Freak is a solo performance written by and starring John Leguizamo that debuted on Broadway in 1998. In Freak, subtitled "A Semi-Demi-Quasi-Pseudo Autobiography (His Most Dangerous Work Yet)," Leguizamo tells his own coming-of-age story by portraying dozens of different characters—friends, relatives, neighbors, etc.—that he knew growing up in Queens. Freak was also released that same year as a live television special on HBO directed by Spike Lee.

Freak was a huge critical and commercial success, both on stage and as a television special. Well received by critics, Freak was nominated for the 1998 Tony Award for Best Play, with Leguizamo additionally nominated for the 1998 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play. The filmed version was similarly acclaimed: Freak was nominated for the 1999 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special, with John Leguizamo winning the 1999 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program.

This last award has historical significance: with his 1999 win for Freak, John Leguizamo became the first ever Latino(a) to win a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program in Emmy history.