January 21, 2022

Hello Fans,

Any Jimmy Smits fans out there? I hope so because Smits' is this week's Featured Celebrity! From L.A. Law and NYPD Blue to Sons of Anarchy and Star Wars, it's impossible not to enjoy this talented actor.

Let's see what he's been doing these days!

And don't forget to vote early and often! I added NEW celebs to our celebrity suggestions list very recently so be sure to go to Celebrity Suggestions check out who's in the running and VOTE or send in your suggestions. Vote UP or DOWN on all of the listed celebrities. And vote as many times as you want!

Take care,
Steve

P.S. Did you miss an issue? You can read every issue from the Gophercentral library of newsletters on our exhaustive archives page. Thousands of issues, all of your favorite publications in chronological order. You can Read AND Enjoy! Just click Gophercentral Archives

Questions? Comments? Email Steve

View Past Issues: Where Are They Now Archives

Jimmy Smits

Learn More About Jimmy Smits on Celebrity Nooz

BIRTH DATE: July 9, 1955 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

BIRTH NAME: Jimmy L. Smits

CLAIM TO FAME: Jimmy Smits is an American actor best known for playing attorney Victor Sifuentes on the 1980s legal drama L.A. Law, NYPD Detective Bobby Simone on the 1990s police drama NYPD Blue, and memorable recurring roles on The West Wing, Sons of Anarchy, and Dexter.

FAMILY LIFE: Smits was married to high school sweetheart, Barbara Smits, from 1981 until 1987. They have two children together, Taina and Joaquin. Since 1986, he has been in a relationship with actress Wanda De Jesus.

INFO: Smits's father, Cornelis Leendert Smits (1929-2015), was from Paramaribo, Suriname, and was of Dutch descent. Smits's mother, Emilina (1930-2015), was Puerto Rican, born in Peñuelas.

He and his two sisters, Yvonne and Diana.

At ten years old, he began living in Puerto Rico for a couple of years. Until then, he did not speak Spanish.

Smits was raised in a strict, devout Roman Catholic family. He identifies as Puerto Rican and frequently visits Puerto Rico.

Graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School.

Earned a bachelor's degree from Brooklyn College in 1980.

Received a MFA from Cornell University in 1982.

He's a regular stage performed at the Hangar Theatre, Public Theater's New York Shakespeare Festival, on Broadway, and at Steppenwolf Theatre Company.

Smits helped found the National Hispanic Foundation for the Artsy to advance the presence of Latinos in the media, telecommunications, and entertainment industries.

He's an advocate for diagnostic colorectal screening and has appeared in a public service commercial.

In 2010, he filmed a PSA for Detroit Non-Profit Cass Community Social Services and also served as the Honorary Chair of their 6th Annual "Catch the Fireworks With Cass" event.

TRIVIA: One of Smits's early roles was as Sonny Crockett's original partner on the first episode of Miami Vice in 1984, where he falls victim to a car bomb in the episode's first five minutes - SPOILER ALERT!

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 1991, he Was named as "King of Brooklyn" at the Welcome Back to Brooklyn Festival.

Turned down the offer to play a character named Flinn on NYPD Blue (1993). The character in question was later renamed Detective John Kelly, played by David Caruso. Ironically, after Caruso's departure from the series in 1994, Smits accepted the role of Detective Bobby Simone (Detective Kelly's successor).

He received several Emmy nominations for his performance on the series and was reunited with his former co-star Dennis Franz at the 2016 Emmy Awards presentation. He won the ALMA award twice.

Honored by the Congressional Award in Washington, D.C. with the 1997 Horizon Award. The Horizon Award is a special recognition from the Joint Leadership of the United States Congress and the Congressional Award Board of Directors. The Horizon Award is presented to individuals from the private sectors who have contributed to expanding opportunities for all Americans through their own personal contributions, and who have set exceptional examples for young people through their successes in life.

In 1999, Smits received the HOLA Award for Excellence from the Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors (HOLA).

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).

Smits played the role of Congressman Matt Santos of Houston, Texas, in the final two seasons of the NBC television drama The West Wing. His character eventually ran for and won the U.S. presidency.

In Dexter season 3, Smits played the role of Miguel Prado, an assistant district attorney who befriends the title character. Smits was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for the role.

Is a partner in "The Conga Room" club in Los Angeles, California with Jennifer Lopez, Paul Rodriguez and Brad Gluckstein as partners.

On June 4, 2021, he was awarded the 2,696th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW: In 2021, Smits played Kevin Rosario in the musical film In the Heights. Smits has always been a staple of television dramas and I think it won't be long until we see him on the screen again. I've always been a fans of his and look forward to his next project, whatever it may be.

CREDITS:

2021 In the Heights...Kevin Rosario

2020 The Tax Collector...The Wizard

2019 Bluff City Law (TV Series)...Elijah Strait
- Perfect Day (2019) ... Elijah Strait
- Ave Maria (2019) ... Elijah Strait
- Need to Know (2019) ... Elijah Strait
- American Epidemic (2019) ... Elijah Strait
- The All-American (2019) ... Elijah Strait
- When the Levee Breaks (2019) ... Elijah Strait
- Fire in a Crowded Theater (2019) ... Elijah Strait
- 25 Years to Life (2019) ... Elijah Strait
- You Don't Need a Weatherman (2019) ... Elijah Strait
- Pilot (2019) ... Elijah Strait
Show less

2018-2017 How to Get Away with Murder (TV Series)...Dr. Isaac Roa
- The Day Before He Died (2018) ... Dr. Isaac Roa
- Ask Him About Stella (2018) ... Dr. Isaac Roa
- He's a Bad Father (2018) ... Dr. Isaac Roa
- Everything We Did Was for Nothing (2018) ... Dr. Isaac Roa
- He's Dead (2018) ... Dr. Isaac Roa
- Live. Live. Live. (2017) ... Dr. Isaac Roa
- Nobody Roots for Goliath (2017) ... Dr. Isaac Roa
- Stay Strong, Mama (2017) ... Dr. Isaac Roa
- I Love Her (2017) ... Dr. Isaac Roa
- Was She Ever Good at Her Job? (2017) ... Dr. Isaac Roa
- It's for the Greater Good (2017) ... Dr. Isaac Roa
- I'm Not Her (2017) ... Dr. Isaac Roa
- I'm Going Away (2017) ... Dr. Isaac Roa

2016-2017 Brooklyn Nine-Nine (TV Series)...Victor Santiago
- Two Turkeys (2017) ... Victor Santiago
- Mr. Santiago (2016) ... Victor Santiago

2017 Who We Are Now...Carl

2016-2017 24: Legacy (TV Series)...John Donovan
- 11:00 p.m.-12:00 p.m. (2017) ... John Donovan
- 10:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m. (2017) ... John Donovan
- 9:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. (2017) ... John Donovan
- 8:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. (2017) ... John Donovan
- 7:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. (2017) ... John Donovan
- 6:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. (2017) ... John Donovan
- 5:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. (2017) ... John Donovan
- 4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. (2017) ... John Donovan
- 3:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. (2017) ... John Donovan
- 2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. (2017) ... John Donovan
- 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. (2017) ... John Donovan
- 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m. (2016) ... John Donovan

2016-2017 The Get Down (TV Series)...Francisco 'Papa Fuerte' Cruz
All 11 episodes

2016 Rogue One: A Star Wars Story...Bail Organa

2016 Gears of War 4 (Video Game)...Oscar Diaz (voice)

2012-2014 Sons of Anarchy (TV Series)...Nero Padilla
- Papa's Goods (2014) ... Nero Padilla
- Red Rose (2014) ... Nero Padilla
- Suits of Woe (2014) ... Nero Padilla
- Faith and Despondency (2014) ... Nero Padilla
- What a Piece of Work Is Man (2014) ... Nero Padilla
- The Separation of Crows (2014) ... Nero Padilla
- Greensleeves (2014) ... Nero Padilla
- Smoke 'em If You Got 'em (2014) ... Nero Padilla
- Some Strange Eruption (2014) ... Nero Padilla
- Poor Little Lambs (2014) ... Nero Padilla
- Playing with Monsters (2014) ... Nero Padilla
- Toil and Till (2014) ... Nero Padilla
- Black Widower (2014) ... Nero Padilla
- A Mother's Work (2013) ... Nero Padilla
- You Are My Sunshine (2013) ... Nero Padilla
- Aon Rud Persanta (2013) ... Nero Padilla
- Huang Wu (2013) ... Nero Padilla
- John 8:32 (2013) ... Nero Padilla
- Los Fantasmas (2013) ... Nero Padilla
- Sweet and Vaded (2013) ... Nero Padilla
- Salvage (2013) ... Nero Padilla
- The Mad King (2013) ... Nero Padilla
- Wolfsangel (2013) ... Nero Padilla
- Poenitentia (2013) ... Nero Padilla
- One One Six (2013) ... Nero Padilla
- Straw (2013) ... Nero Padilla
- J'ai Obtenu Cette (2012) ... Nero Padilla
- Darthy (2012) ... Nero Padilla
- To Thine Own Self (2012) ... Nero Padilla
- Andare Pescare (2012) ... Nero Padilla
- Ablation (2012) ... Nero Padilla
- Toad's Wild Ride (2012) ... Nero Padilla
- Small World (2012) ... Nero Padilla
- Orca Shrugged (2012) ... Nero Padilla
- Stolen Huffy (2012) ... Nero Padilla
- Laying Pipe (2012) ... Nero Padilla
- Authority Vested (2012) ... Nero Padilla
- Sovereign (2012) ... Nero Padilla

2010 Outlaw (TV Series)...Cyrus Garza
All 8 episodes

2009 Star Wars: The Force Unleashed - Ultimate Sith Edition (Video Game)...Bail Organa (voice)

2009 Mother and Child...Paco

2009 Backyard...Mickey Santos

2008 Dexter (TV Series)...ADA Miguel Prado
- Do You Take Dexter Morgan? (2008) ... ADA Miguel Prado
- I Had a Dream (2008) ... ADA Miguel Prado
- Go Your Own Way (2008) ... ADA Miguel Prado
- About Last Night (2008) ... ADA Miguel Prado
- The Damage a Man Can Do (2008) ... ADA Miguel Prado
- Easy as Pie (2008) ... ADA Miguel Prado
- Sí se puede (2008) ... ADA Miguel Prado
- Turning Biminese (2008) ... ADA Miguel Prado
- All in the Family (2008) ... ADA Miguel Prado
- The Lion Sleeps Tonight (2008) ... ADA Miguel Prado
- Finding Freebo (2008) ... ADA Miguel Prado
- Our Father (2008) ... ADA Miguel Prado

2008 Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (Video Game)...Bail Organa (voice)

2007 Cane (TV Series)...Alex Vega
All 13 episodes

2007 The Jane Austen Book Club...Daniel

2004-2006 The West Wing (TV Series)...Matthew Santos
- Tomorrow (2006) ... Matthew Santos
- Institutional Memory (2006) ... Matthew Santos
- The Last Hurrah (2006) ... Matthew Santos
- Transition (2006) ... Matthew Santos
- Requiem (2006) ... Matthew Santos
- Election Day: Part 2 (2006) ... Matthew Santos
- Election Day: Part 1 (2006) ... Matthew Santos
- Welcome to Wherever You Are (2006) ... Matthew Santos
- Two Weeks Out (2006) ... Matthew Santos
- The Cold (2006) ... Matthew Santos
- Duck and Cover (2006) ... Matthew Santos
- Internal Displacement (2006) ... Matthew Santos
- Running Mates (2006) ... Matthew Santos
- The Wedding (2005) ... Matthew Santos
- Undecideds (2005) ... Matthew Santos
- The Debate (2005) ... Matthew Santos
- The Al Smith Dinner (2005) ... Matthew Santos
- Here Today (2005) ... Matthew Santos
- Mr. Frost (2005) ... Matthew Santos
- Message of the Week (2005) ... Matthew Santos
- The Mommy Problem (2005) ... Matthew Santos
- The Ticket (2005) ... Matthew Santos
- 2162 Votes (2005) ... Matthew Santos
- Things Fall Apart (2005) ... Matthew Santos
- In God We Trust (2005) ... Matthew Santos
- Ninety Miles Away (2005) ... Matthew Santos (credit only)
- La Palabra (2005) ... Matthew Santos
- A Good Day (2005) ... Matthew Santos
- Drought Conditions (2005) ... Matthew Santos
- Freedonia (2005) ... Matthew Santos
- The Wake Up Call (2005) ... Matthew Santos (credit only)
- King Corn (2005) ... Matthew Santos
- Opposition Research (2005) ... Matthew Santos
- Faith-Based Initiative (2005) ... Matthew Santos
- Impact Winter (2004) ... Matthew Santos
- The Dover Test (2004) ... Matthew Santos
- Liftoff (2004) ... Matthew Santos

2005 Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith...Senator Bail Organa

2005 Lackawanna Blues (TV Movie)...Ruben Santiago Sr.

1994-2004 NYPD Blue (TV Series)...Det. Bobby Simone
90 episodes

2002 Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones...Senator Bail Organa

2000 Bless the Child...John Travis

2000 Price of Glory...Arturo Ortega

2000 The Million Dollar Hotel...Geronimo

1997 Lesser Prophets...Mike

1995-1997 Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child (TV Series)...Old King Cole / Prince Felipe
- Mother Goose (1997) ... Old King Cole (voice)
- Cinderella (1995) ... Prince Felipe (voice)

1997 Mother Goose: A Rappin' and Rhymin' Special (TV Movie)...Old King Cole (voice)

1997 Murder in Mind...Peter Walker

1996 Marshal Law (TV Movie)...Jack Coleman

1995 The Last Word...Actor (Martin)

1995 Solomon & Sheba (TV Movie)...King Solomon

1995 My Family...Jimmy

1994 The Cisco Kid (TV Movie)...Cisco Kid

1993 Gross Misconduct...Justin Thorne

1993 The Tommyknockers (TV Mini-Series)...Jim 'Gard' Gardner
- Part 2 (1993) ... Jim 'Gard' Gardner
- Part 1 (1993) ... Jim 'Gard' Gardner

1986-1992 L.A. Law (TV Series)...Victor Sifuentes
107 episodes

1992 The Broken Cord (TV Movie)...David Norwell

1991 Fires Within...Nestor

1991 Switch...Walter Stone

1990 Cop Rock (TV Series)...Victor Sifuentes
- Potts Don't Fail Me Now (1990) ... Victor Sifuentes (uncredited)

1990 Pee-wee's Playhouse (TV Series)...Johnny Wilson
- Conky's Breakdown (1990) ... Johnny Wilson

1990 Vital Signs...Dr. David Redding

1989 Old Gringo...Arroyo

1988 Glitz (TV Movie)...Vincent Marra

1988 Mickey's 60th Birthday (TV Movie)...Victor Sifuentes

1987 Stamp of a Killer (TV Movie)...Richard Braden

1987 The Highwayman (TV Series)...Bo Ziker
- The Highwayman (1987) ... Bo Ziker

1987 The Believers...Tom Lopez

1986 Hotshot...Stars Team Member

1986 Running Scared...Julio Gonzales

1986 Spenser: For Hire (TV Series)...Hector Valdes
- In a Safe Place (1986) ... Hector Valdes

1986 Rockabye (TV Movie)...2nd Policeman

1984 Miami Vice (TV Series)...Eddie Rivera
- Brother's Keeper (1984) ... Eddie Rivera

To see Then & Now pictures of Jimmy Smits, visit: Celebrity Nooz