"There are no right and wrong ways to work in this business, but there are some basic common-sense practices. Work very, very hard and always be prepared; never give up; and once you get the job, give them more than they ever expected: - Shine!"
Jimmy Smits (born July 9, 1955 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American actor. He has Dutch Surinamese and Puerto Rican ancestry.
On television, he is best known for playing attorney Victor Sifuentes on The '80s legal drama L.A. Law, NYPD Detective Bobby Simone on the acclaimed police drama NYPD Blue, Matt Santos on the Aaron Sorkin's revered serial political drama The West Wing, ADA Miguel Prado in Dexter, and Nero Padilla in Sons of Anarchy.
On the big screen, he is best known for his role as Bail Organa (Princess Leia's adoptive father) in Star Wars since Attack of the Clones.
Smits has been with actress Wanda De Jesus since 1986. He has two children with his ex-wife Barbara Smits.
Filmography
Film
- Running Scared
- The Believers
- Switch
- Bless the Child
- Star Wars
- The Jane Austen Book Club
- Mother and Child
- In the Heights
Television
- Miami Vice
- L.A. Law
- Pee-wee's Playhouse
- Cop Rock
- The Tommy Knockers
- The Cisco Kid
- NYPD Blue
- Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
- The West Wing
- Cane
- Dexter
- Outlaw
- Sons of Anarchy
- The Get Down
- Brooklyn Nine-Nine
- 24: Legacy
- How to Get Away with Murder
- Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi
- East New York
Theater
Associated Tropes:
- Brooklyn Rage: He was born and raised in Brooklyn, while some of his characters show an explosive temper.
- Plays Great Ethnics: He is of Surinamese and Puerto Rican descent, and his dark complexion has allowed him to play several characters with varying backgrounds.
- Shakespearian Actors: He has appeared on Hamlet, Othello, Twelfth Night and Much A Do About Nothing and is a noteworthy actor.
- Star-Making Role: After being a noteworthy character actor for at least a decade, Smits' breakout role came when he played Detective Bobby Simone in NYPD Blue from 1994 to 1998 (and returned in 2004). This role won him the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Television Drama in 1996 and earned him several other award nominations.
- Tall, Dark, and Handsome: He's 6'3, dark-haired and good-looking.
- Typecasting: He frequently finds himself (and is best known for) playing government officials; this includes having played a presidential candidate twice.
