Esai Morales
Known for
Four decades separate Esai Morales's two most visible roles: the troubled brother Bob in 'La Bamba' (1987) and the icy villain Gabriel facing Tom Cruise in 'Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One' (2023) and 'The Final Reckoning' (2025). Born in Brooklyn in 1962 to Puerto Rican parents, he became one of American television's steadiest Latino leading men: Lieutenant Tony Rodriguez in 'NYPD Blue' (2001-2004), cartel boss Del Rio in 'Ozark' (2017) and Deathstroke in 'Titans' (2019). A co-founder of the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts, he has spent his career opening doors he never found open himself.
Esai Morales
53 Movies
36 Series
Four decades separate Esai Morales's two most visible roles: the troubled brother Bob in 'La Bamba' (1987) and the icy villain Gabriel facing Tom Cruise in 'Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One' (2023) and 'The Final Reckoning' (2025). Born in Brooklyn in 1962 to Puerto Rican parents, he became one of American television's steadiest Latino leading men: Lieutenant Tony Rodriguez in 'NYPD Blue' (2001-2004), cartel boss Del Rio in 'Ozark' (2017) and Deathstroke in 'Titans' (2019). A co-founder of the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts, he has spent his career opening doors he never found open himself.
Movies
Plays Army Officer Torres
War Machine
2026
Plays Gabriel
Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning
2025
Plays Gabriel
Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One
2023
Plays Hugo Vega
Never Back Down: No Surrender
2016
Plays Paco Moreno
Bad Boys
1983
Plays Bob Morales
La Bamba
1987
Plays Francisco d'Anconia
Atlas Shrugged: Part II
2012
Plays Adalberto Gonzalez
SuperFly
2018
Plays Lulu
Paid in Full
2002
Plays Ripper
Freejack
1992
Plays Paulo Pontes
Dark Horse
2026
Plays Chucho
My Family
1995
Plays Raymi Rojas
The Principal
1987
Plays Oscar Neruda
Master Gardener
2023
Plays Tony
Fast Food Nation
2006
Plays Make
Rapa Nui
1994
Plays Pelon
The Line
2009
Plays Mr. Santillan
Spare Parts
2015
Plays Luke Carson
Crescent City
2024
Plays Cpt. Jones
Jarhead 2: Field of Fire
2014
Plays Dominguez
The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit
1998
Plays Zico Borenstein
Naked Tango
1990
Plays Astor
Scorpion Spring
1996
Plays Sgt. Stern
In the Army Now
1994
Plays Frankie
How to Go Out on a Date in Queens
2006
Plays Eduardo Valseca
We Have Your Husband
2011
Plays Ricardo
Death in Granada
1996
Plays Wes
Cherry
2010
Plays Vargas Mouse (voice)
The Adventures of Tom Thumb and Thumbelina
2003
Plays Handsome Jack
Bloodhounds of Broadway
1989
Plays Philip Solano
Southern Cross
1999
Plays Jim the Director
American Virgin
2000
Plays Collin
The Real Thing
1996
Plays Charles
Don't Do It
1994
Plays Pineda
Once Upon a Wedding
2005
Plays Jorge
The Cure
2007
Plays Diego Lozana
Senior Moment
2021
Plays Henry Arista
The Wall of Mexico
2020
Plays Murrow
Dog Watch
1997
Plays Jose
American Fusion
2005
Plays Father Herrera
The Virgin of Juarez
2006
Plays Markie
Kill Kill Faster Faster
2008
Plays Governor Mandera
Imprisoned
2019
Plays Natas
King of the Avenue
2010
Plays Enrique Rodriguez
Gun Hill Road
2011
Plays Nicholas Walker
Ultraviolet
1992
Plays Mike
Doomsday Man
2000
Plays Mitchell
Forty Deuce
1982
TV Shows
Plays Tony Rodriguez
NYPD Blue
1993
Plays Joseph Adama
Caprica
2010
Plays Slade Wilson / Deathstroke
Titans
2018
Plays Michael Tyner
Vanished
2006
Plays Jorge Castillo
How to Get Away with Murder
2014
Plays President Julian Navarro
The Brink
2015
Plays Amancio Malvado
From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series
2014
Plays Major Edward Beck
Jericho
2006
Plays Louis Ochoa
NCIS: Los Angeles
2009
Plays Aaron Davidson
Fairly Legal
2011
Plays Mateo Cruz
Criminal Minds
2005
Plays Mike Glenn / Lt. Michael Glenn
Mars
2016
Plays Chief Lugo
Chicago P.D.
2014
Plays Agent Jorge Ramirez
24: Day six Debrief
2007
Plays Camino 'Del' Del Rio
Ozark
2017
Plays Rashid
On Wings of Eagles
1986
Plays Noris MacKenzie
Atomic Train
1999
Plays Juan Delgado
Mozart in the Jungle
2014
Plays Carlos
Freddie
2005
Plays Stephen Madsen
CSI: Miami
2002
Plays Felipe Cruz
Miami Vice
1984
Plays Puck
Tales from the Crypt
1989
Plays Manny Lopez
George Lopez
2002
Plays Ernie Paseo
Burn Notice
2007
Plays Officer Miguel Canterra
The Equalizer
1985
Plays Mr. Santiago
Family Law
1999
Plays Frank Kelton
The Outer Limits
1995
Plays Deputy Manuel Diaz
Major Crimes
2012
Plays Victor Castelo
Can't Go Home
2023
Plays Tony
The Hunger
1997
Latest Trailers
Watch Trailer
War Machine
Full Filmography
Dark Horse
Paulo Pontes
2026
Film
War Machine
Army Officer Torres
2026
Film
Queen of Manhattan
Papi
2025
Film
Cottonmouth
Abe
2025
Film
Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning
Gabriel
2025
Film
Side Quest
Gustavo · 1 episode
2025–
TV
Crescent City
Luke Carson
2024
Film
Can't Go Home
Victor Castelo · 1 episode
2023–
TV
Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One
Gabriel
2023
Film
Photos
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Esai Morales and where are they from?
Esai Morales is 63 years old, born on October 1, 1962 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA.
What are the most famous roles of Esai Morales?
Esai Morales is best known for roles in Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One, Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning, War Machine.
How many movies has Esai Morales been in?
Over a 44-year career (since 1982), Esai Morales has appeared in 53 movies and 36 TV shows.
What was Esai Morales's first movie?
The career of Esai Morales began with Forty Deuce (1982).
What is Esai Morales's most recent movie or series?
Esai Morales's most recent release is War Machine, which premiered on February 12, 2026.
What TV shows has Esai Morales appeared in?
On television, Esai Morales has appeared in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Criminal Minds, Titans, Ozark.
Does Esai Morales have any upcoming projects?
Yes, Esai Morales's upcoming work includes: Dark Horse (2026), Live Like That (2027).
Esai Morales
1962-10-01 · Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
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.