Mother was from Puerto Rico and father was from Dutch Guiana (now Surinam)
Before high school, lived for two years in Puerto Rico, where he learned to speak Spanish
Worked as a union labor organizer during his college years
An investor (along with Paul Rodriguez and Jennifer Lopez) in the Conga Room, an L
A
dance club/restaurant that showcases Latino music
Made his big-screen debut in the 1986 buddy-cop film Running Scared
On the political drama West Wing, his character, Democratic president-elect Matthew Santos, was loosely based on Barack Obama, who was not yet even a U
S
senator at the time
Reprised his Star Wars role of Sen
Bail Organa for the popular video game Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
Awards
2008Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series:nominated
2005Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series:nominated
1999Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama:nominated
1998Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series:nominated
1997Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series:nominated
1997Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series:nominated
1997Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series:nominated
1997Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama:nominated
1996Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series:nominated
1996Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama:winner
1996Independent Spirit Awards-Best Male Lead:nominated
1995Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series:nominated
1994Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series:winner
1991Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series:nominated
1989Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series:nominated
1987Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series:nominated