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

Dexter

NYPD Blue

Sons of Anarchy

Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Saturday Night Live

The West Wing

The Late Late Show with James Corden

The View
All Movies (45)
- Andor: A Disney+ Day Special Look2022 · as Bail Organa (archive footage) (uncredited)
- In the Heights2021 · as Kevin Rosario
- The Tax Collector2020 · as The Wizard
- Raúl Juliá: The World’s a Stage2019 · as Self
- Who We Are Now2018 · as Carl
- Rogue One: A Star Wars Story2016 · as Bail Organa
- Mother and Child2009 · as Paco
- Backyard2009 · as Mickey Santos
- Roberto Clemente2008 · as Narrator
- The Jane Austen Book Club2007 · as Daniel
- ¡Yo soy Boricua, pa' que tú lo sepas!2006 · as Himself
- Shelter from the Storm: A Concert for the Gulf Coast2005 · as Self
- Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith2005 · as Senator Bail Organa
- Lackawanna Blues2005 · as Ruben Santiago Sr.
- The Bronze Screen: 100 Years of the Latino Image in American Cinema2002
- Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones2002 · as Senator Bail Organa
- America | A Tribute to Heroes2001 · as Self
- Bless the Child2000 · as Agent John Travis
- Price of Glory2000 · as Arturo Ortega
- Adventures in Wild California2000 · as Narrator
- The Million Dollar Hotel2000 · as Geronimo
- Lesser Prophets1997 · as Mike
- Mother Goose: A Rappin' and Rhymin' Special1997 · as Old King Cole (voice)
- Murder in Mind1997 · as Peter Walker
- Big Guns Talk: The Story of the Western1997 · as Self
- Marshal Law1996 · as Jack Coleman
- Animal Charm: Golden Digest1996 · as Himself (Archival Footage)
- My Family1995 · as Jimmy
- Solomon & Sheba1995 · as King Solomon
- The Cisco Kid1994 · as Cisco Kid
- Gross Misconduct1993 · as Justin Thorne
- The Broken Cord1992 · as David Norwell
- Fires Within1991 · as Nestor
- Switch1991 · as Walter Stone
- Vital Signs1990 · as Dr. David Redding
- Old Gringo1989 · as Gen. Tomas Arroyo
- Mickey's 60th Birthday1988 · as Victor Sifuentes
- Glitz1988 · as Vincent Marra
- Stamp of a Killer1987 · as Richard Braden
- The Believers1987 · as Tom Lopez
- Hotshot1987 · as Stars Team Member
- L.A. Law: Pilot1986 · as Victor Sifuentes
- Running Scared1986 · as Julio Gonzales
- Rockabye1986 · as 2nd Policeman
- Miami Vice: Brother's Keeper1984 · as Eddie Rivera
All TV Shows (44)
- Dexter: Resurrection2025 · as Miguel Prado
- East New York2022 · as Chief John Suarez
- Obi-Wan Kenobi2022 · as Senator Bail Organa
- Bluff City Law2019 · as Elijah Strait
- America's Untold Story2017 · as Self - Narrator
- 24: Legacy2017 · as Senator John Donovan
- The Get Down2016 · as Francisco 'Papa Fuerte' Cruz
- Full Frontal with Samantha Bee2016 · as Dr. Fauci
- The Late Late Show with James Corden2015 · as Self - Guest
- How to Get Away with Murder2014 · as Isaac Roa
- Brooklyn Nine-Nine2013 · as Victor Santiago
- Outlaw2010 · as Cyrus Garza
- Latin Music USA2009 · as Narrator
- Sons of Anarchy2008 · as Nero Padilla
- Cane2007 · as Alex Vega
- Dexter2006 · as Miguel Prado
- The Tony Danza Show2004 · as Self - Guest
- TV Revolution2004
- The Ellen DeGeneres Show2003 · as Self
- Latin Grammy Awards2000 · as Self
- The Early Show1999 · as Self
- The West Wing1999 · as Matthew Santos
- ALMA Awards1998
- The View1997 · as Self
- The West1996 · as Self
- The Rosie O'Donnell Show1996 · as Self - Guest
- Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child1995 · as Prince Felipe (voice)
- Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child1995 · as Old King Cole (voice)
- NYPD Blue1993 · as Bobby Simone
- The Tommyknockers1993 · as Jim 'Gard' Gardner
- The Tonight Show with Jay Leno1992
- Cop Rock1990 · as Victor Sifuentes (uncredited)
- LIVE with Kelly and Mark1988 · as Self - Guest
- The Highwayman1987 · as Bo Ziker
- L.A. Law1986 · as Victor Sifuentes
- Spenser: For Hire1985
- Miami Vice1984 · as Eddie Rivera
- A Capitol Fourth1980 · as Self
- Saturday Night Live1975 · as Self - Host
- Tony Awards1956 · as Self - Presenter
- The Oscars1953 · as Self
- Today1952 · as Self
- Golden Globe Awards1944 · as Self - Nominee
- Golden Globe Awards1944 · as Self - Audience Member