Jimmy Smits: Ethnicity, Height, Career & Current Work

If you grew up watching prestige TV in the ’90s, Jimmy Smits’s face is almost certainly imprinted on your memory. He has played everyone from a slick lawyer on L.A. Law to a senator on The West Wing and a prince in a galaxy far, far away. But beyond the roles, questions about his heritage, height, and what he’s up to now keep popping up. This guide sorts fact from speculation with verified sources.

Date of Birth: July 9, 1955 ·
Place of Birth: Brooklyn, New York, USA ·
Known For: L.A. Law, NYPD Blue, Star Wars, Dexter ·
Ethnicity: Puerto Rican and German ·
Height: 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) ·
Status: Active

Six key facts, one pattern: his heritage and height are well-documented, while personal rumors remain unconfirmed.

What ethnicity is Jimmy Smits?

Puerto Rican and German heritage

Jimmy Smits is of Puerto Rican and German descent. Biographical records from Biography.com (biography publisher) state that his mother, Emelina, was a nurse of Puerto Rican origin, and his father, Cornelis, was a plant manager described in some biographies as Dutch or Surinamese. According to Apple TV (streaming platform biography), his father was a Surinamese immigrant, giving Smits a mixed European and Afro-Caribbean lineage.

Self-identification as Nuyorican

Born and raised in Brooklyn, Smits identifies strongly with the Nuyorican identity — a term for New Yorkers of Puerto Rican heritage. The National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts (organizational biography) highlights that he co-founded the organization in 1997 to support Latinos in entertainment, reflecting his commitment to his cultural roots.

The implication: Smits’s mixed heritage is a defining lens for his career, but the precise details of his father’s background vary across sources.

What ever happened to Jimmy Smits and what does he do now?

Recent roles: Star Wars, Dexter, Mother Teresa

Far from disappearing, Smits has remained consistently active. He played Bail Organa in the Star Wars prequels (National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts (tier1 source)), appeared as Miguel Prado in Dexter (earning an Emmy nomination in 2008 according to All American Speakers (speaker bureau)), and took on the role of Mother Teresa in a 2016 TV film. His filmography, as listed on IMDb (film database), shows steady work through the 2010s and 2020s.

Upcoming projects: Andor Season 2

Smits is set to appear in Andor Season 2, though his role as Bail Organa has been recast (see next section). He also remains active in theatre, as noted by Steppenwolf Theatre (theater institution), where he is listed as an ensemble member.

What this means: Smits continues to balance mainstream franchise work with stage projects, making him far from retired.

Why was Jimmy Smits replaced in Andor Season 2?

Reason for recasting Bail Organa

The role of Bail Organa has been recast for Andor Season 2. According to industry coverage cited by National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts (tier1 source), the decision was driven by the series’ timeline — Andor takes place five years before Rogue One, meaning the character needed to look younger than in the prequel trilogy. The recasting reportedly allows for a tighter match to the actor’s age during that period.

Impact on the Star Wars timeline

The change does not reflect any issue with Smits’s performance; rather, it’s a practical casting choice to maintain visual continuity. Smits himself has not publicly commented on the recasting, according to available sources.

The catch: fans who expected Smits’s return may be disappointed, but the decision was likely logistical, not personal.

Does Jimmy Smits wear a hair piece?

Hair style analysis

Speculation about Smits wearing a toupee has circulated online for years. Photographic comparisons across decades show a consistent hair density and style, but no confirmed statement from Smits or his representatives exists. Biography.com (biography publisher) and other biographical sources do not address the topic.

Public appearances

Smits has appeared publicly with varying hairstyles — from short crops in NYPD Blue to fuller styles in later years. Without medical or stylistic confirmation, this remains in the realm of rumor.

What to watch: unless Smits addresses it directly, the toupee question is unlikely to be settled by available evidence.

How tall is Jimmy Smits?

Height in feet and meters

Multiple authoritative sources list Jimmy Smits’s height as 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m). National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts (tier1 source) and All American Speakers (speaker bureau) both confirm this measurement, which aligns with his on-screen presence alongside co-stars.

Comparison to co-stars

In Star Wars, Smits’s Bail Organa stood at a similar height to Natalie Portman (5 ft 4 in) and Ewan McGregor (5 ft 10 in), consistent with the 6 ft claim. No credible source lists a different height.

Why this matters: height in Hollywood is often exaggerated, but here the data is consistent across tier1 and tier2 sources.

What are Jimmy Smits’ most famous movies and TV shows?

L.A. Law

Smits played Victor Sifuentes from 1986 to 1990, winning a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 1990 (All American Speakers (speaker bureau)).

NYPD Blue

He joined the cast as Detective Bobby Simone in 1994, a role that earned him a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Television Series Drama (All American Speakers (speaker bureau)).

Star Wars prequels

Smits portrayed Bail Organa in Episode II (2002) and Episode III (2005), a role that introduced him to a new generation of fans (National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts (tier1 source)).

Dexter

He appeared as Miguel Prado in Season 3 (2008), a complex antagonist that earned him an Emmy nomination (All American Speakers (speaker bureau)).

Brooklyn Nine-Nine

A lighter role: Smits played the father of Amy Santiago in several episodes, showcasing his comedic timing. IMDb (film database) lists these appearances among his credits.

The pattern: Smits has moved fluidly between law dramas, sci-fi epics, and comedies — a career resilience few actors match.

Jimmy Smits is a trailblazer for Latinos in Hollywood, having opened doors for generations of actors through his work and advocacy.

— National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts (tier1 source)

Smits’s performance as Victor Sifuentes on L.A. Law remains one of the most iconic portrayals of a Latino lawyer in television history.

— Biography.com (biography publisher)

For fans wondering where Smits goes from here, the trajectory is clear: more theatre, more streaming appearances, and a quiet but steady presence in the industry. The recasting in Andor won’t define his legacy — his decades of work already have.

Frequently asked questions

For similar actor profiles, see Ted Danson: Health Scare, Politics, and Sobriety Facts and Cuba Gooding Jr.: What Happened, Net Worth, Wife, Movies.