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Jimmy Smits

Jimmy Smits

Actor · Born July 9, 1955 (71) · Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Jimmy Smits is an American actor. Smits is perhaps best known for his roles as attorney Victor Sifuentes on the 1980s legal drama L.A. Law, as NYPD Detective Bobby Simone on the 1990s police drama NYPD Blue, and as U.S. Congressman Matt Santos on The West Wing. He is also notable for his portrayal of Bail Organa in the Star Wars franchise, and Miguel Prado in Dexter. Beginning in 1986, Smits played Victor Sifuentes in the first five seasons of the NBC television Steven Bochco legal drama L.A. Law, for which he was nominated for six Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, winning in 1990. In 1999, Smits received the HOLA Award for Excellence from the Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors (HOLA). He appeared in films including Switch (1991), My Family (1995), The Jane Austen Book Club (2007). Smits appeared as Senator Bail Organa of Alderaan in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002) and Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005), in which the character becomes Princess Leia's adoptive father. He reappeared as Bail Organa in the game Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (2008) and the spinoff movie Rogue One (2016). He later reprised the role for Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022). Smits played the role of Congressman Matt Santos of Houston, Texas, in the final two seasons of the NBC television drama The West Wing. In Dexter season 3, he played the role of Miguel Prado, an assistant district attorney who befriends the title character. He was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for the role. He portrayed the character Alex Vega in the CBS TV series Cane, which aired from September 25, 2007, to December 18, 2007, and was subsequently canceled by the network due to the 2007 Screen Writer's Guild strike. In the fall of 2010, he starred in NBC's short-lived series Outlaw, about a U.S. Supreme Court justice who leaves the bench to return to practicing law. From 2012 to 2014, he joined the main cast of Sons of Anarchy as Nero Padilla. He also portrayed Elijah Strait in the short-lived NBC drama series Bluff City Law. He starred in The Get Down, a musical drama television series which debuted in 2016 on Netflix. In 2021, He played Kevin Rosario in the musical film In the Heights. He stars as Chief John Suarez on the CBS police drama East New York.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
July 9, 1955 (71)
From
Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
44 on MovieCove · 65 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 27% in 30 days

What are Jimmy Smits' films like?

Across their 27 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Drama9 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 40th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Action4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 62nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Comedy3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 32nd percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 28th percentile
: browse their Crime movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
27%
Morality
20%
Society
16%
Self
12%
Survival
11%
Power
10%
Ideas
5%
Family bonds8 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice8 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity6 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival3 titles, browse their movies with this themeCorruption2 titles, browse their movies with this themeSacrifice2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 22 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 12 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 5

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 3 · Charged 12 · Intense 7

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 5 · Shifting 15 · Whiplash 2

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 14 · Some laughs 4 · Funny 4

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 10 · Even-paced 10 · Relentless 2

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 6 · Engaged 13 · Full focus 3

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 4 · Affecting 11 · Heavy 7

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 14 · Open-ended 6 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

15 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 5 of 15 analyzed roles.

Hero
5 of 15
Shadow
3 of 15
Mentor
3 of 15
Ally
3 of 15
Threshold guardian
1 of 15
Show the 15 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
16
Melancholic
9
Contemplative
8
Warm
6
Romantic
8
Other
31

How their films linger

Bittersweet10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 5 with a twist

  • Happy5
  • Bittersweet15
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous5

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Jimmy Smits' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 32 of their 44 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (15).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Jimmy Smits' titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

65 credits, 44 with a MovieCove page; 23 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Dexter: Resurrection(2025)

    Show 1 episode · as Miguel Prado

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • East New York(2022)

    Show 21 episodes · as Chief John Suarez

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all shows

  • Andor: A Disney+ Day Special Look (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    as Bail Organa (archive footage) (uncredited)

  • Obi-Wan Kenobi(2022)

    Show 3 episodes · as Senator Bail Organa

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all shows

  • In the Heights(2021)

    as Kevin Rosario

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • The Tax Collector(2020)

    as The Wizard

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Bluff City Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Show 10 episodes · Producer · as Elijah Strait

  • Who We Are Now(2017)

    as Carl

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • 24: Legacy(2016)

    Show 12 episodes · as Senator John Donovan

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all shows

  • Rogue One: A Star Wars Story(2016)

    as Bail Organa

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • The Get Down(2016)

    Show 11 episodes · as Francisco 'Papa Fuerte' Cruz

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Full Frontal with Samantha Bee(2016)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Fauci

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all shows

  • How to Get Away with Murder(2014)

    Show 13 episodes · as Isaac Roa

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Brooklyn Nine-Nine(2013)

    Show 2 episodes · as Victor Santiago

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Outlaw (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Show 8 episodes · Co-Executive Producer · as Cyrus Garza

  • Mother and Child(2009)

    as Paco

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Latin Music USA (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 4 episodes · as Narrator

  • Backyard (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Mickey Santos

  • Sons of Anarchy(2008)

    Show 38 episodes · as Nero Padilla

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Roberto Clemente (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Narrator

  • Cane (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Show 13 episodes · Producer · as Alex Vega

  • The Jane Austen Book Club(2007)

    as Daniel

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Dexter(2006)

    Show 12 episodes · as Miguel Prado

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith(2005)

    as Senator Bail Organa

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Lackawanna Blues(2005)

    as Ruben Santiago Sr.

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • TV Revolution (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 4 episodes · Actor

  • The Bronze Screen: 100 Years of the Latino Image in American Cinema(2001)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones(2002)

    as Senator Bail Organa

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Bless the Child(2000)

    as Agent John Travis

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Price of Glory (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Arturo Ortega

  • Adventures in Wild California (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Narrator

  • The Million Dollar Hotel(2000)

    as Geronimo

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • The West Wing(1999)

    Show 35 episodes · as Matthew Santos

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • ALMA Awards (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Lesser Prophets (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Mike

  • Mother Goose: A Rappin' and Rhymin' Special(1997)

    as Old King Cole (voice)

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Murder in Mind(1997)

    as Peter Walker

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Marshal Law(1996)

    as Jack Coleman

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • My Family(1995)

    as Jimmy

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Old King Cole (voice) · as Prince Felipe (voice)

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all shows

  • Solomon & Sheba(1995)

    as King Solomon

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • The Cisco Kid(1994)

    as Cisco Kid

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • NYPD Blue(1993)

    Show 110 episodes · as Bobby Simone

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Gross Misconduct(1993)

    as Justin Thorne

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • The Tommyknockers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 2 episodes · as Jim 'Gard' Gardner

  • The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Broken Cord (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as David Norwell

  • Fires Within(1991)

    as Nestor

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Switch(1991)

    as Walter Stone

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Cop Rock (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Victor Sifuentes (uncredited)

  • Vital Signs(1990)

    as Dr. David Redding

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Old Gringo(1989)

    as Gen. Tomas Arroyo

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Mickey's 60th Birthday(1988)

    as Victor Sifuentes

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Glitz (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Vincent Marra

  • Stamp of a Killer(1987)

    as Richard Braden

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • The Highwayman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 1 episode · as Bo Ziker

  • The Believers(1987)

    as Tom Lopez

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Hotshot(1986)

    as Stars Team Member

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • L.A. Law(1986)

    Show 105 episodes · as Victor Sifuentes · as Víctor Sifuentes

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all shows

  • L.A. Law: Pilot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Victor Sifuentes

  • Running Scared(1986)

    as Julio Gonzales

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Rockabye (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as 2nd Policeman

  • Spenser: For Hire(1985)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • Miami Vice(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Eddie Rivera

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Miami Vice: Brother's Keeper (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Eddie Rivera

Career shape

Star power in the 98th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 65 titles from 1984 to 2025; peak year 2001.

Biggest box office

Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)

$906M worldwide

Highest rated

Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)

Midcredits 95th

Most popular right now

NYPD Blue (1993)

Film career

19842025

Peak 2001 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Top draw in 3 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting65 of 65: 62 only acting, 3 with another role · typical Midcredits score62ndProducing3 of 65: 0 only producing, 3 with another role

65 titles, 3 with more than one role — acting and producing overlap on 3 of them.

By decade

1980s14 · acting1990s19 · acting2000s17 · 17 acting · 1 crew2010s9 · 9 acting · 2 crew2020s6 · acting

Billing

usually 8th · top billed in 0% of 19 roles
849409

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Jimmy Smits' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 39th percentile, the median of all 28; across their 22 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 38th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

38thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 22

Approval · how many liked their films

40thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 22

Reach · how many have seen their films

78thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 22

Midcredits score across 44 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up16
  • 50th to 74th8
  • 25th to 49th12
  • Below 25th8

Shape of the crowd

16 of their 44 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved11
  • Divisive2
  • Cult Classic4
  • Crowd Pleaser10
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed16

Most divisive · actor

Mother Goose: A Rappin' and Rhymin' Special (1997)

96th percentile spread · 44% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The West Wing (1999)

Midcredits 98th · 92% liked

Reviewers score the acting 63/100 in their films, across 20 reviewed titles; fans 75, detractors 41. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Jimmy Smits' work okay for kids?

Across up to 12 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity and profanity run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore7 titles15–71 · median 57 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity12 titles24–61 · median 42 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity9 titles7–62 · median 47 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs7 titles17–56 · median 43 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense6 titles28–74 · median 47 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Jimmy Smits work with?

People who share at least 2 of Jimmy Smits' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Samuel L. Jackson shares the most, 3.

Directors

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles