Alfonso was born and raised in the vibrant city of Laredo, Texas, situated precisely on the US/Mexico border, where his formative years had a profound impact on his future endeavors.
He went on to pursue higher education, earning his Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) from the prestigious New York University (NYU) and subsequently his Master of Fine Arts (MFA) from the renowned American Film Institute (AFI).
Alfonso's professional journey began with an esteemed position as personal assistant to acclaimed filmmakers Martin Scorsese, Nora Ephron, Robert De Niro, and Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu. This invaluable experience served as a springboard for his future successes.
Throughout his career, Alfonso has demonstrated his versatility by directing second unit for an impressive array of industry giants, including Nora Ephron, Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, Martin Scorsese, Kevin Macdonald, Ryan Murphy, and Ben Affleck, whose Academy Award-winning film "Argo" showcased his exceptional skills.
His impressive portfolio includes directing critically acclaimed episodes of the popular television series "Glee" and "American Horror Story," as well as numerous national commercials for prominent brands such as T-Mobile and Chevrolet, featuring in the coveted Super Bowl.
Alfonso's outstanding work has been recognized with numerous awards and nominations, including an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Directing For a Miniseries for "American Horror Story: Coven," as well as for Outstanding Miniseries as Co-Executive Producer. Furthermore, he directed the pilot episode for Fox's "Red Band Society," which was subsequently picked up for a series.
In addition to his television work, Alfonso has also ventured into feature filmmaking, recently completing his second feature, "Me & Earl & the Dying Girl," for Indian Paintbrush. This poignant film received widespread acclaim, winning both the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award in the US Dramatic Competition at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival in 2015.
