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Esai Morales

Esai Morales

Actor, also producer · Born October 1, 1962 (64) · Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Esai Manuel Morales Jr. (born October 1, 1962) is an American actor. He has had notable roles in  Bad Boys with Sean Penn and La Bamba with Lou Diamond Phillips. His television roles include the PBS 2002 drama series American Family, the Showtime series Resurrection Blvd. (2000–2002), portraying Lt. Tony Rodriguez on NYPD Blue (2001–2003), Joseph Adama in the science fiction series Caprica (2009–2010), Camino del Rio in the Netflix original series Ozark (2017), and the DC Comics supervillain Slade Wilson / Deathstroke in the superhero series Titans (2019). Morales appeared as Gabriel, the main antagonist in the 2023 spy action film Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One opposite Tom Cruise, a role reprised in Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning in 2025.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
October 1, 1962 (64)
From
Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Actor, also producer
Titles
79 on MovieCove · 119 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Official site (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 157 days to Oct 28Up 12% in 30 days

What are Esai Morales' films like?

Across their 57 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Action15 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 35th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Comedy11 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 31st percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 28th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Crime6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 22nd percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Biography5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 77th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Documentary4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 85th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Family2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 54th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Family 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
21%
Morality
19%
Self
16%
Survival
15%
Power
14%
Society
10%
Ideas
5%
Romantic love9 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds11 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice11 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity7 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival8 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity8 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption7 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose5 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 54 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 13 · Serious 18 · Dark 23

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 38 · Stylized 12 · Heightened 4

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

Gentle 13 · Charged 22 · Intense 19

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

Steady 20 · Shifting 28 · Whiplash 6

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 34 · Some laughs 16 · Funny 4

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

Slow burn 20 · Even-paced 30 · Relentless 4

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

Casual 18 · Engaged 32 · Full focus 4

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

Easy watch 19 · Affecting 19 · Heavy 16

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

Resolved 43 · Open-ended 8 · Ambiguous 3

Roles they play

34 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 14 of 34 analyzed roles.

Shadow
14 of 34
Hero
6 of 34
Mentor
5 of 34
Ally
4 of 34
Trickster
2 of 34
Threshold guardian
2 of 34
Herald
1 of 34
Show the 34 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
37
Warm
17
Melancholic
18
Dread
13
Hopeful
13
Other
52

How their films linger

Hopeful21 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet20 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking16 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 6 with a twist

  • Happy14
  • Bittersweet27
  • Tragic3
  • Ambiguous13

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 Esai Morales' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 50 of their 79 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (24).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Esai Morales' 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

119 credits, 79 with a MovieCove page; 13 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Live Like That (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2027)

    Actor

  • Dark Horse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    as Paulo Pontes

  • War Machine(2026)

    as Army Officer Torres

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Queen of Manhattan(2022)

    as Papi

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Cottonmouth(2025)

    as Abe

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning(2025)

    as Gabriel

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Side Quest(2025)

    Show 1 episode · as Gustavo

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all shows

  • Crescent City(2024)

    as Luke Carson

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Can't Go Home (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Show 1 episode · as Victor Castelo

  • Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One(2023)

    as Gabriel

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Master Gardener(2022)

    as Oscar Neruda

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Art of Love(2021)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Senior Moment(2021)

    as Diego Lozana

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • The Wall of Mexico(2019)

    as Henry Arista

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Imprisoned(2018)

    as Governor Mandera

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Titans(2018)

    Show 13 episodes · as Slade Wilson / Deathstroke

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • SuperFly(2018)

    as Adalberto Gonzalez

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Love and Other Stunts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Actor

  • Halfway There(2018)

    as Ian Sanchez

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Ozark(2017)

    Show 4 episodes · as Camino 'Del' Del Rio

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Mars(2016)

    Show 6 episodes · as Mike Glenn / Lt. Michael Glenn

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Never Back Down: No Surrender(2016)

    as Hugo Vega

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Casa Vita(2016)

    as Rodrigo Vita

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Adam Ruins Everything(2015)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • The Brink (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Show 10 episodes · as President Julian Navarro

  • Playin' for Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Principle Jose Marti

  • Spare Parts(2015)

    as Mr. Santillan

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • How to Get Away with Murder(2014)

    Show 11 episodes · as Jorge Castillo

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Jarhead 2: Field of Fire(2014)

    as Cpt. Jones

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Journey of a Female Comic(2014)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • From Dusk Till Dawn: Making the First Season (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Actor

  • From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Show 10 episodes · as Amancio Malvado

  • Mozart in the Jungle(2014)

    Show 2 episodes · as Juan Delgado

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Chicago P.D.(2014)

    Show 6 episodes · as Chief Lugo

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • Teachers(2013)

    Producer · as Manny

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Atlas Shrugged II: The Strike(2012)

    as Francisco d'Anconia

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Major Crimes(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Deputy Manuel Diaz

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all shows

  • Seattle Superstorm (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Tom Foster

  • 17th Precinct (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Liam Butterfield

  • We Have Your Husband(2011)

    as Eduardo Valseca

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Gun Hill Road(2011)

    Producer · as Enrique Rodriguez

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Fairly Legal(2011)

    Show 6 episodes · as Aaron Davidson

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all shows

  • Cherry(2010)

    as Wes

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • King of the Avenue(2010)

    as Natas

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Caprica(2009)

    Show 18 episodes · as Joseph Adama

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all shows

  • NCIS: Los Angeles(2009)

    Show 7 episodes · as Louis Ochoa

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • The Line(2009)

    as Pelon

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Kill Kill Faster Faster (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Markie

  • The Cure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Jorge

  • Burn Notice(2007)

    Show 1 episode · as Ernie Paseo

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • 24: Day six Debrief (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Show 5 episodes · as Agent Jorge Ramirez

  • Fast Food Nation(2006)

    as Tony

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Jericho(2006)

    Show 7 episodes · as Major Edward Beck

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • Vanished (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 11 episodes · as Michael Tyner

  • How to Go Out on a Date in Queens(2006)

    as Frankie

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • The Virgin of Juarez(2006)

    as Father Herrera

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Freddie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Carlos

  • Criminal Minds(2005)

    Show 6 episodes · as Mateo Cruz

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Once Upon a Wedding(2005)

    as Pineda

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Heartless(2005)

    as Rick Benes / David Lopez

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • American Fusion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Jose

  • Sudbury(2004)

    as Gary Hallet

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Adventures of Tom Thumb & Thumbelina(2002)

    as Vargas Mouse (voice)

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Paid in Full(2002)

    as Lulu

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • CSI: Miami(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Stephen Madsen

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows

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

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • George Lopez(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Manny Lopez

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all shows

  • American Family (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Esteban Gonzalez

  • Doomsday Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Second Unit Director · as Mike

  • Curb Your Enthusiasm(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Francisco

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • A Family in Crisis: The Elian Gonzales Story(2000)

    as Juan Miguel Gonzalez

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Dora the Explorer(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Papi (voice)

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all shows

  • American Virgin(1999)

    as Jim the Director

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Family Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Santiago

  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Jimmy Vazquez

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Southern Cross (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Philip Solano

  • Atomic Train (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 2 episodes · as Noris MacKenzie

  • L.A. Doctors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Vince Duralde

  • Circle of Deceit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Jeff Silva

  • The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit(1998)

    as Dominguez

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Dog Watch(1997)

    as Murrow

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • The Hunger(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Tony

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all shows

  • Dying to Be Perfect: The Ellen Hart Pena Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Federico Pena

  • Death in Granada(1996)

    as Ricardo

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Scorpion Spring(1995)

    as Astor

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • The Real Thing(1996)

    as Collin

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Deadlocked: Escape from Zone 14(1995)

    as Tony Archer

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • My Family(1995)

    as Chucho

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • The Outer Limits(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Frank Kelton

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Don't Do It(1994)

    as Charles

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • The Burning Season: The Chico Mendes Story(1994)

    as Jair

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • In the Army Now(1994)

    as Sgt. Stern

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Rapa Nui(1994)

    as Make

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • NYPD Blue(1993)

    Show 87 episodes · as Tony Rodriguez

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

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

    as Julius

  • Living and Working in Space: The Countdown Has Begun(1993)

    as Kenny

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Ultraviolet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Nicholas Walker

  • Freejack(1992)

    as Ripper

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Bay City Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Actor

  • Naked Tango(1990)

    as Zico Borenstein

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Bloodhounds of Broadway(1989)

    as Handsome Jack

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Tales from the Crypt(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Puck

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • The Principal(1987)

    as Raymi Rojas

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • La Bamba(1987)

    as Bob Morales

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • On Wings of Eagles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 2 episodes · as Rashid

  • Rainy Day Friends (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Neekos Valdez

  • The Twilight Zone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Equalizer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Officer Miguel Canterra

  • Miami Vice(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Felipe Cruz · as Pete Romano

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Bad Boys(1983)

    as Paco Moreno

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Forty Deuce (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Mitchell

  • American Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Handsome Jack

  • Fame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Company Town (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Show 1 episode · as Ray Dupre

  • Coyote (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Producer · as Hernán Barroca

  • Live 2 Die (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Producer · Actor

  • So Much for Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Geoffrey

  • The Americans (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Show as Lee Valenzuela

  • Tumor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 119 titles, 111 of them dated from 1982 to 2026; peak year 2024.

Biggest box office

Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning (2025)

$599M worldwide

Highest rated

Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One (2023)

Midcredits 96th

Most popular right now

War Machine (2026)

Film career

19822026

Peak 2024 · at the high point of their film career. Top draw in 9 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
Acting119 of 119: 116 only acting, 3 with another role · typical Midcredits score51stProducing2 of 119: 0 only producing, 2 with another roleOther crew1 of 119: 0 only other crew, 1 with another role

119 titles, 3 with more than one role — acting and producing overlap on 2 of them.

By decade

1980s13 · acting1990s27 · acting2000s28 · 28 acting · 1 crew2010s31 · acting2020s12 · acting

Billing

usually 5th · top billed in 8% of 26 roles
8393081323

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 Esai Morales' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 40th percentile, the median of all 54; across their 54 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 46th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

46thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 54

Approval · how many liked their films

44thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 54

Reach · how many have seen their films

51stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 54

Midcredits score across 79 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up25
  • 50th to 74th18
  • 25th to 49th12
  • Below 25th24

Shape of the crowd

30 of their 79 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved10
  • Universally Panned3
  • Loved with Detractors1
  • Divisive2
  • Cult Classic6
  • Crowd Pleaser24
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed30

Most divisive · actor

Journey of a Female Comic (2014)

99th percentile spread · 33% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Ozark (2017)

Midcredits 98th · 94% liked

Reviewers score the acting 61/100 in their films, across 49 reviewed titles; fans 76, detractors 38. 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 Esai Morales' work okay for kids?

Across up to 20 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity, profanity, alcohol & drugs and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore12 titles52–86 · median 74 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity20 titles17–64 · median 50 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity12 titles35–95 · median 66 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs10 titles24–80 · median 50 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense9 titles53–83 · median 71 · intenseheavier than most 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 Esai Morales work with?

People who share at least 2 of Esai Morales' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Edward James Olmos shares the most, 5.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and cinematographers

Producers

Mixed roles