Jimmy Smits is an American actor known for his roles in ‘NYPD Blue’, ‘The West Wing’, and ‘Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones’. He has won several awards, including two Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe Award. Smits has also been involved in a number of philanthropic activities, and is a strong advocate for immigration reform and LGBT rights. This article looks at the life and career of Jimmy Smits.
Early Life
Jimmy Smits was born on July 9, 1955, in Brooklyn, New York. He is the son of Cornelis Leendert Smits, a native of Paramaribo, Suriname, and Emilina, a Puerto Rican from the island of Vieques. Smits attended Thomas Jefferson High School in Brooklyn and graduated from Brooklyn College in 1980 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in acting and directing. After college, Smits moved to Los Angeles to pursue his acting career.
Career Highlights
Smits’ career began in the early 1980s with roles in several television shows and films, including ‘Miami Vice’, ‘L.A. Law’, and ‘Star Trek III: The Search for Spock’. He rose to fame in the 1990s with his role as Bobby Simone in the television series ‘NYPD Blue’, for which he won an Emmy Award in 1998. From 1999 to 2006, Smits starred as Matt Santos in ‘The West Wing’, for which he won a Golden Globe Award in 2004. He also had a major role in the 2002 film ‘Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones’.
Personal Life
Smits has been married twice, first to Barbara Smits and later to Wanda De Jesus. He has two daughters, Taina and Joaquin, from his first marriage. Smits is a vocal advocate for immigration reform and LGBT rights. He has been involved in a number of philanthropic activities, including working with the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts and the Hispanic Scholarship Fund.
Jimmy Smits has had a long and successful career in television and film. He has won several awards for his performances, and is a strong advocate for immigration reform and LGBT rights. His philanthropic activities have also earned him recognition. Smits is a respected actor who has made an impact on the entertainment industry.
