“For minority actors, developing our own projects has to be the eventual path. We have a lot of stories to tell and a really unique voice. But none of that is going to be heard as long as we're just the hired hands, acting.”

American actor

Jimmy L. Smits is an American actor known for television roles that helped define his career. He is especially recognized for playing Attorney Victor Sifuentes on L.A. Law, Detective Bobby Simone on NYPD Blue, and Matt Santos on The West Wing, as well as Bail Organa in the Star Wars franchise. His best-known work spans legal, police, and political drama, along with science fiction films and related projects. Those roles made him a familiar presence on American television, with characters often placed in positions of authority, responsibility, and public service.