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Benjamin Bratt | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Bratt at the2024 Toronto International Film Festival | |
| Born | (1963-12-16)December 16, 1963 (age 62) San Francisco,California, U.S. |
| Education | University of California, Santa Barbara (BFA) American Conservatory Theater |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1987–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Kauchani Bratt (nephew) |
Benjamin Bratt (born December 16, 1963) is an American actor. He is known for playing Paco Aguilar inBlood in Blood Out. He had supporting film roles in the 1990s inDemolition Man (1993),Clear and Present Danger (1994) andThe River Wild (1994). From 1995 to 1999, he starred as NYPD Detective Rey Curtis on theNBC drama seriesLaw & Order, for which he received a nomination for thePrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.
In the 2000s, Bratt appeared inMiss Congeniality (2000),Traffic (2000),Piñero (2001),Catwoman (2004),Trucker (2008), andSnitch (2013), among other films. On television, Bratt has portrayed Dr. Jake Reilly onABC'sPrivate Practice (2011–2013), Steve Navarro on24: Live Another Day (2014), Jahil Rivera onStar (2016–2018) and Senator Bail Organa onAndor (2025). He has also done voice acting in theCloudy with a Chance of Meatballs film franchise (2009–2013),Despicable Me 2 (2013) andCoco (2017).
Bratt was born on December 16, 1963, in San Francisco, California[1][2] the third of five children of Eldy (née Banda), a nurse and political activist, and Peter Bratt Sr., a sheet metal worker.[3] His mother was born inLima, Peru, and is ofQuechua descent. She moved to the United States with her family at age 14.[4] His father has English, German, and Austrian ancestry.[5] His paternal grandfather, George, was aBroadway actor.[6]
An activist for Native American rights, Bratt's mother took Bratt, age six, and her other children to participate in the1969 Native American occupation ofAlcatraz. Led by young people from San Francisco, it raised national awareness of issues facing Native Americans and attracted participants from across the country.[7]
Bratt attendedLowell High School in San Francisco, where he was a member of theLowell Forensic Society. Bratt earned a B.F.A. at theUniversity of California, Santa Barbara in 1986, where he joined theLambda Chi Alpha fraternity.[8] Enrolled in the M.F.A. program at theAmerican Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, he left before receiving his degree to star in the 1988 television filmJuarez.[7]
Bratt started his professional acting career at theUtah Shakespeare Festival, where he played supporting roles in Much Ado About Nothing, Richard III and The Comedy of Errors during their 1987 season.He starred in the 1988 television filmJuarez which received critical acclaim. He then landed a supporting role in the television filmPolice Story: Gladiator School. He had his first film role as Esteban inLovers, Partners & Spies, which did not perform well at the box office. Bratt worked extensively in television, with roles in theKnightwatch andNasty Boys series. In 1989, he starred in the filmNasty Boys, based on the television series.
After several low-budget films and television films, includingOne Good Cop andShadow Hunter, in 1993, Bratt appeared in two Hollywood films. He portrayed a gang member turned LAPD officer named Paco Aguilar inBlood in Blood Out, and Officer Alfredo Garcia inDemolition Man. The following year, he played supporting roles in the popular filmsThe River Wild,Clear and Present Danger, andJames A. Michener's Texas.
Returning to television, he played Detective Reynaldo Curtis in the seriesLaw & Order replacingChris Noth, which gained him international recognition. He reprised the role inHomicide: Life on the Street andExiled: A Law & Order Movie. For his role, he received threeAmerican Latino Media Arts Awards, threeScreen Actors Guild Awards nominations, and aPrimetime Emmy Award nomination.
In 1999, Bratt decided to leaveLaw & Order. "I've felt like it was time to get back home to my family," Bratt said. "How do you walk away from the best job in the world and a group of people that you've grown to love? It's not easy, and it was an extremely difficult decision that I had to make."[9][10] On May 26, 1999, Bratt's final episode was aired. In 2009, Bratt returned as the now-retired Curtis onLaw & Order, where he was reunited with his former boss, Lt.Anita Van Buren (S. Epatha Merkerson), in the episode that aired on December 11, 2009. He returned to his film career that same year.
In 2000, Bratt appeared inThe Next Best Thing. That same year, he played oppositeSandra Bullock in the romantic comedyMiss Congeniality and had a small role in the ensemble workTraffic. In 2004, the actor co-starred inCatwoman. Bratt often portraysHispanic characters, especially in his later work. Bratt said, "I've played 'Latin-looking spiv, third from the right so many times I can't count." In 2001, he starred in the biopic filmPiñero, for which he received an American Latino Media Arts Award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture. He playedPuerto Rican actor and poetMiguel Piñero. Piñero was bisexual and when talking about Bratt having to portray his bisexuality, Bratt stated that this was "certainly something I wasn't afraid of." He went on to say, "Whether you're talking about Miguel's sexuality or his time spent in jail or his petty crime or his drug addiction, each one of those things is a component that makes up the entirety of the man."[11] In 2009, Bratt performed inThe People Speak, a documentary feature film that uses dramatic and musical performances of the letters, diaries, and speeches of everyday Americans, based on historianHoward Zinn'sA People's History of the United States. That year he starred in and produced the filmLa Mission, directed by his brother, Peter Bratt. His later films includeThe Woodsman,Thumbsucker,The Great Raid,Trucker,Snitch,Ride Along 2,The Infiltrator, andDoctor Strange.
Bratt has appeared in several television shows since 2000, including starring as William Banks inThe Cleaner, Dr. Jake Reilly inPrivate Practice, and Jahil Rivera onStar. He appeared in such series asFrasier,Modern Family,24: Live Another Day,DMZ, andPoker Face.
Bratt has been featured in several animated feature films, which include El Macho, the main antagonist ofDespicable Me 2. He played Manny the cameraman inCloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and reprised his role in its sequelCloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2. Also, in 2015, he voicedSuperman inJustice League: Gods and Monsters. In the 2017 filmCoco, Bratt voiced its main antagonist, Ernesto de la Cruz, who was a Mexican folk legend and the idol of the film's protagonist, Miguel. Bratt sings "Remember Me", a song in the film that is sung by many other characters throughout and wonBest Original Song at the2018 Academy Awards and the film wonBest Animated Feature.
In 2025, Bratt joined the cast of theDisney+Star Wars seriesAndor for its second season, portraying Senator Bail Organa, who had previously been played byJimmy Smits in priorStar Wars productions.[12]
Bratt has been active in theAmerican Indian Movement and supports such causes as theAmerican Indian College Fund.[7]
He narratedWe Shall Remain (2009), aPBS miniseries about Native Americans, and part of itsAmerican Experience.[13]
Bratt has supported and served as a board member of the San Francisco Bay Area's Friendship House Association of American Indians and the Native American Health Center.[14] Bratt also has supported area organizations such as the Tribal Athletics Program, and United Indian Nations.[7]
In 2002, Bratt andPriscilla López received the Rita Moreno Award for Excellence from theHispanic Organization of Latin Actors (HOLA).[15]
In 2017, Bratt served as consulting producer for the filmDolores, which explores the life ofDolores Huerta, an American labor leader and civil rights activist. The film received critical acclaim and several awards.
In 2023, Bratt co-executive producedWings of Dust, a documentary about water contamination in the Peruvian community ofEspinar.
From 1998 to 2001, Bratt dated actressJulia Roberts.[16]
In 2002, he began dating actress and formerBond girlTalisa Soto; they married on April 13 in San Francisco. The two had met ten years earlier during a casting audition. During the filming ofPiñero (2001) they began to develop a relationship. Their first child, daughter Sophia Rosalinda Bratt, was born on December 6, 2002; their second child, son Mateo Bravery Bratt, was born on October 3, 2005.[17][18]
In 2024, Bratt was awarded an honorary doctorate bySan Francisco State University.[19]
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| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Lovers, Partners & Spies | Esteban | |
| 1990 | Bright Angel | Claude | |
| 1991 | One Good Cop | Detective Felix | |
| Chains of Gold | Carlos | ||
| 1993 | Blood in Blood Out | Paco Aguilar | |
| Demolition Man | Officer Alfredo Garcia | ||
| 1994 | Clear and Present Danger | Captain Ramírez | |
| The River Wild | Ranger Johnny | ||
| 1996 | Follow Me Home | Abel | Also producer |
| 2000 | The Next Best Thing | Ben Cooper | |
| The Last Producer | Damon Black | ||
| Red Planet | Lieutenant Ted Santen | ||
| Miss Congeniality | FBI Agent Eric Matthews | ||
| Traffic | Juan Obregón | ||
| 2001 | Piñero | Miguel Piñero | |
| 2002 | Abandon | Detective Wade Handler | |
| 2004 | The Woodsman | Carlos | |
| Catwoman | Detective Tom Lone | ||
| 2005 | Thumbsucker | Matt Schramm | |
| The Great Raid | Lieutenant ColonelHenry Mucci | ||
| 2007 | Love in the Time of Cholera | Dr. Juvenal Urbino | |
| 2008 | Trucker | Leonard 'Len' Bonner | |
| 2009 | Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs | Manny(voice) | |
| The People Speak | Himself | ||
| La Mission | Che Rivera | Also producer | |
| 2013 | Snitch | Juan Carlos 'El Topo' Pintera | |
| The Lesser Blessed | Jed | ||
| Despicable Me 2 | Eduardo Pérez / El Macho(voice) | ||
| Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 | Manny(voice) | ||
| 2015 | Justice League: Gods and Monsters | Lor-Zod / Hernan Guerra /Superman(voice) | |
| 2016 | Ride Along 2 | Antonio Pope | |
| Special Correspondents | John Baker | ||
| The Infiltrator | Roberto Alcaino | ||
| Doctor Strange | Jonathan Pangborn | ||
| 2017 | Shot Caller | Sheriff Sanchez | |
| Coco | Ernesto de la Cruz(voice) | ||
| Dolores | N/a | Consulting producer | |
| 2019 | A Score to Settle | Q / San Quentin | |
| 2020 | Best Summer Ever | Daphne's Dad | |
| 2022 | Wings of Dust | N/a | Short film; executive producer |
| Dead for a Dollar | Tiberio Vargas | ||
| 2024 | Mother of the Bride | Will Jackson | |
| Millers in Marriage | Johnny | ||
| TBA | Balls Up† | TBA |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Juarez | Sergeant Rosendo Juarez | Television film |
| 1988 | Police Story: Gladiator School | Officer Dave Ramirez | Television film |
| 1988–1989 | Knightwatch | Tony Maldonado | 9 episodes |
| 1989 | Nasty Boys | Eduardo Cruz | Television film |
| 1989–1990 | Nasty Boys | 13 episodes | |
| 1990 | Capital News | Carlos Torres | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 1993 | Shadowhunter | Nakai Twobear | Television film |
| 1994 | Texas | Benito Garza | Television film |
| 1995–2009 | Law & Order | Detective Reynaldo Curtis | Main role (seasons 6–9); guest role (season 20); 95 episodes |
| 1996 | Late Night with Conan O'Brien | Episode: "Jim Breuer/Matt Frewer/Spacehog" | |
| Woman Undone | Jim Mercer | Television film | |
| 1996–1999 | Homicide: Life on the Street | Detective Reynaldo Curtis | 3 episodes |
| 1998 | Exiled: A Law & Order Movie | Television film | |
| 2001 | After the Storm | Arno | Television film |
| 2003 | Frasier | Kevin(voice) | Episode: "The Doctor Is Out" |
| 2005–2006 | E-Ring | Lieutenant Colonel Jim Tisnewski | 23 episodes |
| 2008 | The Andromeda Strain | Dr. Jeremy Stone | 2 episodes |
| 2008–2009 | The Cleaner | William Banks | 26 episodes; also producer |
| 2009 | American Experience | Narrator | 3 episodes |
| 2010–2020 | Modern Family | Javier Delgado | 6 episodes |
| 2011–2013 | Private Practice | Dr. Jake Reilly | 36 episodes |
| 2014 | 24: Live Another Day | Steve Navarro | Television miniseries |
| 2015 | Justice League: Gods and Monsters Chronicles | Lor-Zod / Hernan Guerra / Superman(voice) | Episode: "Bomb" |
| 2016–2018 | Star | Jahil Rivera | 33 episodes |
| 2021 | Soul of a Nation | N/a | Episode: "Soul of a Nation Presents: Corazón de América – Celebrating Hispanic Culture"; director |
| 2022 | DMZ | Parco Delgado | Television miniseries |
| 2023 | Poker Face | Cliff LeGrand | 5 episodes |
| Skull Island | Cap(voice) | 7 episodes | |
| 2024 | Loot | Himself | Episode: "Mr. Congeniality" |
| 2025 | Andor | Bail Organa | 3 episodes |
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | NCLR Bravo Awards | Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series | Law & Order | Nominated | [20] |
| 1997 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Nominated | [21] | |
| 1998 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Nominated | [22] | ||
| American Latino Media Arts Awards | Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series | Won | [23] | ||
| 1999 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Nominated | [24] | |
| American Latino Media Arts Awards | Outstanding Actor in Made-for-Television Movie or Mini-Series | Exiled: A Law & Order Movie | Won | [25] | |
| Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series | Law & Order | Won | [25] | ||
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series | Nominated | [26] | ||
| 2001 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture | Traffic | Won | [27] |
| Golden Raspberry Awards | Worst Screen Combo | The Next Best Thing(shared withMadonna) | Nominated | [28] | |
| Blockbuster Entertainment Awards | Favorite Supporting Actor – Comedy | Miss Congeniality | Won | [29] | |
| 2002 | American Latino Media Arts Awards | Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture | Piñero | Won | [30] |
| Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors Awards | Rita Moreno Award for Excellence | Won | [31] | ||
| 2005 | Golden Raspberry Awards | Worst Screen Combo | Catwoman(shared withHalle Berry) | Nominated | [32] |
| 2009 | Imagen Awards | Best Actor/Television | The Cleaner | Nominated | [33] |
| PRISM Awards | Performance in a Drama Multi-Episode Storyline | Nominated | [34] | ||
| American Latino Media Arts Awards | Year in TV Drama – Actor | Won | [35] | ||
| 2010 | Imagen Awards | Best Actor – Film | La Mission | Won | [36] |
| Oaxaca FilmFest | Best Actor | Won | [37] | ||
| 2012 | American Latino Media Arts Awards | Favorite TV Actor – Drama | Private Practice | Nominated | [38] |
| Red Nation Film Festival | Outstanding Supporting Actor in Television Mini-Series/MOW/Television Show | Nominated | [39] | ||
| 2013 | Imagen Awards | Best Actor/Television | Nominated | [40] | |
| 2019 | News and Documentary Emmy Awards | Outstanding Business and Economic Documentary | Dolores | Nominated | [41] |
| 2022 | Imagen Awards | Best Supporting Actor – Drama (Television) | DMZ | Nominated | [42] |
| 2023 | Imagen Awards | Best Supporting Actor – Comedy (Television) | Poker Face | Won | [43] |
| 2024 | Hollywood Critics Association Awards | Best Supporting Actor in a Streaming Comedy Series | Nominated | [44] | |
In a statement via the New York Post, Bratt said: "After four years I've felt like it was time to get back home to my family. "How do you walk away from the best job in the world, and a group of people you've grown to love?" He said it was an "extremely difficult decision" and hoped he would be able to work with his Law and Order co-stars again.
Benjamin Bratt is leaving the show at the end of the season to be replaced by Jesse L. Martin, who plays Calista Flockhart's doctor- boyfriend on Ally McBeal, producer Dick Wolf said. "How do you walk away from the best job in the world and a group of people that you've grown to love?" Bratt said. "It's not easy, and it was an extremely difficult decision that I had to make."
