Jimmy Smits was born on July 9, 1955 in Brooklyn, New York to Cornelis and Emelina Smits. The Hispanic American grew up in Brooklyn, but he often visited extended family who lived in Puerto Rico.
Smits attended Thomas Jefferson High School in New York. It was while he was there that he became interested in acting. After graduating from high school, he studied theater at the Brooklyn College. Jimmy Smits earned a B.A. from that college, then went on to earn an M.F.A. from Cornell University.
His first big break came when he was cast in the movie pilot for the NBC television show, “Miami Vice” in 1984. The good looking Smits was cast as Detective Sonny Crockett’s (played by Don Johnson) partner. Unfortunately, Smits’ cop character was killed right off the bat, and he was replaced by actor Phillip Michael Thoms.
But, there were bigger things to come for the Hispanic American actor. Just two years later, in 1986, he was cast to play “Attorney Victor Sifuentes” on the same television network. The
show was “L.A. Law.”
Jimmy Smits played the part of handsome Attorney Sifuentes, and he drew quite a following of adoring fans. His display of talent in his “L.A. Law” role earned him an Emmy for “Outstanding Supporting Actor” in a Drama series; the year was 1990. In 1992,
Smits’ contract with the show was nearing its expiration date. Rather than sign another contract, Smits’ bid “adieu” to Attorney Sifuentes, and he set his sights on a movie career. He is quoted as saying, “I left L.A. Law on great terms with the producer. I fulfilled my commitment…”
Altogether, Smits has acted in nine movies to date. One of his first Hollywood films was titled, “Old Gringo”, and it was released in 1989. The film was the true story of American journalist Ambrose Bierce who disappeared while he was working in Mexico. Gregory Peck played the lead role, and Jimmy Smits played the role of Pancho Villa’s Army commander.
Even though the movie starred big names like Gregory Peck and Jane Fonda, it didn’t draw a large audience at the theaters.
The Hispanic American actor tried his talents by acting in a thriller titled, “Vital Signs” in 1990. He played the role of “Dr. David Redding.” The movie included veteran actors like Diane Lane and William Devane, but it couldn’t draw the crowds to the theaters either.
Jimmy Smits he took a role in the movie “Switch” in 1991. Smits finally won some positive acclaim for his appearance as “Walter Stone” in the comedy, along with Ellen Barkin.
However, the year 1994 found the Brooklyn-born actor returning to television when he landed the roll of “Detective Bobby Simone” on ABC’s “NYPD” series. After four years, five nominations and a Golden Globe Award, Jimmy Smits decided to leave the show and move on. About the experience, he is quoted as saying, “I don’t think it hurt me to leave NYPD Blue. I was very sad about the relationships I had on the show…”
The Hispanic-American born actor’s television credits include five shows: “L.A. Law”, “The Tommyknockers” (1993), “The Cisco Kid” (1994), “NYPD Blue”, and “Solomon & Sheba”, (1995).
Jimmy Smits, the tall, handsome actor, has racked up quite an impressive number of awards thus far in his career. He won the
Imagen Award by the Hispanic Media Image Task Force in 1987; the National Hispanic Bar of Mexico Honor in 1988; an Emmy award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a drama series, (for his role in L.A. Law in 1990); an award from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in 1990; the Bravo Award from the National Council of La Raza in 1996; and the Golden Globe Award in 1996.
In his personal life, Smits is divorced, and he has a beautiful daughter.
