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Esai Morales

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Esai Morales
Morales in 2009
Born
Esai Manuel Morales Jr.

(1962-10-01) October 1, 1962 (age 62)[1]
EducationSchool of Performing Arts
Occupations
  • Actor
  • producer
  • director
  • musician
Years active1982–present
Spouse
Elvimar Silva
(m. 2010)
Children1

Esai Manuel Morales Jr. (born October 1, 1962) is an American actor. He has had notable roles in the films Bad Boys with Sean Penn and La Bamba with Lou Diamond Phillips. His television roles include the PBS 2002 drama series American Family, the Showtime series Resurrection Blvd. (2000–2002), portraying Lt. Tony Rodriguez on NYPD Blue (2001–2003), Joseph Adama in the science fiction series Caprica (2009–2010), Camino del Rio in the Netflix original series Ozark (2017), and the DC Comics supervillain Slade Wilson / Deathstroke in the superhero series Titans (2019).

Morales appeared as Gabriel, the main antagonist in the 2023 spy action film Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One opposite Tom Cruise, a role which he will reprise in the untitled eighth Mission: Impossible film in 2025.

Early life

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Of Puerto Rican descent, Morales was born in Brooklyn to Esai Morales Sr., a welder, and Iris Margarita (née Declet), a union activist involved with the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union.[3] Morales began his pursuit of an acting career by attending the School of Performing Arts in Manhattan.[4]

Career

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His first professional performances were in theater and television in New York. His first major film was Bad Boys (1983), about rival teenagers sentenced to a juvenile correction facility. Morales appeared in a 1985 episode of the TV series Fame. He co-starred with Burt Lancaster in the 1986 NBC miniseries On Wings of Eagles, playing the Iranian Rashid, the hero of a true story about Ross Perot. Morales also appeared in Miami Vice, The Equalizer, and 24.

He played Bob Morales, the real-life ex-convict and biker half-brother of 1950s rock and roll singer Ritchie Valens, in La Bamba (1987). He also played Nicholas Walker in Ultraviolet (1992). Some of his other roles have reflected his socio-political interests, such as The Burning Season in 1994, My Family/Mi Familia in 1995, The Disappearance of Garcia Lorca (1997) and Southern Cross (1999).[5] In the latter three films, as well as in others such as Bloodhounds of Broadway (1989) and Rapa-Nui (1994), Morales saw increased amounts of screen time, starting with a role in the Pauly Shore film In The Army Now (1994). He portrayed a police officer in the film Dogwatch (1996) and Father Herrera in The Virgin of Juarez (2006).[6]

In the 1990s, he guest-starred on episodes of The Outer Limits, Tales from the Crypt, and two shorter-lived series, L.A. Doctors and The Hunger. He appeared in a two-part episode of Family Law in 2000. He was part of the main cast of the long-running series NYPD Blue for three and a half seasons, from 2001 to 2004, as the head of the 15th precinct detective squad.

He played a drug dealer named Lulu in the 2002 film Paid in Full. In 2005, he was a voice actor in the video game True Crime: New York City.

Morales (right) with Grace Park (left) and Eric Stoltz (center)

Morales was cast in the film American Fusion (2005),[7] and in 2006, he joined the cast of the Fox series Vanished, as FBI agent Michael Tyner; the series ran for one season.[8] In 2007, Morales appeared in an episode of the USA Network drama series Burn Notice, as a Cuban shopkeeper being shaken down for "protection" money by local criminals. In 2008, Morales had a role in the CBS drama Jericho, as Major Edward Beck. He appeared in all seven episodes of the shortened second season. That same year, he appeared in Kill Kill Faster Faster, a film noir based on the novel of the same name by Joel Rose.

Morales played the role of Joseph Adama in the science fiction television series CapricaSyfy's prequel to the series Battlestar Galactica.[9][10] The series, though highly anticipated, only ran for one season in 2010. In 2009, he served as an official festival judge for the Noor Iranian Film Festival in Los Angeles.[11]

In 2011, Morales starred in the drama film Gun Hill Road as Enrique,[12] and in the web drama Los Americans airing on PIC.tv.[13] Morales worked with Tony Plana, Yvonne DeLaRosa, Lupe Ontiveros, and JC Gonzalez in Los Americans, an Internet program launched in 2011.

In 2015, Robert Rodriguez cast him as Lord Amancio Malvado for the second season of horror series From Dusk till Dawn: The Series,[14] which was followed in 2017 by a main role in the first season of the Netflix original series Ozark, and then in 2019 in an antagonist role for the second season of the DC Universe superhero series Titans as Slade Wilson / Deathstroke.[15]

Morales appeared in Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One as Gabriel, the film's main villain, a role which he is reprising in the second part.[16]

In 2023, Morales starred in the western thriller Cottonmouth, which is set for release in 2024.[17]

Awards and honors

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In 2005, Morales (along with Mercedes Ruehl) received the Rita Moreno HOLA Award for Excellence from the Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors (HOLA).[citation needed]

He received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Arpa Foundation for Film, Music and Art, for his impact as an actor and role model.[citation needed]

Activism

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Morales has described himself as an "actorvist",[18] primarily as one of the founders of the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts, taking inspiration from his mother, who was an organizer for the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union.[19] He is also interested in environmental issues and was a founding board member of E.C.O. (Earth Communications Office).[20]

In a February 28, 2007, all-star benefit reading of The Gift of Peace at UCLA's Freud Playhouse, he portrayed a hopeful member of a struggling immigrant family. The play was an open appeal and fundraiser for passage of U.S. House Resolution 808, which sought to establish a Cabinet-level "Department of Peace" in the U.S. government, to be funded by a two percent diversion of the Pentagon's annual budget.[21]

Personal life

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Morales is a vegetarian.[22] He has a daughter, born in 2010.[23]

Morales' first name is frequently used in crossword puzzles, because its rare construction makes it a prize for crossword constructors (it is a four-letter word in English that is 75 percent vowels, including the first and last letters). One crossword clue website estimated that between 1994 and 2016, "ESAI" had been used as a crossword answer over 100 times in American papers such as Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, and The Washington Post.[24]

Filmography

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Key
Denotes works that have not yet been released

Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1982 Forty Deuce Mitchell
1983 Bad Boys Paco Moreno
1985 Rainy Day Friends Neekos Valdez
1987 La Bamba Roberto 'Bob' Morales
The Principal Raymundo 'Raymi' Rojas
1989 Bloodhounds of Broadway Jack 'Handsome Jack'
1990 Naked Tango Zico Borenstein
1992 Freejack 'Ripper'
Ultraviolet Nicholas Walker
Bay City Story Jim Duran TV movie
1993 The Waiter Julius Short
Living and Working in Space: The Countdown Has Begun Kenny Video
1994 Rapa-Nui Make
In the Army Now Sergeant Stern
The Burning Season Jair TV movie
Don't Do It Charles
1995 My Family 'Chucho'
Deadlocked: Escape from Zone 14 Tony Archer TV movie
Scorpion Spring Astor
1996 Livers Ain't Cheap Collin
The Disappearance of Garcia Lorca Ricardo
Dying to Be Perfect: The Ellen Hart Pena Story Federico Peña TV movie
Dogwatch Murrow Video
1998 The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit Dominguez
Circle of Deceit Jeff Silva TV movie
1999 Southern Cross Philip Solano
American Virgin Jim The Director
2000 A Family in Crisis: The Elian Gonzales Story Juan Miguel Gonzalez TV movie
Doomsday Man Mike
Spin Cycle Nickens
2002 The Adventures of Tom Thumb and Thumbelina Vergas Mouse (voice) Video
Paid in Full Luis "Lulu" Lujano
2005 Heartless Rick Benes/David Lopez TV movie
Once Upon a Wedding Pineda
2006 The Virgin of Juarez Father Herrera
Fast Food Nation Tony
How to Go Out on a Date in Queens Frankie
2008 Kill Kill Faster Faster Markie
2009 The Line Pelon
2010 Cherry Wes
King of the Avenue Natas
2011 Gun Hill Road Enrique
We Have Your Husband Eduardo Valseca TV movie
2012 Seattle Superstorm Tom TV movie
Atlas Shrugged: Part II Francisco D'Anconia
2013 Playin' for Love Principle Jose Martin
Teachers Manny TV movie
2014 Jarhead 2: Field of Fire Captain Jones Video
2015 Spare Parts Mr. Santillan
2016 Casa Vita Rodrigo Vita TV movie
Never Back Down: No Surrender Hugo Vega Video
2018 Superfly Adalberto Gonzalez
Imprisoned Governor Mandera
2019 The Wall of Mexico Henry Arista
2021 Senior Moment Diego Lozana
2022 Art of Love Professor/Writer
Queen of Manhattan Papi
Master Gardener Oscar Neruda
2023 Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One Gabriel
2024 Crescent City Luke
2025 Untitled eighth Mission: Impossible film Gabriel Filming
TBD The Latin from Manhattan Papi Post-production
War Machine TBA Filming

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1984 ABC Afterschool Special Miguel Rados Episode: "The Great Love Experiment"
1985 The Equalizer Officer Miguel Canterra Episode: "Lady Cop"
Fame George Episode: "Savage Streets"
Miami Vice Pete Romano Episode: "The Home Invaders"
1986 On Wings of Eagles Rashid Episode: "Part I & II"
1987 Miami Vice Felipe Cruz Episode: "God's Work"
1989 The Twilight Zone Jesse Cardiff Episode: "A Game of Pool"
1991-92 The Legend of Prince Valiant Various Roles (voice) Recurring Cast: Season 1
1994 Tales from the Crypt 'Puck' Episode: "The Bribe"
1997 The Outer Limits Frank Kelton Episode: "Heart's Desire"
The Hunger Tony Episode: "I'm Dangerous Tonight"
1998 Adventures from the Book of Virtues Guillermo (voice) Episode: "Charity"
1999 L.A. Doctors Vince Duralde Episode: "The Life Lost in Living"
Atomic Train Noris MacKenzie Episode: "Part I & II"
2000 Family Law Mr. Santiago Episode: "Telling Lies, Conclusion"
2000-02 Resurrection Blvd. Paco Corrales Recurring Cast: Season 1-2, Guest: Season 3
2001-04 NYPD Blue Lieutenant Tony Rodriguez Main Cast: Season 8-11
2002 American Family Esteban Gonzalez Recurring Cast: Season 1
George Lopez Manny Lopez Episode: "Who's Your Daddy?"
2002-03 Dora the Explorer Papi (voice) Recurring Cast: Season 2
2005 Freddie Carlos Episode: "The Courtship of Freddie's Father"
2006 Vanished Michael Tyner Recurring Cast
2007 24: Day 6 Debrief Agent Jorge Ramirez Recurring Cast: Season 6
Burn Notice Ernie Paseo Episode: "Broken Rules"
2008 Jericho Major Edward Beck Recurring Cast: Season 2
2009-10 Caprica Joseph Adama Main Cast
2010 CSI: Miami Stephen Madsen Episode: "All Fall Down"
2011 Los Americans Leandro 'Lee' Valenzuela Main Cast
2011-12 Fairly Legal District Attorney Aaron Davidson Guest: Season 1, Recurring Cast: Season 2
2012 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Jimmy Vasquez Episode: "Home Invasions"
2013 Magic City Carlos "El Tiburon" Ruiz Recurring Cast: Season 2
Major Crimes Deputy Diaz Episode: "Jailbait"
2013-15 Criminal Minds[25] Section Chief Mateo 'Matt' Cruz Guest: Season 9, Recurring Cast: Season 10
2014 Cleaners Father Brooks Recurring Cast: Season 2
2015 The Brink President Julian Navarro Main Cast
From Dusk till Dawn: The Series Lord Amancio Malvado Main Cast: Season 2
Mozart in the Jungle Juan Delgado Recurring Cast: Season 2
2015-16 Blue Bloods Sergeant Trey Delgado Guest Cast: Season 6-7
2016 Hit the Floor Joe Desario Episode: "Til Death Do Us Part"
Adam Ruins Everything Alfonso Episode: "Adam Ruins Immigration"
2016-20 How to Get Away with Murder Jorge Castillo Recurring Cast: Season 3-4 & 6
2017 Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders Section Chief Mateo 'Matt' Cruz Episode: "La Huesuda"
Ozark Camino Del Rio Main Cast: Season 1
Chicago P.D. Police Chief Lugo Recurring Cast: Season 4, Guest: Season 5
2018 Mars Roland St. John Recurring Cast: Season 2
2018-19 NCIS: Los Angeles NCIS Deputy Director Louis Ochoa Recurring Cast: Season 10
2019 Titans Slade Wilson/Deathstroke Main Cast: Season 2
2020 Curb Your Enthusiasm Francisco Episode: "Artificial Fruit"

Video Game

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Year Title Voice role Notes
2005 True Crime: New York City Chief Victor Navarro [26]

References

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  1. ^ Esai Morales Biography, archived from the original on 2016-03-04, retrieved 2011-08-29
  2. ^ "Esai Morales Biography". BuddyTV. 2021-10-26. Archived from the original on 2023-03-21.
  3. ^ Gliatto, Tom (2002-03-25). "Esai Does It". People. Retrieved 2017-04-18.
  4. ^ Esai Morales Biography
  5. ^ "Southern Cross (1999)". Blockbuster. Archived from the original on 2012-10-18.
  6. ^ "The Virgin Of Juarez". StarPulse.
  7. ^ "Cast". AmericanFusionTheMovie.com.
  8. ^ "Vanished: Watch the Last Episode of the Cancelled TV Show". tvseriesfinale.com. 30 December 2008.
  9. ^ "Esai Morales Cast on Caprica — as Adama's Father". TVGuide.
  10. ^ "Caprica star Esai Morales sees parallels with these great stories". Blastr.
  11. ^ Festival, Noor Iranian Film. "2009 Festival Overview". Noor Iranian Film Festival. Retrieved 2019-02-18.
  12. ^ "Gun Hill Road". filmcritic.com. Archived from the original on 2011-08-05.
  13. ^ "Interview with Esai Morales". thecelebritycafe.com. Archived from the original on 2011-02-13.
  14. ^ ""From Dusk Till Dawn" Casts Its 'Lord Amancio Malvado'". Bloody Disgusting. 18 March 2015.
  15. ^ "'Titans': Esai Morales Joins DC Universe As Deathstroke". Deadline. 2019-03-13. Retrieved 2019-03-13.
  16. ^ Couch, Aaron (May 21, 2020). "Esai Morales Replaces Nicholas Hoult in 'Mission: Impossible 7'". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on January 30, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  17. ^ Andreas Wiseman (September 28, 2023). "Martin Sensmeier, Ron Perlman, Esai Morales & Eric Nelsen Lead Western 'Cottonmouth'; Filming Underway In Oklahoma". www.deadline.com. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  18. ^ Introducing the actors who bring American Family to life
  19. ^ ASHA and Film/TV Star Esai Morales Collaborate on Safe Listening Public Service Announcement, 1 August 2011, archived from the original on October 17, 2012
  20. ^ Esai Morales Award-Winning Actor & Activist, archived from the original on 2011-09-24
  21. ^ The Gift of Peace
  22. ^ "Famous Vegetarians - Esai Morales". ivu.org.
  23. ^ "Esai Morales Welcomes Daughter Mariana Oliveira". People.com. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
  24. ^ "Clue: Actor Morales". crosswordtracker.com.
  25. ^ "Exclusive: Esai Morales Joins Criminal Minds as New Section Chief". TVGuide.com. Retrieved July 26, 2013.
  26. ^ Surette, Tim (September 19, 2005). "True Crime: NYC cuffs voice talent". GameSpot. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
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