent releases

One of his biggest recent hits is 'La familia Benetón' (2024), known in English as Uncle Trouble and directed by Joaquín Mazón. Harlem is Toni, a single man in his fifties who avoids children at all costs until his sister dies and he's left in charge of her five adopted kids. With El Langui alongside him, it spent several weeks as the most successful Spanish film of 2024 at the box office.

A sequel, 'La familia Benetón +2', opened in April 2026. Before that he'd appeared in 'Coartadas' (2025), a romantic comedy starring Jaime Lorente. In September 2026 he was back in cinemas with 'Un plan perfecto', playing Rufus, a retired thief who helps a broke family rob the bank across the street, with Jordi Sánchez and Ernesto Sevilla.

Private life and stepping back

Harlem keeps his private life very private. He's been with his partner Nuria for more than thirty years; they met at university. They've never married ("we've been together so long it's like a domestic partnership," he's said) and they chose not to have children, partly because they both travel so much.

On 'El Hormiguero' he once revealed that he nearly died from an intoxication. He's never gone into what happened, only what it taught him: that what matters is getting there with energy, having had a good time and enjoyed yourself.

It was on the same show, in October 2025, that he announced he was leaving the stage: "I need to stop for a bit and get my health back." He said goodbye to touring with 'Hasta luego, Leo', five shows at the Gran Teatro CaixaBank Príncipe Pío in Madrid in December 2025, which were filmed for a Movistar Plus+ special. In January 2026 he collected the SGAE Miguel Gila Honorary Award for his career in comedy.

In October 2026 he'll be honoured at the Benalmádena International Film Festival. Meanwhile he's learning the electric guitar and has gone back to drawing and painting. Still, it's worth remembering what he called that last show: not goodbye, but see you later.