Jimmy Smits Biography
Born as | Jimmy L. Smits |
Occup. | Actor |
From | USA |
Spouse | Barbara Smits (1981-1987) |
Born | July 9, 1955 Brooklyn, New York, USA |
Age | 69 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:
- 1986 L.A. Law: Pilot
- 1986 Rockabye (Drama)
- 1986 Running Scared (Action, Comedy, Crime)
- 1987 The Believers (Crime, Drama, Horror, Mystery, Thriller)
- 1987 Stamp of a Killer (TV Movie, Thriller)
- 1988 Glitz (Thriller, Action, Crime, TV Movie)
- 1989 Old Gringo (Action, Drama, Romance)
- 1990 Vital Signs (Drama, Romance)
- 1991 Fires Within (Thriller, Drama)
- 1991 Switch (Fantasy, Comedy)
- 1992 The Broken Cord (Drama, TV Movie)
- 1993 Gross Misconduct (Thriller, Drama)
- 1994 The Cisco Kid (Comedy, Western)
- 1995 My Family (Comedy, Drama)
- 1995 Solomon & Sheba (Drama, Romance)
- 1996 Animal Charm: Golden Digest (Documentary)
- 1996 Marshal Law (Action, Drama, Thriller)
- 1997 Lesser Prophets (Drama, Crime)
- 1997 Murder in Mind (Thriller)
- 1997 Mother Goose: A Rappin' and Rhymin' Special (Animation, Music)
- 2000 Bless the Child (Drama, Horror, Thriller, Crime)
- 2000 Adventures in Wild California (Documentary)
- 2000 Price of Glory (Drama)
- 2000 The Million Dollar Hotel (Drama, Thriller)
- 2002 Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (Adventure, Action, Science Fiction)
- 2005 Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (Adventure, Action, Science Fiction)
- 2005 Lackawanna Blues (Drama, TV Movie)
- 2006 ¡Yo soy Boricua, pa' que tú lo sepas! (Documentary)
- 2007 The Jane Austen Book Club (Comedy, Romance)
- 2008 Roberto Clemente (Documentary)
- 2009 Mother and Child (Drama, Romance)
- 2009 Backyard (Thriller, Crime, Drama, Mystery)
- 2016 Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (Action, Adventure, Science Fiction)
- 2018 Who We Are Now (Drama)
- 2021 In the Heights (Drama, Music, Romance)
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