Esai Morales
Known for: Acting
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.
Filmography
Series
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Jimmy Vazquez
1999
Series
Criminal Minds
Mateo Cruz
2005
Series
Chicago P.D.
Chief Lugo
2014
Series
Real Time with Bill Maher
Self
2003
Series
CSI: Miami
Stephen Madsen
2002
Series
NCIS: Los Angeles
Louis Ochoa
2009
Series
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Francisco
2000
Series
NYPD Blue
Tony Rodriguez
1993
Series
How to Get Away with Murder
Jorge Castillo
2014
Series
Miami Vice
Felipe Cruz
1984
Series
Miami Vice
Pete Romano
1984
Series
American Playhouse
Handsome Jack
1982
Series
Burn Notice
Ernie Paseo
2007
Series
Titans
Slade Wilson / Deathstroke
2018
Series
Ozark
Camino 'Del' Del Rio
2017
Series
Major Crimes
Deputy Manuel Diaz
2012
Series
Dora the Explorer
Papi (voice)
2000
Series
The Equalizer
Officer Miguel Canterra
1985
Series
The Outer Limits
Frank Kelton
1995
Series
The Twilight Zone
1985
Series
Tales from the Crypt
Puck
1989
Film
War Machine
Torres
2026
Film
Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning
Gabriel
2025
Series
Fame
1982
Series
Family Law
Mr. Santiago
1999
Film
Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One
Gabriel
2023
Series
Jericho
Major Edward Beck
2006
Series
Fairly Legal
Aaron Davidson
2011
Series
Mozart in the Jungle
Juan Delgado
2014
Series
Caprica
Joseph Adama
2010
Series
Celebrity Ghost Stories
Self
2009
Series
The Hunger
Tony
1997
Series
On Air with Ryan Seacrest
Self
2004
Series
From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series
Amancio Malvado
2014
Series
Adam Ruins Everything
2015
Series
Mars
Mike Glenn / Lt. Michael Glenn
2016
Series
George Lopez
Manny Lopez
2002
Series
Side Quest
Gustavo
2025
Series
L.A. Doctors
Vince Duralde
1998
Series
Atomic Train
Noris MacKenzie
1999
Film
Persephone
Film
Never Back Down: No Surrender
Hugo Vega
2016
Film
Bad Boys
Paco Moreno
1983
Series
Freddie
Carlos
2005
Series
The Brink
President Julian Navarro
2015
Series
Vanished
Michael Tyner
2006
Series
American Family
Esteban Gonzalez
2002
Film
My Family
Chucho
1995
Film
Freejack
Ripper
1992
Film
La Bamba
Bob Morales
1987
Film
Art of Love
2021
Film
Dark Horse
Paulo Pontes
2027
Film
Halfway There
Ian Sanchez
2017
Film
Atlas Shrugged: Part II
Francisco d'Anconia
2012
Film
Sudbury
Gary Hallet
2004
Film
The Principal
Raymi Rojas
1987
Film
Crescent City
Luke Carson
2024
Film
ABC's 50th Anniversary Celebration
Self
2003
Film
Scorpion Spring
Astor
1996
Series
On Wings of Eagles
Rashid
1986
Film
SuperFly
Adalberto Gonzalez
2018
Film
Master Gardener
Oscar Neruda
2023
Film
Spare Parts
Mr. Santillan
2015
Film
Monty and the Movies
Self (archive footage)
Film
Southern Cross
Philip Solano
1999
Tumor
Film
Lethal Seduction
Rick Benes / David Lopez
2005
Film
Paid in Full
Lulu
2002
Film
Don't Do It
Charles
1994
Film
From Dusk Till Dawn: Making the First Season
2014
Film
Once Upon a Wedding
Pineda
2005
Film
In the Army Now
Sgt. Stern
1994
Film
Jarhead 2: Field of Fire
Cpt. Jones
2014
Film
We Have Your Husband
Eduardo Valseca
2011
Film
Rapa Nui
Make
1994
Film
Fast Food Nation
Tony
2006
Series
Can't Go Home
Victor Castelo
2023
Series
24: Day six Debrief
Agent Jorge Ramirez
2007
Film
The Real Thing
Collin
1996
Film
Return to Babylon
Assistant Director (scenes deleted)
2013
Film
Coyote
Hernán Barroca
Film
The Adventures of Tom Thumb and Thumbelina
Vargas Mouse (voice)
2003
Film
Live Like That
2027
Film
Naked Tango
Zico Borenstein
1990
Film
Queen of Manhattan
Papi
2025
The Great Love Experiment
Miguel Rados
1984
Film
Beyond the Border: Latino Representation in Hollywood
self
2026
Film
Senior Moment
Diego Lozana
2021
Film
The Line
Pelon
2009
Film
The Wall of Mexico
Henry Arista
2020
Film
Cherry
Wes
2010
Film
More Than Miyagi: The Pat Morita Story
Self
2021
Film
Raúl Juliá: The World’s a Stage
Self
2019
Film
Saving Westbrook High
Manny
2013
The Americans
Lee Valenzuela
Film
The Bronze Screen: 100 Years of the Latino Image in American Cinema
2002
Film
Imprisoned
Governor Mandera
2019
Film
Seattle Superstorm
Tom Foster
2012
Film
The Burning Season
Jair
1994
Film
Bloodhounds of Broadway
Handsome Jack
1989
Film
King of the Avenue
Natas
2010
Film
Cottonmouth
Abe
2025
Company Town
Ray Dupre
Give Me Shelter
Self - Animal Advocate
2014
Film
The Virgin of Juarez
Father Herrera
2006
Film
The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit
Dominguez
1998
Film
Casa Vita
Rodrigo Vita
2016
Film
Gun Hill Road
Enrique Rodriguez
2011
Film
Deadlocked: Escape from Zone 14
Tony Archer
1995
Film
The Journey of a Female Comic
2014
Film
American Virgin
Jim the Director
2000
Film
Circle of Deceit
Jeff Silva
1998
Film
Dog Watch
Murrow
1997
The Waiter
Julius
1993
Film
Death in Granada
Ricardo
1996
Film
American Fusion
Jose
2005
Film
17th Precinct
Liam Butterfield
2011
Film
Dying to Be Perfect: The Ellen Hart Pena Story
Federico Pena
1996
Film
The Manufacturing of 'Fast Food Nation'
Self
2007
Live 2 Die
His Heart
Film
Somos un solo pueblo
Self
1995
So Much for Love
Geoffrey
Film
Kill Kill Faster Faster
Markie
2008
Film
How to Go Out on a Date in Queens
Frankie
2006
Film
Forty Deuce
Mitchell
1982
Film
Rainy Day Friends
Neekos Valdez
1985
Film
Living and Working in Space: The Countdown Has Begun
Kenny
1993
Film
Love and Other Stunts
2018
Film
Celebrity Habla
Self
2009
Film
A Family in Crisis: The Elian Gonzales Story
Juan Miguel Gonzalez
2000
Film
Doomsday Man
Mike
2000
Film
The Cure
Jorge
2007
Film
Find Your Groove
Self
2020
Film
Playin' for Love
Principle Jose Marti
2015
Film
Ultraviolet
Nicholas Walker
1992
Bay City Story
1992
Series
Celebrities Uncensored
Self
2003