Jimmy Smits
Jimmy Smits
Biography
Jimmy Smits is an American actor. Smits is perhaps best known for his roles as attorney Victor Sifuentes on the 1980s legal drama L.A. Law, as NYPD Detective Bobby Simone on the 1990s police drama NYPD Blue, and as U.S. Congressman Matt Santos on The West Wing. He is also notable for his portrayal of Bail Organa in the Star Wars franchise, and Miguel Prado in Dexter. Beginning in 1986, Smits played Victor Sifuentes in the first five seasons of the NBC television Steven Bochco legal drama L.A. Law, for which he was nominated for six Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, winning in 1990. In 1999, Smits received the HOLA Award for Excellence from the Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors (HOLA). He appeared in films including Switch (1991), My Family (1995), The Jane Austen Book Club (2007). Smits appeared as Senator Bail Organa of Alderaan in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002) and Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005), in which the character becomes Princess Leia's adoptive father. He reappeared as Bail Organa in the game Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (2008) and the spinoff movie Rogue One (2016). He later reprised the role for Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022). Smits played the role of Congressman Matt Santos of Houston, Texas, in the final two seasons of the NBC television drama The West Wing. In Dexter season 3, he played the role of Miguel Prado, an assistant district attorney who befriends the title character. He was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for the role. He portrayed the character Alex Vega in the CBS TV series Cane, which aired from September 25, 2007, to December 18, 2007, and was subsequently canceled by the network due to the 2007 Screen Writer's Guild strike. In the fall of 2010, he starred in NBC's short-lived series Outlaw, about a U.S. Supreme Court justice who leaves the bench to return to practicing law. From 2012 to 2014, he joined the main cast of Sons of Anarchy as Nero Padilla. He also portrayed Elijah Strait in the short-lived NBC drama series Bluff City Law. He starred in The Get Down, a musical drama television series which debuted in 2016 on Netflix. In 2021, He played Kevin Rosario in the musical film In the Heights. He stars as Chief John Suarez on the CBS police drama East New York.
Known For
Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Known Credits
92
Gender
Male
Birthday
1955-07-09 (69 years old)
Place of Birth
Brooklyn, New York, USA
Acting

2022

East New York as Chief John Suarez

2022

Obi-Wan Kenobi as Senator Bail Organa

2022

Andor: A Disney+ Day Special Look as Bail Organa (archive footage) (uncredited)

2021

In the Heights as Kevin Rosario

2020

The Tax Collector as The Wizard

2019

Bluff City Law as Elijah Strait

2018

Who We Are Now as Carl

2017

24: Legacy as Senator John Donovan

2017

America's Untold Story as Self - Narrator

2016

The Get Down as Francisco 'Papa Fuerte' Cruz

2016

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story as Bail Organa

2014

How to Get Away with Murder as Isaac Roa

2013

Brooklyn Nine-Nine as Victor Santiago

2010

Outlaw as Cyrus Garza

2009

Latin Music USA as Narrator

2009

Mother and Child as Paco

2009

Backyard as Mickey Santos

2008

Sons of Anarchy as Nero Padilla

2008

Roberto Clemente as Narrator

2007

Cane as Alex Vega

2006

Dexter as Miguel Prado

2005

Lackawanna Blues as Ruben Santiago Sr.

2004

The Tony Danza Show as Self - Guest

2004

TV Revolution as Not available

2000

Latin Grammy Awards as Self

2000

The Million Dollar Hotel as Geronimo

2000

Bless the Child as Agent John Travis

2000

Price of Glory as Arturo Ortega

1999

The West Wing as Matthew Santos

1999

The Early Show as Self

1998

ALMA Awards as Not available

1997

The View as Self

1997

Lesser Prophets as Mike

1997

Murder in Mind as Peter Walker

1997

Mother Goose: A Rappin' and Rhymin' Special as Old King Cole (voice)

1996

The Rosie O'Donnell Show as Self - Guest

1996

The West as Self

1996

Marshal Law as Jack Coleman

1996

Animal Charm: Golden Digest as Himself (Archival Footage)

1995

My Family as Jimmy

1995

Solomon & Sheba as King Solomon

1994

The Cisco Kid as Cisco Kid

1993

NYPD Blue as Bobby Simone

1993

The Tommyknockers as Jim 'Gard' Gardner

1993

Gross Misconduct as Justin Thorne

1992

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno as Not available

1992

The Broken Cord as David Norwell

1991

Switch as Walter Stone

1991

Fires Within as Nestor

1990

Cop Rock as Victor Sifuentes (uncredited)

1990

Vital Signs as Dr. David Redding

1989

Old Gringo as Gen. Tomas Arroyo

1988

LIVE with Kelly and Mark as Self - Guest

1988

Mickey's 60th Birthday as Victor Sifuentes

1988

Glitz as Vincent Marra

1987

The Highwayman as Bo Ziker

1987

The Believers as Tom Lopez

1987

Hotshot as Stars Team Member

1987

Stamp of a Killer as Richard Braden

1986

L.A. Law as Victor Sifuentes

1986

Running Scared as Julio Gonzales

1986

L.A. Law: Pilot as Victor Sifuentes

1986

Rockabye as 2nd Policeman

1985

Spenser: For Hire as Not available

1984

Miami Vice as Eddie Rivera

1984

Miami Vice: Brother's Keeper as Eddie Rivera

1980

A Capitol Fourth as Self

1975

Saturday Night Live as Self - Host

1956

Tony Awards as Self - Presenter

1953

The Oscars as Self

1952

Today as Self

1944

Golden Globe Awards as Self - Nominee

1944

Golden Globe Awards as Self - Audience Member

1944

Golden Globe Awards as Self - Winner
Crew

2019

Bluff City Law Producer

2010

Outlaw Producer

2007

Cane Producer