Jimmy Smits

Jimmy Smits

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.

Acting

2025

2022

East New York

Chief John Suarez

2022

Andor: A Disney+ Day Special Look

Bail Organa (archive footage) (uncredited)

2022

Obi-Wan Kenobi

Senator Bail Organa

2021

In the Heights

Kevin Rosario

2020

2019

Bluff City Law

Elijah Strait

2019

2018

2017

24: Legacy

Senator John Donovan

2016

2016

The Get Down

Francisco 'Papa Fuerte' Cruz

2016

2015

2014

2013

Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Victor Santiago

2010

Outlaw

Cyrus Garza

2009

2009

Backyard

Mickey Santos

2008

Sons of Anarchy

Nero Padilla

2007

2006

Dexter

Miguel Prado

2005

2005

2005

Lackawanna Blues

Ruben Santiago Sr.

2004

2004

2003

2002

2001

2000

Bless the Child

Agent John Travis

2000

Price of Glory

Arturo Ortega

2000

1999

1999

The West Wing

Matthew Santos

1997

1997

1997

Murder in Mind

Peter Walker

1997

1996

1996

1995

1995

1995

1994

The Cisco Kid

Cisco Kid

1993

NYPD Blue

Bobby Simone

1993

Gross Misconduct

Justin Thorne

1993

The Tommyknockers

Jim 'Gard' Gardner

1992

1991

1991

Switch

Walter Stone

1990

Cop Rock

Victor Sifuentes (uncredited)

1990

Vital Signs

Dr. David Redding

1989

Old Gringo

Gen. Tomas Arroyo

1988

Glitz

Vincent Marra

1988

1987

1987

The Believers

Tom Lopez

1986

L.A. Law

Victor Sifuentes

1986

Running Scared

Julio Gonzales

1985

1984

Miami Vice

Eddie Rivera

1984

1975

1956

Tony Awards

Self - Presenter

1953

1952

Today

Self

1944

Golden Globe Awards

Self - Audience Member

1944

Golden Globe Awards

Self - Nominee

Production

2019

2010

Outlaw

Producer

Infos

Full Name
Jimmy Smits
Gender
Male
Date of Birth
7/9/1955
Also Known As

Jimmy L. Smits