He earned early recognition for his performance as a metalhead in 1995 film The Day of the Beast (billed as a "satanic comedy"),[2] which won him the Goya Award for Best New Actor.

He then went on to direct films with a lighter tone, likewise churning domestic box-office hits with children comedies such as Father There Is Only One (and its two sequels) and The Kids Are Alright.

[6] After studying Arts at the Complutense University of Madrid,[7] he decided to pursue a career as a filmmaker and in 1989 he directed the short Relatos de medianoche with a budget of 7000 pesetas (around US$50).

Two years later, he starred in El día de la Bestia, from the same director and that role made him famous in Spain.

[21] He owns Amiguetes Entertainment company, he is associated with the theater in Estación del Norte in Madrid,[22] and has produced Promedio rojo (2004) (featuring Nicolás López)[23][24] and Aquí mando yo... y punto com.