Person
Esai Morales
Acting · Born 1962-10-01 · Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
Biography
Esai Manuel Morales Jr. (born October 1, 1962) is an American actor. He has had notable roles in 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 reprised in Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning in 2025.
Known for
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Jimmy Vazquez
Criminal Minds
Mateo Cruz
CSI: Miami
Stephen Madsen
NCIS: Los Angeles
Louis Ochoa
Chicago P.D.
Chief Lugo
Real Time with Bill Maher
Self
NYPD Blue
Tony Rodriguez
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Francisco
Miami Vice
Felipe Cruz
How to Get Away with Murder
Jorge Castillo
Filmography
- 2027Live Like That
- 2026Dark HorsePaulo Pontes
- 2026War MachineArmy Officer Torres
- 2025Queen of ManhattanPapi
- 2025CottonmouthAbe
- 2025Mission: Impossible - The Final ReckoningGabriel
- 2025Side QuestGustavo
- 2024Crescent CityLuke Carson
- 2023Can't Go HomeVictor Castelo
- 2023Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part OneGabriel
- 2023Master GardenerOscar Neruda
- 2021Art of Love
- 2021Senior MomentDiego Lozana
- 2021More Than Miyagi: The Pat Morita StorySelf
- 2020The Wall of MexicoHenry Arista
- 2020Find Your GrooveSelf
- 2019Raúl Juliá: The World’s a StageSelf
- 2019ImprisonedGovernor Mandera
- 2018TitansSlade Wilson / Deathstroke
- 2018SuperFlyAdalberto Gonzalez
- 2018Love and Other Stunts
- 2017Halfway ThereIan Sanchez
- 2017OzarkCamino 'Del' Del Rio
- 2016MarsMike Glenn / Lt. Michael Glenn
- 2016Never Back Down: No SurrenderHugo Vega
- 2016Casa VitaRodrigo Vita
- 2015Adam Ruins Everything
- 2015The BrinkPresident Julian Navarro
- 2015Spare PartsMr. Santillan
- 2015Playin' for LovePrinciple Jose Marti
- 2014How to Get Away with MurderJorge Castillo
- 2014Jarhead 2: Field of FireCpt. Jones
- 2014Give Me ShelterHimself - Animal Advocate
- 2014The Journey of a Female Comic
- 2014From Dusk Till Dawn: Making the First Season
- 2014From Dusk Till Dawn: The SeriesAmancio Malvado
- 2014Mozart in the JungleJuan Delgado
- 2014Chicago P.D.Chief Lugo
- 2013Saving Westbrook HighManny
- 2012Atlas Shrugged: Part IIFrancisco d'Anconia
- 2012Major CrimesDeputy Manuel Diaz
- 2012Seattle SuperstormTom Foster
- 201117th PrecinctLiam Butterfield
- 2011We Have Your HusbandEduardo Valseca
- 2011Gun Hill RoadEnrique Rodriguez
- 2011Fairly LegalAaron Davidson
- 2010CherryWes
- 2010King of the AvenueNatas
- 2010CapricaJoseph Adama
- 2009Celebrity Ghost StoriesSelf
- 2009Celebrity HablaSelf
- 2009NCIS: Los AngelesLouis Ochoa
- 2009The LinePelon
- 2008Kill Kill Faster FasterMarkie
- 2007The CureJorge
- 2007Burn NoticeErnie Paseo
- 200724: Day six DebriefAgent Jorge Ramirez
- 2007The Manufacturing of 'Fast Food Nation'Self
- 2006Fast Food NationTony
- 2006JerichoMajor Edward Beck
- 2006VanishedMichael Tyner
- 2006How to Go Out on a Date in QueensFrankie
- 2006The Virgin of JuarezFather Herrera
- 2005FreddieCarlos
- 2005Criminal MindsMateo Cruz
- 2005Once Upon a WeddingPineda
- 2005Lethal SeductionRick Benes / David Lopez
- 2005American FusionJose
- 2004SudburyGary Hallet
- 2004On Air with Ryan SeacrestSelf
- 2003The Adventures of Tom Thumb and ThumbelinaVargas Mouse (voice)
- 2003Celebrities UncensoredSelf
- 2003ABC's 50th Anniversary CelebrationSelf
- 2003Real Time with Bill MaherSelf
- 2002Paid in FullLulu
- 2002CSI: MiamiStephen Madsen
- 2002The Bronze Screen: 100 Years of the Latino Image in American Cinema
- 2002George LopezManny Lopez
- 2002American FamilyEsteban Gonzalez
- 2000Doomsday ManMike
- 2000Curb Your EnthusiasmFrancisco
- 2000A Family in Crisis: The Elian Gonzales StoryJuan Miguel Gonzalez
- 2000Dora the ExplorerPapi (voice)
- 2000American VirginJim the Director
- 1999Family LawMr. Santiago
- 1999Law & Order: Special Victims UnitJimmy Vazquez
- 1999Southern CrossPhilip Solano
- 1999Atomic TrainNoris MacKenzie
- 1998L.A. DoctorsVince Duralde
- 1998Circle of DeceitJeff Silva
- 1998The Wonderful Ice Cream SuitDominguez
- 1997Dog WatchMurrow
- 1997The HungerTony
- 1996Dying to Be Perfect: The Ellen Hart Pena StoryFederico Pena
- 1996Death in GranadaRicardo
- 1996Scorpion SpringAstor
- 1996The Real ThingCollin
- 1995Somos un solo puebloSelf
- 1995Deadlocked: Escape from Zone 14Tony Archer
- 1995My FamilyChucho
- 1995The Outer LimitsFrank Kelton
- 1994Don't Do ItCharles
- 1994The Burning SeasonJair
- 1994In the Army NowSgt. Stern
- 1994Rapa NuiMake
- 1993NYPD BlueTony Rodriguez
- 1993The WaiterJulius
- 1993Living and Working in Space: The Countdown Has BegunKenny
- 1992UltravioletNicholas Walker
- 1992FreejackRipper
- 1992Bay City Story
- 1990Naked TangoZico Borenstein
- 1989Bloodhounds of BroadwayHandsome Jack
- 1989Tales from the CryptPuck
- 1987The PrincipalRaymi Rojas
- 1987La BambaBob Morales
- 1986On Wings of EaglesRashid
- 1985Rainy Day FriendsNeekos Valdez
- 1985The Twilight Zone
- 1985The EqualizerOfficer Miguel Canterra
- 1984Miami ViceFelipe Cruz
- 1983Bad BoysPaco Moreno
- 1982Forty DeuceMitchell
- 1982American PlayhouseHandsome Jack
- 1982Fame
- —So Much for LoveGeoffrey
- —CoyoteHernán Barroca
- —Tumor
- —Company TownRay Dupre
- —The AmericansLee Valenzuela
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