“I think education was the key for me, and that's what I tell kids. That base in the classics gave me something to springboard from, which I wouldn't have had if I'd come out to Los Angeles early and been guest punk of the week on 'Hill Street Blues.'”

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.