Jimmy Smits Biography

Jimmy Smits, Actor
Born asJimmy L. Smits
Occup.Actor
FromUSA
SpouseBarbara Smits (1981-1987)
BornJuly 9, 1955
Brooklyn, New York, USA
Age68 years
Early Life and Education
Jimmy L. Smits was born upon July 9, 1955, in Brooklyn, New York, USA, to Cornelis Leendert Smits, a Dutch immigrant, and Emilina Pola, a Puerto Rican. Raised in a multicultural family, he grew up with a strong appreciation for both his Dutch and Puerto Rican heritages. Smits went to Thomas Jefferson High School in Brooklyn, where he was an active participant in the school's drama club.

After finishing high school, Jimmy attended Brooklyn College, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theater Arts in 1980. He didn't stop there; his love for acting and education led him to pursue a Master of Fine Arts degree in acting from Cornell University in 1982.

Profession Beginnings
Jimmy Smits started his acting career with small roles in popular television programs such as "Miami Vice" and "L.A. Law" throughout the 1980s. It wasn't up until 1986 when he got his first major break, being cast in the role of lawyer Victor Sifuentes on the legal drama "L.A. Law". His performance earned him an Emmy Award in 1990 and assisted move him to stardom.

Major Roles
Smits enjoyed a long and varied acting profession, starring in numerous television shows and movies. Some of his most noteworthy television roles consist of Detective Bobby Simone on the police drama "NYPD Blue" (1994-1998), President Matt Santos on the political drama "The West Wing" (2004-2006), and Nero Padilla on the bicycle rider gang drama "Sons of Anarchy" (2012-2014).

In addition to these iconic television functions, Smits has actually had an effective career in movie with notable functions in motion pictures like "My Family" (1995), "Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones" (2002), and "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith" (2005). He likewise appeared in films such as "Old Gringo" (1989), "Price of Glory" (2000), and "Mother and Child" (2009).

Phase Work
While Jimmy Smits is most widely understood for his deal with television and in movie, he has likewise taken pleasure in a successful career in live theater. Smits has actually showcased his skills on stages throughout the United States, consisting of Broadway in New York City. Some of his most notable phase efficiencies consist of playing Orsino in a 2002 production of Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night" at the Joseph Papp Public Theater and starring in a Broadway revival of "Anna in the Tropics", for which he received a Tony Award nomination in 2003.

Philanthropy and Activism
Beyond his outstanding acting profession, Jimmy Smits has actually been actively involved in numerous social and humanitarian causes. He is a co-founder of the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts (NHFA), an organization committed to promoting Hispanic skill in the entertainment industry and providing scholarships for Latino students thinking about pursuing careers in film, tv, and theater. Smits has also worked with various nonprofit companies such as Stand Up To Cancer and the Alliance for Lupus Research.

Personal Life
Jimmy Smits was wed to Barbara Smits from 1981 up until their divorce in 1987. They have two children together, a daughter named Taina (born in 1979) and a kid named Joaquin (born in 1983). Following his divorce, Smits began a long-term relationship with actress Wanda De Jesus in the late 1980s, and the couple is still together. Smits is understood for keeping his personal life relatively personal, focusing on his household, work, and humanitarian efforts.

Tradition
Throughout his profession, Jimmy Smits has actually left an enduring mark on the entertainment industry. His success as a versatile actor efficient in handling a wide variety of roles in tv, movie, and theater has actually established him as a highly regarded figure in the acting world. A trailblazer for Latino stars in Hollywood, Smits has paved the way for future generations of Latino skill while actively promoting variety and promoting a more inclusive entertainment industry through his work with the NHFA. Over his decades-long profession, Smits has not only entertained countless fans however also influenced numerous aspiring actors, making him a real legend in the world of home entertainment.

Our collection contains 16 quotes who is written / told by Jimmy.

Related authors: Thomas Jefferson (President), Lawrence Taylor (Athlete)

Filmography:
Source / external links:

16 Famous quotes by Jimmy Smits

Small: For minority actors, developing our own projects has to be the eventual path. We have a lot of stories
"For minority actors, developing our own projects has to be the eventual path. We have a lot of stories to tell and a really unique voice. But none of that is going to be heard as long as we're just the hired hands, acting"
Small: I am a firm believer in education and have worked very hard to tell young Latinos that they must go to
"I am a firm believer in education and have worked very hard to tell young Latinos that they must go to college and that, if possible, they should pursue an advanced degree. I am convinced that education is the great equalizer"
Small: Just give me a good role that allows me to hone my craft, and I am a pretty happy camper
"Just give me a good role that allows me to hone my craft, and I am a pretty happy camper"
Small: Its less about the physical training, in the end, than it is about the mental preparation: boxing is a
"It's less about the physical training, in the end, than it is about the mental preparation: boxing is a chess game. You have to be skilled enough and have trained hard enough to know how many different ways you can counterattack in any situation, at any moment"
Small: In my college years, I worked as a union labor organizer. I was just one of the many workers trying to
"In my college years, I worked as a union labor organizer. I was just one of the many workers trying to do my part to help the community"
Small: Im an actor. I love to act. Thats my job. Ill leave the politicking to others
"I'm an actor. I love to act. That's my job. I'll leave the politicking to others"
Small: Celebrity hits like a bomb
"Celebrity hits like a bomb"
Small: Ive been very lucky to work on a wide variety of projects, including two long-run and top-10 dramatic t
"I've been very lucky to work on a wide variety of projects, including two long-run and top-10 dramatic television shows. That is why it is so important to offer a helping hand to the next generation of young Latinos coming up behind me"
Small: There are no right and wrong ways to work in this business, but there are some basic common-sense pract
"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!"
Small: Theres something so familial and intimate between a boxer and his trainer
"There's something so familial and intimate between a boxer and his trainer"
Small: Ive been in California for about 15 years now. Youre always in your car and insulated. I miss New York
"I've been in California for about 15 years now. You're always in your car and insulated. I miss New York so much"
Small: I never thought television would or could be a long-term commitment
"I never thought television would or could be a long-term commitment"
Small: I like the gypsy aspect of this business
"I like the gypsy aspect of this business"
Small: If youre afraid to live your life in a glass bubble, how can you do what we do in this industry?
"If you're afraid to live your life in a glass bubble, how can you do what we do in this industry?"
Small: You have to find what makes you stable in the storm. Then, no matter whats happening round you, no matt
"You have to find what makes you stable in the storm. Then, no matter what's happening round you, no matter what the hype or the publicity, you can still manage to make leaps in your work as an artist"
Small: When we are out there selling a new picture, when did it become part of the deal that you have to sell
"When we are out there selling a new picture, when did it become part of the deal that you have to sell the family? To use the juicy part of your life to get attention? I'm not blaming the reporters. It's the system"