Jay Hernandez facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jay Hernandez
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Hernandez at the 2016 San Diego Comic-Con
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| Born |
Javier Manuel Hernandez
February 20, 1978 Montebello, California, U.S.
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| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1998–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Daniella Deutscher
(m. 2006) |
Javier Manuel "Jay" Hernandez (born February 20, 1978) is an American actor. He is known for playing the fiery superhero El Diablo in the movie Suicide Squad and the private investigator Thomas Magnum in the TV series Magnum P.I.
Hernandez began his career on the TV show Hang Time. He became more famous after starring with Kirsten Dunst in the movie Crazy/Beautiful. He has also appeared in popular films like Friday Night Lights (2004), the horror movie Hostel (2005), and the comedy Bad Moms (2016).
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Early Life and Discovery
Jay Hernandez was born in Montebello, California. His parents, Isis and Javier Sr., were originally from Michoacán, Mexico, making him a first-generation Mexican-American. His mother worked as a secretary, and his father was a mechanic. He has two older brothers and a younger sister.
A lucky moment changed his life. While riding an elevator in Los Angeles, a talent manager named Howard Tyner noticed him. Tyner believed Hernandez could be a successful actor in Hollywood. He helped Hernandez get into acting school and sent his photos to people who cast actors for movies and shows.
Acting Career
First Roles on TV and in Movies
From 1998 to 2000, Hernandez acted in the NBC TV series Hang Time, where he played Antonio Lopez. His big break in movies came in 2001 with Crazy/Beautiful, where he had a leading role. This movie helped him get parts in other major Hollywood films.
He later starred in movies like The Rookie (2002) and Friday Night Lights (2004), a popular film about a high school football team.
Major Film Roles
In 2005, Hernandez starred in the horror film Hostel as the main character, Paxton. He returned for a brief appearance in the sequel, Hostel: Part II, in 2007. He also played a Port Authority police officer in the movie World Trade Center (2006), which was about the September 11th attacks.
In 2016, he played two very different characters. He was Jessie Harkness in the comedy Bad Moms and the powerful, fire-controlling ex-gangster Chato Santana, also known as El Diablo, in the superhero movie Suicide Squad. He also had a voice role as Bonnie's dad in the animated movie Toy Story 4 (2019).
Return to Television
On February 20, 2018, Hernandez was chosen for the lead role of Thomas Magnum in the new version of the TV show Magnum P.I. The show ran for four seasons on CBS and was later picked up by NBC for two more seasons, ending in 2024. For his work on the show, he won an award in 2020 from the National Hispanic Media Coalition for his excellent performance.
Personal Life
In 2006, Hernandez married actress Daniella Deutscher. They had worked together on the TV show Hang Time.
See also
In Spanish: Jay Hernández para niños
