Jimmy Smits Biography (1955?-)

Born July 9, 1955 (some sources say 1958), in Brooklyn, NY; married Barbara,1981 (divorced, 1987); companion of Wanda De Jesus (an actress) since c. 1986; children: (first marriage) Taina, Joaquin. Addresses: Manager: Brillstein-Gray Entertainment, 9150 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 350, Beverly Hills, CA 90212.; Agent: Creative Artists Agency, 9830 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA90212.; Publicist: Carol Marshal, PMK/HBH, 700 San Vincente Blvd., Suite G910, West Hollywood, CA 90069.

Nationality: American
Gender: Male
Occupation: Actor
Birth Details: July 9, 1955?; Brooklyn, New York, United States

Famous Works

CREDITS
Film Appearances
Julio Gonzales, Running Scared, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/United Artists, 1986
Stars team member, Hot Shot, 1986
Detective Joe Lopez (some sources cite Tom Lopez), The Believers,Orion, 1987
General Tomas Arroyo, Old Gringo (also known as Gringo viejo), Columbia, 1989
Dr. David Redding, Vital Signs, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1990
Walter Stone, Switch (also known as Blake Edwards' Switch),Warner Bros., 1991
Nestor, Fires Within (also known as Little Havana), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/United Artists Home Video, 1991
Justin Thorne, Gross Misconduct (also known as Gross Indecency), 1993
Jimmy Sanchez, My Family (also known as Mi familia, Cafecon leche, East L.A., and My Family, mi familia), New Line Cinema, 1995
Mike, Lesser Prophets (also known as The Last Bet), 1997
Geronimo, The Million Dollar Hotel, 1999
Agent John Travis, Bless the Child (also known as Die Prophezeiung), Paramount, 1999
Arturo Ortega, Price of Glory, New Line Cinema, 2000
Narrator, Adventures in Wild California (also known as MacGillivray Freeman's Adventures in Wild California), IMAX, 2000
Senator Bail Organa, Star Wars: Episode II--Attack of the Clones (also known as Attack of the Clones: The IMAX Experience, Star WarsII and Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones), Twentieth Century-Fox,2002
Title role, Angel, 2003
Television Appearances
Series
Your authorized conky repairman, a recurring role, Pee Wee's Playhouse, 1986
Victor Sifuentes, L.A. Law, NBC, 1986-1991
Detective Bobby Simone, NYPD Blue, ABC, 1993-1998
Representative Matthew Santos, The West Wing, NBC, 2004-
Movies
Second policeman, Rockabye, CBS, 1986
Bo Ziker, The Highwayman (also known as Terror on the Blacktop), NBC, 1987
Richard Braden, Dangerous Affection (also known as Hit and Run and Stamp of a Killer), NBC, 1987
Vincent Mora, Glitz, NBC, 1988
David Norwell, The Broken Cord, ABC, 1992
Title role, The Cisco Kid, TNT, 1994
King Solomon, Solomon and Sheba, Showtime, 1995
Actor (Martin), The Last Word (also known as Cosa Nostra: The Last Word), Showtime, 1995
Jack Coleman, Marshal Law (also known as Aftershock and Block Party), Showtime, 1996
Peter Walker, Murder in Mind, HBO, 1997
Ruben Santiago, Sr., Lackawanna Blues, HBO, 2004
Miniseries
James "Gard" Gardener, The Tommyknockers (also known as StephenKing's "The Tommyknockers"), ABC, 1993
Voice, The West, PBS, 1996
Specials
Narrator, The Other Side of the Border (documentary), PBS, 1987
The American Film Institute Salute to Gregory Peck (also known asThe 17th Annual American Film Institute Life Achievement Award: A Salute to Gregory Peck), NBC, 1989
Face to Face with Connie Chung, CBS, 1990
The "L.A. Law" 100th Episode Special, NBC, 1991
Host, All-Star Fiesta at Ford's, ABC, 1992
Concert of the Americas (also known as The Kennedy Center Presents), PBS, 1994
Host, Television's Greatest Performances, ABC, 1995
Latin Nights: An All-Star Celebration, ABC, 1995
Host, Songs of the Homeland, 1995
Up for the Golden Globes, NBC, 1996
CityKids All Star Celebration, ABC, 1996
Big Guns Talk: The Story of the Western, TNT, 1997
50 Years of Television: A Celebration of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Golden Anniversary, HBO, 1997

The 53rd Presidential Inaugural Gala, CBS, 1997
Narrator, Keeping America's Promise, Fox, 1997
Latino Laugh Festival, 1997
Voice of Old King Cole, Mother Goose: A Rappin' and Rhymin' Special, HBO, 1997
Narrator, Clemente, Fox Sports Network, 1998
Second Annual Latino Laugh Festival, Showtime, 1998
Saturday Night Live: The Best of Chris Farley, 1998
The Puerto Ricans: Our American Story, PBS, 1999
Interviewee, Tito Puente: The King of Latin Music, PBS, 2001
America: A Tribute to Heros, VH1, 2001
(Uncredited) Inside `NYPD Blue': A Decade on the Job, 2002
Commentary, TV Revolution (documentary), Bravo, 2004
Awards Presentations
The Golden Eagle Awards, syndicated, 1987
The 41st Annual Emmy Awards, Fox, 1989
The 47th Annual Golden Globe Awards, TBS, 1990
The 43rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, Fox, 1991
The 16th Annual CableACE Awards, TNT, 1995
The 47th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, Fox, 1995
Host, The NCLR Bravo Awards (also known as National Council ofLa Raza Bravo Awards), Fox, 1995
Cohost, The Newsweek American Achievement Awards, CBS, 1995
The Blockbuster Entertainment Awards, UPN, 1996
The Second Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards, NBC, 1996
The 1996 NCLR Bravo Awards, 1996
The 1997 Hispanic Heritage Awards, 1997
The 24th Annual American Music Awards, 1997
The 49th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, 1997
The 51st Annual Tony Awards, 1997
VH1 97 Fashion Awards, VH1, 1997
Host, ALMA Awards, 1998
The 1999 ALMA Awards, 1999
The 41st Annual Grammy Awards, 1999
The 51st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, 1999
Presenter, 5th Annual ALMA Awards, ABC, 2000
Presenter, The 42nd Annual Grammy Awards, CBS, 2000
Host, The 2000 ESPY Awards, ESPN, 2000
Host, The 1st Annual Latin Grammy Awards, CBS, 2000
The 2nd Annual Latin Grammy Awards, 2001
Presenter, Lifetime Presents: Disney's American Teacher Awards, Lifetime, 2001
Presenter, The 43rd Annual Grammy Awards, CBS, 2001
Host, The 3rd Annual Latin Grammy Awards, CBS, 2002
Presenter, The 29th Annual People's Choice Awards, CBS, 2003
Episodic
Hector Valdes, "In a Safe Place," Spenser: For Hire, 1986
"Mickey's 60th Birthday Special," The Magical World of Disney, NBC, 1988
Host, Saturday Night Live, 1990
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, 1990
Victor Sifuentes, "Potts Don't Fail Me," Cop Rock, 1990
Victor Sifuentes, "Steal It Again, Sam," L.A. Law, 1992
Victor Sifuentes, "Say Goodnight Gracie," L.A. Law, 1992
Voice, "Cinderella," Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child, HBO, 1995
Late Show with David Letterman, 1995, 1996, and 2000
The Rosie O'Donnell Show, syndicated, 1997 and 1998
The Howard Stern Show, E! Entertainment Television, 1999
The Howard Stern Radio Show, syndicated, 2000
Live with Regis and Kelly, ABC, 2003
The View, ABC, 2003
Himself, "Out of the Closet," TV Revolution, 2004
Himself, "Sex in the Box," TV Revolution, 2004
Himself, "Black & White & Living Color," TV Revolution, 2004
Himself, "Body Count," TV Revolution, 2004
Also appeared in All My Children, ABC; Another World; Guiding Light; and One Life to Live, ABC.
Pilots
Eddie Rivera, "Brother's Keeper," Miami Vice, NBC, 1984
Victor Sifuentes, L.A. Law, 1986
City of Dreams, NBC, 2004
Stage Appearances
Switzer and messenger, Hamlet, New York Shakespeare Festival, Public Theatre, New York City, 1982
Captain Lavour and Ben Caleb, Little Victories, American Place Theatre, New York City, 1983
Vincent and Vendor, Buck, American Place Theatre, 1983
Frenchie Villiers, The Ballad of Soapy Smith, New York ShakespeareFestival, Public Theatre, 1984
Title role, Othello, Colorado Shakespeare Festival, University ofColorado, Boulder, CO, 1984
Native Speech, Center Stage Theatre, Baltimore, MD, 1985
Death and the Maiden, Mark Taper Forum, Los Angeles, 1993
Orsino, Twelfth Night, Delacorte Theatre, New York City, 2002
Anna in the Tropics, Booth Theatre, New York City, 2003
Bendick, Much Ado about Nothing, Delacorte Theatre, 2004
Appeared as Lenny, Of Mice and Men; title role, Everyman; Eben, Desire under the Elms; and Ariano.

Further Reference

OTHER SOURCES

Periodicals

Entertainment Weekly, October 23, 1998, p. 56
People Weekly, September 2, 1996, p. 43; November 16, 1998, p. 124
Playboy, October, 1996, pp. 128-130
TV Guide, September 28, 2002, p. 30

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