Jimmy Smits facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jimmy Smits
Smits at the 2016 San Diego Comic-Con
Born	Jimmy L. Smits (1955-07-09) July 9, 1955 (age 70) New York City, U.S.
Education	Brooklyn College (BA) Cornell University (MFA)
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1984–present
Known for	LA Law NYPD Blue Star Wars Dexter Sons of Anarchy The West Wing East New York
Spouse(s)	Barbara Smits ​ ​ (m. 1981; div. 1987)​
Partner(s)	Wanda De Jesus (1986–present)
Children	2

Jimmy L. Smits (born July 9, 1955) is an American actor famous for his roles in television and movies. You might know him as Senator Bail Organa, Princess Leia's adoptive father, in the Star Wars movies.

He is also well-known for playing lawyer Victor Sifuentes in the drama L.A. Law and Detective Bobby Simone in the police show NYPD Blue. Smits has also appeared in popular shows like The West Wing, Dexter, and Sons of Anarchy. His movie roles include My Family (1995) and In the Heights (2021).

Early Life and School

Jimmy Smits was born in Brooklyn, New York. His father, Cornelis, was from Suriname and had Dutch ancestors. His mother, Emilina, was from Peñuelas, Puerto Rico. Smits and his two sisters, Yvonne and Diana, grew up in a working-class neighborhood.

When he was ten, his family moved to Puerto Rico for a few years. He had to attend a school where only Spanish was spoken, which was a new experience for him since he didn't speak the language at the time. Smits is proud of his Puerto Rican heritage and visits the island often.

In his youth, Smits was a good athlete. He went to Thomas Jefferson High School in Brooklyn. He later earned a bachelor's degree from Brooklyn College in 1980. He then studied acting and got a Master of Fine Arts degree from Cornell University in 1982.

Acting Career

Smits has had a long and successful career in movies, television, and theater.

Famous Television Roles

Smits at the 39th Annual Emmy Awards in 1987

One of Smits's first TV roles was in a 1984 episode of Miami Vice. His big break came in 1986 when he began playing attorney Victor Sifuentes on the popular legal show L.A. Law. He was on the show for five seasons and won an Emmy Award for his performance in 1990.

From 1994 to 1998, Smits played one of his most famous roles, Detective Bobby Simone, on the police drama NYPD Blue. His work on the show earned him many award nominations.

He also played Congressman Matt Santos in the last two seasons of the political drama The West Wing. His character went on to become the President of the United States in the show.

In 2008, he had a memorable role as Miguel Prado in the third season of Dexter. From 2012 to 2014, he was a main cast member on Sons of Anarchy, playing a powerful businessman named Nero Padilla.

Movie and Star Wars Roles

Smits in 2000

Smits has appeared in many films. In 1995, he starred in My Family, a movie about a Mexican-American family, alongside Jennifer Lopez. In 2021, he played Kevin Rosario in the musical movie In the Heights.

Many fans know Smits as Senator Bail Organa from the Star Wars universe. He played the role in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002) and Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005). He returned as Bail Organa in the movie Rogue One (2016) and the TV series Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022).

Theater Work

Besides screen acting, Smits is also a talented stage actor. He has performed in several of William Shakespeare's plays, including Twelfth Night in 2002 and Much Ado about Nothing in 2004.

He also starred in the Broadway play Anna in the Tropics in 2003. In 2009, he appeared in the play God of Carnage. He also acted in a 2012 Chicago production of The ... with the Hat.

Personal Life

Smits was married to Barbara Smits, and they have two children, Taina and Joaquin. Since 1986, he has been in a relationship with actress Wanda De Jesus. They live together in Los Angeles.

Smits is also involved in charity work. He helped start the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts. This group works to help Latinos succeed in the entertainment industry. He has also appeared in commercials to encourage people to get screened for colorectal cancer.

Awards and Recognition

Smits at the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival

Throughout his career, Jimmy Smits has received many awards and nominations.

• He won a Primetime Emmy Award for his role in L.A. Law.
• He won a Golden Globe Award for his work on NYPD Blue.
• He has been nominated for eleven Screen Actors Guild Awards and won once with the cast of NYPD Blue.
• He won a Saturn Award for his guest role on Dexter.

On June 4, 2021, he was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contributions to acting.

Filmography

Film

Television

Video games

See also

In Spanish: Jimmy Smits para niños

• List of Puerto Ricans