Biography
Who is Jimmy Smits?
Early life and education
Jimmy Smits was born in Brooklyn, New York, on July 9, 1955. His father, Cornelis Leendert Smits, originated from Suriname and had Dutch heritage, while his mother, Emilina Pola, was born in Peñuelas, Puerto Rico. Jimmy grew up in a working-class neighborhood alongside his two sisters, Yvonne and Diana. When he was ten years old, his family moved to Puerto Rico for a brief period, where he attended a school that taught exclusively in Spanish. He found the transition to be quite difficult at the time.
A devout Roman Catholic upbringing influenced his early life. Jimmy was active in sports during his youth. He graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School before continuing his education at the collegiate level. In 1980, he earned a bachelor's degree from Brooklyn College, where he was a first-generation student. He later completed a Master of Fine Arts degree at Cornell University in 1982. During his time at Cornell, he participated in the Hangar Theatre summer repertory program in Ithaca, New York, performing in productions like Cabaret and Pudd'nhead Wilson.
Television and film career
Jimmy Smits began his television career with a guest appearance on Miami Vice in 1984. He gained widespread recognition in 1986 by playing Attorney Victor Sifuentes on the NBC legal drama L.A. Law. This role earned him six Primetime Emmy Award nominations, and he won the award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 1990. He also made his feature film debut in 1986 with the movie Running Scared, starring Billy Crystal and Gregory Hines.
From 1994 to 1998, he starred as Detective Bobby Simone on the ABC program NYPD Blue, receiving multiple Emmy nominations for his performance. His film work includes roles in My Family, The Jane Austen Book Club, and the 2021 musical film In the Heights. In the political drama The West Wing, he played Congressman Matt Santos, whose character eventually won the U.S. Presidency. He also portrayed Miguel Prado in the third season of Dexter, earning another Emmy nomination for his guest performance.
Personal life and advocacy
Jimmy Smits has been in a relationship with actress Wanda De Jesus since 1986, and the couple resides in Los Angeles. He was previously married to Barbara Smits, with whom he has two children. In 1987, he pled guilty to disturbing the peace following an incident at his home involving police officers.
Beyond acting, he is a dedicated advocate for various causes. He helped establish the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts to increase Latino representation in media and entertainment. He also promotes diagnostic colorectal screening through public service announcements and has supported Cass Community Social Services in Detroit. He identifies as Puerto Rican and maintains a frequent connection to the island.
Birthday and age
Jimmy Smits was born on July 9, 1955, which makes Jimmy 71 years old today. That birthday falls under the Cancer sign. Jimmy shares the date with 32 other famous people.
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