The American Experience
Roberto Clemente
Monday 21 April 2008 on PBS

An examination of the athletic career and cultural background of the acknowledged baseball star of the 60s and earliest 70s.

Active in Hispanic causes, Jimmy was once arrested for protesting about U.S. Navy bombing practices in Vieques, a Puerto Rican island. (edit) Based on Jimmy's portrayal as a presidential candidate, The West Wing won a Best Series award at the Imagen Awards, which honor the best in Hispanic cinema and television (2006). (edit) The episode of NYPD Blue that marked Jimmy's last appearance received a Humanitas Award for the dignity of the character's exit. (edit) In early 2008, Jimmy narrated a documentary about Roberto Clemente, the first great Latino baseball player. (edit) While starring in LA Law, Jimmy appeared in 4 public service announcements for NBC's The More You Know. His topics were substance abuse, parental involvement, a teacher tribute, and prenatal substance abuse. (edit)

(on being a role-model for young Hispanics)
Jimmy: The media can really influence the way people think-and, ultimately, how minorities are perceived. If you have a person who is a lawyer or presidential candidate on television, and you've only seen people like you portrayed as maids or gardeners … that can help a young person broaden their horizons. (edit) (on why his National Hispanic Foundation focuses on education)
Jimmy: I am a firm believer in education and have worked very hard to tell young Latinos that they must go to college and that, if possible, they should pursue an advanced degree-be that in the arts, in law, in medicine, in business or whatever their area of interest. I am convinced that education is the great equalizer. (edit) (on why he likes working in television serials)
Jimmy: The great thing about series television is that it's very fluid and there are a lot of things that come into play that will effect and change things down the line. On a week-to-week basis, as the writers are looking at the dailies, certain relationships pop. And then the audience factor comes into play. (edit) (on his Catholicism)
Jimmy: I have a strong sense of ... spirituality more than anything. I miss the ritual of the Mass... It feels comfortable when I'm there, with all its contradictions ... And maybe because there's a theatricality to it, too. At its root, it's kind of ... the retelling of what the foundation of the belief is, the ritual of the mass. It feels good. I feel peaceful when I'm there. (edit) Jimmy: All I can do is walk through this life and my career with the integrity that I have tried to amass in the little work that I've done. (edit)

Star
Cane Alex Vega	Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child Old King Cole
L.A. Law Victor Sifuentes (Episodes 1-105, recurring in Episodes 118, 127)	NYPD Blue Det. Bobby Simone [ episodes 27 - 115, episode 247 (uncredited) ]
The West Wing Matthew Santos (Episodes 114-)

Recurring Role
Late Show with David Letterman Guest

Guest Star
Cop Rock Potts Don't Fail Me Now Victor Sifuentes	L.A. Law Steal It Again, Sam Victor Sifuentes
L.A. Law Say Goodnight, Gracie Victor Sifuentes	Late Show with David Letterman Show #2817 Himself
Live with Regis and Kelly Jimmy Smits/Joan Rivers Guest	Live with Regis and Kelly Kim Raver/Jimmy Smits Himself

Other
Cane Executive Producer