Biography for
Jimmy Smits More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

9 July 1955, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Birth Name

Jimmy L. Smits

Height

6' 3" (1.91 m)

Spouse

Barbara Smits

(10 June 1980 - 22 June 1987) (divorced) 2 children

Trade Mark

Often plays likeable, noble characters

Towering height and slender frame

Deep smooth voice

Trivia

Received his Bachelor's degree from Brooklyn College in 1980 and his Master's degree from Cornell University in 1982.

Father of a daughter, Taina Smits (born 1973), and a son, Joaquin Smits (born 1983) with ex-wife, Barbara Smits. Barbara Smits died on April 16, 2010.

Smits has been living with Wanda De Jesus since c. 1986.

Has a Puerto Rican mother and a Surinamese father of Dutch descent.

Graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, Theatre degree from Brooklyn College in 1980.

Turned down the offer to play a character named Flinn on "NYPD Blue" (1993). The character in question was later renamed Detective John Kelly, played by David Caruso. Ironically, after Caruso's departure from the show in 1994, Smits accepted the role of Detective Bobby Simone (Detective Kelly's successor).

Was named as "King of Brooklyn" at the Welcome Back to Brooklyn Festival in 1991

Has had a difficult time returning to television in recent years. In 1998, after leaving "NYPD Blue" (1993), he signed a development deal with ABC, but nothing ever came of it. Three years later, in 2001, he was set to play the lead in the NBC action series "UC: Undercover", but his commitments to ABC forced him to back out just four days before the pilot was shot. Shortly after, in September 2001, he inked a new seven-figure deal with ABC to develop a series for the 2002-2003 television season, but once again, the deal failed to produce a series. Later, in 2002, he turned down the chance to play the lead in "CSI: Miami" and backed out of the lead role in "Boomtown" at the last minute. In 2004, he was attached to star in a Jerry Bruckheimer produced drama for NBC called "City of Dreams" as a Los Angeles private investigator who caters to the rich and famous. However, script problems eventually caused that project to be scrapped. Finally, in August 2004, he inked a deal to join the cast of "The West Wing" (1999) for the 2004-2005 season, and a few weeks later, made a separate deal with ABC and Touchstone studios to develop and star in a new series after his time on "The West Wing".

Honored by the Congressional Award in Washington, D.C. with the 1997 Horizon Award. The Horizon Award is a special recognition from the Joint Leadership of the United States Congress and the Congressional Award Board of Directors. The Horizon Award is presented to individuals from the private sectors who have contributed to expanding opportunities for all Americans through their own personal contributions, and who have set exceptional examples for young people through their successes in life.

Lives in Los Angeles, California.

Jimmy is the name on his birth certificate and it is not short for James.

He is a partner in "The Conga Room" club in Los Angeles, California with Jennifer Lopez, Paul Rodriguez and Brad Gluckstein as partners.

Personal Quotes

"They'd say, 'Explain this again: If you finish this degree, you'll be able to teach high-school drama?'" -- Former "NYPD Blue" on his parents' reaction after he told them he wanted to be an actor - USA Weekend (August 1999)

Celebrity hits like a bomb. So you have to find what makes you stable in the storm. Then, no matter what's happening around you, no matter what the hype or the publicity, you can still manage to make leaps in your work as an artist.

Where Are They Now

(February 2004) Appearing in the 2003 Pulitzer winning drama / play "Anna in the Tropics" at the Booth Theatre in New York City. The show opened November 16 and will be closing February 22.

(September 2007) Staring on the CBS television drama series "Cane" (2007).

(September 2008) Has a recurring role as a Miami Assistant District Attorney on Showtime's "Dexter" (2006).