Jimmy Smits

Jimmy Smits

Born 1955-07-09 (age 70) Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
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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.

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Known For

Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

2016

as Bail Organa

Running Scared
Running Scared

1986

as Julio Gonzales

In the Heights
In the Heights

2021

as Kevin Rosario

The Tax Collector
The Tax Collector

2020

as The Wizard

Vital Signs
Vital Signs

1990

as Dr. David Redding

Switch
Switch

1991

as Walter Stone

America | A Tribute to Heroes
The Million Dollar Hotel
Bless the Child
Bless the Child

2000

as Agent John Travis

My Family
My Family

1995

as Jimmy

The Believers
The Believers

1987

as Tom Lopez

The Jane Austen Book Club
Mother and Child
Mother and Child

2009

as Paco

Old Gringo
Old Gringo

1989

as Gen. Tomas Arroyo

Lesser Prophets
Lesser Prophets

1997

as Mike

Lackawanna Blues
Lackawanna Blues

2005

as Ruben Santiago Sr.

Backyard
Backyard

2009

as Mickey Santos

Solomon & Sheba
Solomon & Sheba

1995

as King Solomon