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Jimmy Smits

Known for his roles as Victor Sifuentes on "LA Law" and Detective Bobby Simone on "NYPD Blue"

Jimmy Smits
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Live Event: $50,000 - $100,000
Virtual Event: $30,000 - $50,000
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Acting, Celebrity, Diversity & Inclusion, Entertainers, Hispanic Heritage, Television & Film
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Jimmy Smits Biography

Born July 9, 1955, in Brooklyn, New York. Smits was the eldest of three children born to Emelina and Cornelis Smits. A second generation American of mixed ancestry (his mother was Puerto Rican, and his father was Dutch), Smits was raised primarily in Brooklyn. He attended Thomas Jefferson High School, where he was both an athlete and actor of considerable talent. He continued his education at Brooklyn College, receiving a B.A. degree in theatre, and earning an M.F.A. from Cornell University in 1982. In the early 1980's, Smits traveled the U.S appearing in repertory and off-Broadway productions. After considerable stage success he was cast in several movie and TV projects, most notably the two-hour pilot for Miami Vice (1984), where he was featured as Don Johnson's partner.

In 1986, Jimmy Smits landed his first big screen role as a drug dealer in Running Scared. Later that year, he found his niche in television when he was signed to play attorney Victor Sifuentes on the weekly series L.A. Law. During its six-year run, the courtroom drama was a critical and commercial success. Smits earned an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 1990, while he cultivated his image as an Hispanic heartthrob with his character.

While working on L.A. Law, Smits segued onto the big screen, landing the lead role in Old Gringo (1989), opposite Jane Fonda and Gregory Peck. Although his performance as General Arroyo was recognized, the film inspired little interest in moviegoers.

In 1991, Smits left L.A. Law, shelving his TV career to wholeheartedly pursue a film career.He set his sights on movie stardom, but like so many other hopefuls his efforts met with limited success. In 1992, he returned to the small screen, appearing in the documentary The Broken Cord. The following year, he appeared in Stephen King's The Tommyknockers (1993), which marked his first performance in a TV miniseries.

Later that year, the producers of the gritty police drama N.Y.P.D. Blue offered Smits the series' lead role (after David Caruso's departure). Smits accepted the part, which re-teamed him with L.A. Law producer Steven Bochco. In the fall of 1994, he debuted on N.Y.P.D. Blue as detective Bobby Simone, staging a sensational comeback and winning the hearts of a skeptical audience. He remained with the show until 1998, when he delivered a heart-wrenching performance in the season finale. During his run on the show, Smits earned five Emmy nominations as Lead Actor in a Drama Series.

While working on N.Y.P.D. Blue, Smits attracted further attention with a lead role in the Latino film Mi Familia (1995), alongside Edward James Olmos.

Smits continued to pursue film roles, appearing in the thriller The Million Dollar Hotel (2000), which paired him with Mel Gibson, Milla Jovovich, and Gloria Stewart. Despite an impressive cast, the film, which debuted at the Berlin Film Festival, failed to attract a wide audience in America. Later that year, he headlined the boxing drama Price of Glory and the supernatural thriller Bless the Child, opposite Kim Basinger. Smits also appeared in the final two Star Wars films—Attack of the Clones (2002) and Revenge of the Sith (2005).

Smits also made a brief return to television in 2004. He appeared as congressman and presidential hopeful Matthew Santos on the critically acclaimed The West Wing until it was canceled after the 2005-2006 season.

In 1981, Smits married his high school sweetheart, Barbara. The couple had two children together before they divorced in 1987. He is currently dating long-time companion and fellow actress Wanda De Jesus.

On a personal level, Smits remains passionately committed to the Latino community. Along with comedian Paul Rodriguez and actress/singer Jennifer Lopez, he has invested in The Conga Room, a Los Angeles dance club which serves as a vehicle for Latino music. Smits has also founded The National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts, an organization that promotes Hispanic talent in the performing arts.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 07/09/2024.

Jimmy Smits Videos

  • JIMMY SMITS SETS HIGH BAR FOR HIMSELF
    JIMMY SMITS SETS HIGH BAR FOR HIMSELF
  • Count On Us TV - Jimmy Smits
    Count On Us TV - Jimmy Smits
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FAQs on booking Jimmy Smits

  • How do I book Jimmy Smits to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Jimmy Smits for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Jimmy Smits, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Jimmy Smits or any other speaker of your choice.

  • What are the speaker fees for Jimmy Smits

    Speaking fees for Jimmy Smits, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Jimmy Smits are for live events and for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Jimmy Smits, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

  • What topics does Jimmy Smits speak about?

    Jimmy Smits is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Acting, Celebrity, Diversity & Inclusion, Entertainers, Hispanic Heritage, Television & Film.

  • Where does Jimmy Smits travel from?

    Jimmy Smits generally travels from an undisclosed location, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.

  • Who is Jimmy Smits’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Jimmy Smits for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Jimmy Smits for your next private or corporate function.

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    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Jimmy Smits or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

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    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.

Jimmy Smits is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics . The estimated speaking fee range to book Jimmy Smits for your event is $50,000 - $100,000. Jimmy Smits generally travels from and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Selenis Leyva, Rosie Perez, Cheech Marin, America Ferrera and Gaby Natale. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Jimmy Smits for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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