Jacob Vargas (born August 18, 1971) is a Mexican-American actor, producer, and dancer.

Jacob Vargas
Vargas in 2016
Born (1971-08-18) August 18, 1971 (age 53)
Occupations
  • Actor
  • producer
  • dancer
Years active1985–present
SpouseSylvia Arzate
Children2

Early life

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Vargas was born in Michoacán, Mexico, and raised in Pacoima, Los Angeles, California.[1] He was raised in a devout Roman Catholic family.[2] He attended high school at San Fernando High School in San Fernando, California.

Career

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Vargas has been a working actor for over thirty years.

In 1992, Vargas appeared in American Me. In 1995, Vargas won the very first ALMA Award (for Emerging Artist of the Year) for his work in both Allison AndersMi Vida Loca, and Gregory Nava's My Family. In 1995, Vargas would appear in Get Shorty. In 1997, Vargas appeared in Romy and Michele's High School Reunion. In 1999, Vargas became the voice of Max Steel.[3]

In 2000, Vargas played Benicio del Toro's partner Manolo in director Steven Soderbergh's drug trafficking pic Traffic, which earned him a Screen Actors Guild Award and another ALMA Award. The same year he also played the Joker from the Joker Brothers in the Next Friday. He played A.B. Quintanilla, the brother of the late Tejano singer Selena in the biopic film of the same name. In 2002, Vargas would play Caesar Chavez in FX Network's film RFK. In 2004, Vargas played Sammy the chef in John Moore's Flight of the Phoenix.

In 2005, Vargas co-starred with Paul Walker and Laurence Fishburne in The Death and Life of Bobby Z.[4] and also played Marine sniper Cortez in Sam Mendes' war drama Jarhead. In 2006, Vargas played a politically charged busboy in Emilio Estevez's historical drama Bobby. In 2010, Vargas played Ramirez, a building security officer, in Devil. 2011, Vargas played the father of Water Enrique Murciano and Power Nicholas Gonzalez in this true story.[5]

From 2013 to 2014, Vargas played Montez on two seasons of Sons of Anarchy and six episodes of Mayans M.C.

In 2014, Vargas played Richard Chavez opposite Michael Peña in the biopic Cesar Chavez directed by Diego Luna.

In 2015, Vargas played Edison "Elvis" Peña in the film The 33, It is the true story of the 33 Chilean miners that were trapped for 69 days.

In 2016, Vargas reoccurred as Domingo Colon in the Netflix series Luke Cage. In 2016, Vargas also reoccurred in Colony, Amazon Studio's Hand of God and he co-stars in Hulu's Crushed.[6] In 2019, Vargas co-starred in Max Carlson's Princess of the Row opposite Martin Sheen and Ana Ortiz. He also co-starred in Peel.[7]

From 2019 to 2020, Vargas was a regular on the Netflix series Mr. Iglesias.[8][9]

In 2020, Jacob Vargas and Justina Machado were Masters of Ceremonies at the National Hispanic Media Coalition Impact Awards.[10]

Personal life

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He is married to Sylvia Arzate. They have two daughters, Rosa, born in 2004 and Victoria, born in 2011.[11] Vargas has four brothers and one sister.

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1986 The Children of Times Square Alberto TV movie
Miracle of the Heart: A Boys Town Story Enrique Mendoza TV movie
Last Resort Carlos
1987 Ernest Goes to Camp Butch "Too Cool" Vargas
The Principal Arturo Diego
1988 Little Nikita Miguel
1989 Crack House Danny
1990 The Big One: The Great Los Angeles Earthquake Miguel TV movie
1991 Never Forget Student TV movie
Seeds of Tragedy Cholo #2 TV movie
1992 Gas Food Lodging Javier
American Me Paulito Santana - Age 15
Steel Justice Arturo Gomez TV movie
Judgment Hispanic Boy
1993 Mi Vida Loca Ernesto "Bullet"
Airborne "Snake"
Silent Rain Dave Alvers Short
Fatal Instinct Flower Delivery Man
1994 Huck and the King of Hearts Pedro
1995 My Family Young Jose Sánchez
Crimson Tide Sonarman #2
Hotel Oasis Young Book Salesman Short
Get Shorty Yayo Portillo
1997 Selena A.B. Quintanilla
Romy and Michele's High School Reunion Ramón
Santa Fe Jesus
1998 The Hi-Lo Country Delfino Mondragon
2000 Next Friday "Joker"
Traffic Manolo Sanchez
2001 Come and Take It Day Miguel
Dr. Dolittle 2 Pepito (voice)
She-Bat Zer Short
2002 Road Dogz Danny Pacheco
Final Breakdown Gonzalez
Dragonfly Victor
RFK Cesar Chavez TV movie
2004 Memoirs of an Evil Stepmother Vincent Enano Short
Flight of the Phoenix Sammi
2005 The Wendell Baker Story Reyes Morales
Jarhead Private First Class Juan Cortez
2006 The Virgin of Juarez Detective Lauro
Bobby Miguel
National Lampoon's TV: The Movie Tijuana Cop #2
2007 The Hills Have Eyes 2 Private First Class Carlos "Crank" Medina
Are We Done Yet? Mike, The Plumber
The Death and Life of Bobby Z Jorge Escobar
2008 Love Lies Bleeding Detective Billy Jones Video
Sleep Dealer Rudy Ramirez
Death Race Gunner
2009 Tom Cool -
2010 Devil Ramirez [12]
2011 Reunion Male Lead Short
Machine Gun Justice J.J. Magnum Short
2012 Filmmaker Intervention - Short
Gotten Pimp Short
El cocodrilo Eduardo Short
2013 Go for Sisters Navajas
Water & Power Asuncion Garcia
2014 The Tell-Tale Heart Adams
Cesar Chavez Richard Chavez
Red Sky Jorge "P-Dawg" Vasquez
The Valley in the Struggle The Narrator Video
Heaven Is for Real Michael
2015 The 33 Edison Peña
In Between the Gutter and the Stars Daniel Short
2016 Crossing Point Jesus
Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life Animation Voices (voice)
King of LA Ignacio Short
2017 Beyond Skyline Officer Garcia
2018 The Public Ernesto
Endgame Alberto Short
2019 Peel Chuck
Princess of the Row Donald
2021 Plan B Pastor Pedro
2022 KIMI Glasses Thug
Satanic Hispanics El Jefe

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1986 Hunter Emilio Morales Episode: "Fagin 1986"
Disneyland Student #2 Episode: "The B.R.A.T. Patrol"
1987 The New Gidget Enrique Episode: "Oddballs"
The Tracey Ullman Show Taco Place Manager Episode: "Episode #2.3"
1989 Hard Time on Planet Earth Billy Episode: "The Hot Dog Man"
1991 The New Adam-12 Collins Episode: "D.A.R.E."
Nurses Luis Episode: "Begone with the Wind"
1992 Full House Enrique Episode: "Educating Jesse"
1995 Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child Prince Luis (voice) Episode: "Sleeping Beauty"
JAG Corporal Cortez Episode: "War Cries"
ER "Diablo" Episode: "A Miracle Happens Here"
1996 Malibu Shores Benny Main Cast
The Pretender Javi Padillo Episode: "Every Picture Tells a Story"
1997 Clueless Ricardo Episode: "Salsa, Chlorine & Tears"
2000–01 Max Steel Dr. Roberto Martinez (voice) Recurring Cast
2001 Six Feet Under Manuel "Paco" Bolin Episode: "Familia"
2002 The Brothers García "Chuey" Episode: "West Side Stories"
Watching Ellie Miguel Episode: "Gift"
The Proud Family Big Alto (voice) Episode: "The Altos"
2002–03 Greetings from Tucson Ernesto Tiant Main Cast
2003 Kingpin Ernesto "El Huevudo" Romo Episode: "Pilot"
2004 CSI: NY Luis Torres Episode: "Outside Man"
2006 Numbers Victor Borrego Episode: "Mind Games"
2007–08 Moonlight Guillermo Gasol Recurring Cast
2009 Cold Case Angelo Rivera Episode: "Dead Heat"
2010 Burn Notice Omar Hernandez Episode: "Friendly Fire"
The Good Guys Tico Episode: "Little Things"
Psych Juan Lava Episode: "The Polarizing Express"
2011 Medium Eduardo Garcia Episode: "Me Without You"
CSI: Miami Felix Medina Episode: "Last Stand"
2012 Christine Roy Episode: "Roy"
2013 Kroll Show Himself Episode: "Soaked in Success"
The Mentalist Chief Rick Anaya Episode: "The Red Barn"
2013–14 Blue Roy Recurring Cast: Season 2, Guest: Season 3
Sons of Anarchy Allesandro "Domingo" Montez Recurring Cast: Season 6-7
2015 Complications Ramon Episode: "Infection"
2015–2017 Hand of God Julio Farkas Recurring Cast: Season 1, Guest: Season 2
2016 Colony Carlos Recurring Cast: Season 1
Luke Cage Domingo Colon Recurring Cast: Season 1
2017 Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams Mario Episode: "Real Life"
Tarantula Paja (voice) Main Cast
2018 Mosaic Horacio Main Cast
2019 Young Justice: Outsiders Cisco Ramon (voice) Episode: "Exceptional Human Beings"
2019–20 Mr. Iglesias Tony Ochoa Main Cast
2020 Solar Opposites - (voice) Episode: "The Quantum Ring"
Game On: A Comedy Crossover Event Tony Ochoa Episode: "Mr. Iglesias: Olympic Effort"
2019–21 Mayans M.C. Allesandro "Domingo" Montez Recurring Cast: Season 2–3
2022 Surfside Girls Bob Recurring Cast
2023 National Treasure: Edge of History Rafael Recurring Cast
Lopez vs Lopez Javier Episode: "Lopez vs Primos"

Audio books

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Year Title Role
2015 Rain of the Ghosts Sebastian Bohique

References

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  1. ^ "Jacob Vargas Biography (1970?-)". www.filmreference.com. Retrieved 2022-12-18.
  2. ^ Ocana, Damarys (2010-09-13). ".Jacob Vargas from 'Devil': "The devil manifests itself in many ways, like SB 1070"". Latina. Retrieved 2010-01-07. I grew up Catholic so my parents always instilled fear of the Devil in us (and la chancla).
  3. ^ Bartney, Rashonda (Oct 19, 1999). "Kids' WB! ordering Sony 'Steel' skein for Jan. bow". variety.com. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  4. ^ Chang, Justin (October 26, 2005). "Jacob Vargas". variety.com.
  5. ^ Graser, Marc (October 8, 2011). "'Water & Power' flows to screen". Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  6. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (February 9, 2021). "Colm Feore, Alex Kingston & Jacob Vargas Cast In Hulu Comedy Pilot 'Crushed'". Deadline. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  7. ^ Welk, Brian (April 29, 2019). "Emile Hirsch Has Red Hair and a Heart of Gold in 'Peel' Trailer (Exclusive Video)". thewrap.com. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  8. ^ Kroll, Justin (March 16, 2021). "Jacob Vargas joins Steven Soderbergh's next film 'KIMI' at New Line". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  9. ^ Otterson, Joe (August 8, 2019). "'Mr. Iglesias' Renewed for Season 2 at Netflix". variety.com. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  10. ^ "2020 NHMC IMPACT AWARDS GALA, LA". Average Socialite. 28 February 2020. Retrieved 2021-08-04.
  11. ^ Moonlight - Jacob Vargas Archived 2010-03-17 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ "Lots more actors join Shayamalan and Dowdles' DEVIL". Fangoria. Archived from the original on 2009-10-18.
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