SMITS, Jimmy 1955(?)–

PERSONAL

Born July 9, 1955 (some sources say 1958), in Brooklyn, NY; married Barbara, 1981 (divorced, 1987); companion of Wanda De Jesus (an actress) since c. 1986; children: (first marriage) Taina, Joaquin. Education: Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, B.A., theatre, 1980; Cornell University, M.F.A., 1982.

Addresses: Manager—Brillstein–Gray Entertainment, 9150 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 350, Beverly Hills, CA 90212. Agent—Creative Artists Agency, 9830 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90212. Publicist—Carol Marshal, PMK/HBH, 700 San Vincente Blvd., Suite G910, West Hollywood, CA 90069.

Career: Actor. El Sendero Productions, producer; appeared in print ads for milk, 1998; The Conga Room (a restaurant), Los Angeles, CA, partner; also worked as community organizer.

Member: Actors Equity Association, Screen Actors Guild, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.

Awards, Honors: Imagen Award, Hispanic Media Image Task Force, 1987; Emmy Award nominations, outstanding supporting actor in a drama series, 1987–89, 1991–92, Emmy Award, outstanding supporting actor in a drama series, Q Award, best supporting actor in a quality drama series, Viewers for Quality Television, 1990, Golden Globe Award nomination, best supporting actor in a series, miniseries, or motion picture, 1991, all for L.A. Law; NCLR Bravo Award, outstanding television series actor, 1996, Golden Apple Award nomination, male star of the year, 1996; Emmy Award nominations, outstanding lead actor in a drama series, 1995–99; Golden Globe Award, best performance by an actor in a TV series—drama, 1996, Golden Globe Award nominations, best performance by an actor in a TV series—drama, 1997, 1999, Golden Satellite Award, best performance by an actor, 1998, ALMA Awards, outstanding individual performance in a television series, 1998 and 1999, Golden Satellite Award nomination, best performance by an actor, 1999, Screen Actors Guild Award nominations, outstanding performance by a male actor in a drama series, 1996–99, Screen Actors Guild Award nominations (with others), best ensemble in a drama series, 1997–99, TV Guide Award nomination, favorite actor in a drama, 1999, all for NYPD Blue; NCLR Bravo Award nomination, outstanding performance by a male in a variety or music series/special, 1996; Independent Spirit Award nomination, best male lead, 1996, for My Family; Golden Apple Award nomination, male star of the year, 1996; ALMA Award nomination, outstanding host of a variety or awards special, 2001, for ESPY Awards; ALMA Award nomination (with others), outstanding host of a variety of awards special, 2001, for 1st Annual Latin Grammy Awards.

CREDITS

Film Appearances:

Julio Gonzales, Running Scared, Metro–Goldwyn–Mayer/United Artists, 1986.

Stars team member, Hot Shot, 1986.

Detective Joe Lopez (some sources cite Tom Lopez), The Believers, Orion, 1987.

General Tomas Arroyo, Old Gringo (also known as Gringo viejo), Columbia, 1989.

Dr. David Redding, Vital Signs, Twentieth Century–Fox, 1990.

Walter Stone, Switch (also known as Blake Edwards' Switch), Warner Bros., 1991.

Nestor, Fires Within (also known as Little Havana), Metro–Goldwyn–Mayer/United Artists Home Video, 1991.

Justin Thorne, Gross Misconduct (also known as Gross Indecency), 1993.

Jimmy Sanchez, My Family (also known as Mi familia, Cafe con leche, East L.A., and My Family, mi familia), New Line Cinema, 1995.

Mike, Lesser Prophets (also known as The Last Bet), 1997.

Geronimo, The Million Dollar Hotel, 1999.

Agent John Travis, Bless the Child (also known as Die Prophezeiung), Paramount, 1999.

Arturo Ortega, Price of Glory, New Line Cinema, 2000.

Narrator, Adventures in Wild California (also known as MacGillivray Freeman's Adventures in Wild California), IMAX, 2000.

Senator Bail Organa, Star Wars: Episode II—Attack of the Clones (also known as Attack of the Clones: The IMAX Experience, Star Wars II and Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones), Twentieth Century–Fox, 2002.

Title role, Angel, 2003.

Television Appearances; Series:

Your authorized conky repairman, a recurring role, Pee Wee's Playhouse, 1986.

Victor Sifuentes, L.A. Law, NBC, 1986–1991.

Detective Bobby Simone, NYPD Blue, ABC, 1993–1998.

Representative Matthew Santos, The West Wing, NBC, 2004—.

Television Appearances; Movies:

Second policeman, Rockabye, CBS, 1986.

Bo Ziker, The Highwayman (also known as Terror on the Blacktop), NBC, 1987.

Richard Braden, Dangerous Affection (also known as Hit and Run and Stamp of a Killer), NBC, 1987.

Vincent Mora, Glitz, NBC, 1988.

David Norwell, The Broken Cord, ABC, 1992.

Title role, The Cisco Kid, TNT, 1994.

King Solomon, Solomon and Sheba, Showtime, 1995.

Actor (Martin), The Last Word (also known as Cosa Nostra: The Last Word), Showtime, 1995.

Jack Coleman, Marshal Law (also known as Aftershock and Block Party), Showtime, 1996.

Peter Walker, Murder in Mind, HBO, 1997.

Ruben Santiago, Sr., Lackawanna Blues, HBO, 2004.

Television Appearances; Miniseries:

James "Gard" Gardener, The Tommyknockers (also known as Stephen King's "The Tommyknockers"), ABC, 1993.

Voice, The West, PBS, 1996.

Television Appearances; Specials:

Narrator, The Other Side of the Border (documentary), PBS, 1987.

The American Film Institute Salute to Gregory Peck (also known as The 17th Annual American Film Institute Life Achievement Award: A Salute to Gregory Peck), NBC, 1989.

Face to Face with Connie Chung, CBS, 1990.

The "L.A. Law" 100th Episode Special, NBC, 1991.

Host, All–Star Fiesta at Ford's, ABC, 1992.

Concert of the Americas (also known as The Kennedy Center Presents), PBS, 1994.

Host, Television's Greatest Performances, ABC, 1995.

Latin Nights: An All–Star Celebration, ABC, 1995.

Host, Songs of the Homeland, 1995.

Up for the Golden Globes, NBC, 1996.

CityKids All Star Celebration, ABC, 1996.

Big Guns Talk: The Story of the Western, TNT, 1997.

50 Years of Television: A Celebration of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Golden Anniversary, HBO, 1997.

The 53rd Presidential Inaugural Gala, CBS, 1997.

Narrator, Keeping America's Promise, Fox, 1997.

Latino Laugh Festival, 1997.

Voice of Old King Cole, Mother Goose: A Rappin' and Rhymin' Special, HBO, 1997.

Narrator, Clemente, Fox Sports Network, 1998.

Second Annual Latino Laugh Festival, Showtime, 1998.

Saturday Night Live: The Best of Chris Farley, 1998.

The Puerto Ricans: Our American Story, PBS, 1999.

Interviewee, Tito Puente: The King of Latin Music, PBS, 2001.

America: A Tribute to Heros, VH1, 2001.

(Uncredited) Inside 'NYPD Blue': A Decade on the Job, 2002.

Commentary, TV Revolution (documentary), Bravo, 2004.

Television Appearances; Awards Presentations:

The Golden Eagle Awards, syndicated, 1987.

The 41st Annual Emmy Awards, Fox, 1989.

The 47th Annual Golden Globe Awards, TBS, 1990.

The 43rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, Fox, 1991.

The 16th Annual CableACE Awards, TNT, 1995.

The 47th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, Fox, 1995.

Host, The NCLR Bravo Awards (also known as National Council of La Raza Bravo Awards), Fox, 1995.

Cohost, The Newsweek American Achievement Awards, CBS, 1995.

The Blockbuster Entertainment Awards, UPN, 1996.

The Second Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards, NBC, 1996.

The 1996 NCLR Bravo Awards, 1996.

The 1997 Hispanic Heritage Awards, 1997.

The 24th Annual American Music Awards, 1997.

The 49th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, 1997.

The 51st Annual Tony Awards, 1997.

VH1 97 Fashion Awards, VH1, 1997.

Host, ALMA Awards, 1998.

The 1999 ALMA Awards, 1999.

The 41st Annual Grammy Awards, 1999.

The 51st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, 1999.

Presenter, 5th Annual ALMA Awards, ABC, 2000.

Presenter, The 42nd Annual Grammy Awards, CBS, 2000.

Host, The 2000 ESPY Awards, ESPN, 2000.

Host, The 1st Annual Latin Grammy Awards, CBS, 2000.

The 2nd Annual Latin Grammy Awards, 2001.

Presenter, Lifetime Presents: Disney's American Teacher Awards, Lifetime, 2001.

Presenter, The 43rd Annual Grammy Awards, CBS, 2001.

Host, The 3rd Annual Latin Grammy Awards, CBS, 2002.

Presenter, The 29th Annual People's Choice Awards, CBS, 2003.

Television Appearances; Episodic:

Hector Valdes, "In a Safe Place," Spenser: For Hire, 1986.

"Mickey's 60th Birthday Special," The Magical World of Disney, NBC, 1988.

Host, Saturday Night Live, 1990.

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, 1990.

Victor Sifuentes, "Potts Don't Fail Me," Cop Rock, 1990.

Victor Sifuentes, "Steal It Again, Sam," L.A. Law, 1992.

Victor Sifuentes, "Say Goodnight Gracie," L.A. Law, 1992.

Voice, "Cinderella," Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child, HBO, 1995.

Late Show with David Letterman, 1995, 1996, and 2000.

The Rosie O'Donnell Show, syndicated, 1997 and 1998.

The Howard Stern Show, E! Entertainment Television, 1999.

The Howard Stern Radio Show, syndicated, 2000.

Live with Regis and Kelly, ABC, 2003.

The View, ABC, 2003.

Himself, "Out of the Closet," TV Revolution, 2004.

Himself, "Sex in the Box," TV Revolution, 2004.

Himself, "Black & White & Living Color," TV Revolution, 2004.

Himself, "Body Count," TV Revolution, 2004.

Also appeared in All My Children, ABC; Another World; Guiding Light; and One Life to Live, ABC.

Television Appearances; Pilots:

Eddie Rivera, "Brother's Keeper," Miami Vice, NBC, 1984.

Victor Sifuentes, L.A. Law, 1986.

City of Dreams, NBC, 2004.

Stage Appearances:

Switzer and messenger, Hamlet, New York Shakespeare Festival, Public Theatre, New York City, 1982.

Captain Lavour and Ben Caleb, Little Victories, American Place Theatre, New York City, 1983.

Vincent and Vendor, Buck, American Place Theatre, 1983.

Frenchie Villiers, The Ballad of Soapy Smith, New York Shakespeare Festival, Public Theatre, 1984.

Title role, Othello, Colorado Shakespeare Festival, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 1984.

Native Speech, Center Stage Theatre, Baltimore, MD, 1985.

Death and the Maiden, Mark Taper Forum, Los Angeles, 1993.

Orsino, Twelfth Night, Delacorte Theatre, New York City, 2002.

Anna in the Tropics, Booth Theatre, New York City, 2003.

Bendick, Much Ado about Nothing, Delacorte Theatre, 2004.

Appeared as Lenny, Of Mice and Men; title role, Everyman; Eben, Desire under the Elms; and Ariano.

OTHER SOURCES

Periodicals:

Entertainment Weekly, October 23, 1998, p. 56.

People Weekly, September 2, 1996, p. 43; November 16, 1998, p. 124.

Playboy, October, 1996, pp. 128–130.

TV Guide, September 28, 2002, p. 30.