Benjamin Bratt

Benjamin Bratt Headshot

Actor

Birth Date: December 16, 1963

Age: 60 years old

Birth Place: San Francisco, California

Partners: Julia Roberts, Talisa Soto

A versatile veteran of both film and television, actor Benjamin Bratt came to prominence during the 1990s with his Emmy-nominated work on the perennial procedural, "Law & Order" (NBC, 1990-2010), where he spent four seasons as homicide detective Reynaldo Curtis. Prior to that role, Bratt had a number of supporting parts in movies like "Demolition Man" (1993), "Clear and Present Danger" (1994) and "The River Wild" (1994).

In addition to his television fame, Bratt found himself a tabloid fixture when he began dating "America's Sweetheart" Julia Roberts, before the couple parted ways just shy of four years and after her 2001 Oscar win, bringing the private actor much dreaded headlines.

After leaving "Law & Order" in 1999, he had co-starring roles in a number of divergent films, playing the head of a Mexican drug cartel in "Traffic" (2000), the partner of a bumbling FBI agent in "Miss Congeniality" (2000), a streetwise poet in "Piñero" (2001) and a loyal brother-in-law in "The Woodsman" (2004). He made a return to television as the star of the short-lived military drama "E-Ring" (2005-06), before returning to features for "The Great Raid" (2005) and "Love in the Time of Cholera" (2007). Bratt established himself as an actor of significant depth as the lead of the gritty serialized addiction drama, "The Cleaner" (A&E, 2008-09), and moved on to primetime soaps with a recurring-turned-regular role on the popular medical drama, "Private Practice" (ABC, 2007-13).

Whether as the lead or in a supporting role, Bratt maintained a broad range of appeal in a wide array of performances.

Bratt was born Dec. 16, 1963. His paternal grandfather was Broadway actor George Bratt, but the grandson was raised in San Francisco, CA, mainly by his mother, a Peruvian-born nurse and Native American activist. His metalworker father was less a figure in Bratt's younger days, though he was the one who encouraged his son to try out for a school play at Lowell High School where Bratt was a member of the forensic society. It was not until attending UC Santa Barbara, that he began to develop a serious interest in acting. He was cast in his first television gig while studying at the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco, cutting his masters program short to act full-time. His first two pilots - "Juarez" and "Lovers, Partners & Spies" - did not sell, but he was on the air by 1988 on the short-lived "Knightwatch" (ABC), portraying an ex-gang leader who had become the leader of an anti-crime patrol loosely based on New York City's Guardian Angels. He followed with another short-lived series, Dick Wolf's "Nasty Boys" (NBC, 1990).

Bratt's early work generally consisted of supporting roles as Latinos or Native Americans, and this was the case for his feature film debut in "Bright Angel" (1990) and the bigger hit, "Chains of Gold" (1990), where he portrayed a vicious drug dealer who keeps young Joey Lawrence in a cage in order to lure hero John Travolta to his den. He raised his profile further with roles in "One Good Cop" (1991), "Bound by Honor" (1993), and the Sylvester Stallone actioner "Demolition Man" (1993). Bratt garnered a lead in Taylor Hackford's East L.A. neighborhood chronicle "Blood In, Blood Out" but found a much wider audience for his supporting role as a Native American ranger doomed in his attempt to help Meryl Streep in "The River Wild" (2004) and an American officer sent by the CIA to infiltrate the Colombian countryside in the Tom Clancy-based "Clear and Present Danger" (2004). The increased exposure led to a lead in the ABC miniseries "James A. Michener's Texas" (1995), and he developed his role as the proud, impatient Mexican Benito Garza as far as the subject material allowed.

In 1995, Bratt landed what would become one of the best-known roles of his career, joining the hit NBC series "Law & Order" in its sixth season. His character Reynaldo 'Rey' Curtis shared Bratt's Latino-Indian and German background, and his family-oriented, youthful conservatism provided a marked contrast to the older, more liberal and cynical Det. Lenny Briscoe (Jerry Orbach). Bratt's insertion into the long-running series went smoothly, and audiences stuck by Rey even when he fell into the arms of another woman. The actor returned to film as the star and co-producer of "Follow Me Home" (1997), his brother Peter Bratt's acclaimed filmmaking effort that explored issues of race and identity through four ethnically diverse bohemians who embark on a road trip to the nation's capital. The film found an enthusiastic reception at the San Francisco International Film Festival and the Sundance Film Festival. In 1998 and 1999, Bratt's role on "Law & Order" earned him awards for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series from American Latino Media Arts, and in 1999, when he decided to leave the series, he went out on a high note with a Best Supporting Actor Emmy nomination and favorite American actress Julia Roberts on his arm.

While the couple's romance became an unrelenting target of Hollywood paparazzi, Bratt focused on resuming his film career and appeared in a number of significant films in 2000, including the Oscar nominee for Best Picture, Steven Soderbergh's "Traffic," in which he portrayed the leader of a powerful Mexican drug cartel. On the other side of the law and exploring his range with comedy, Bratt also co-starred in "Miss Congeniality" as the partner of an FBI agent who goes undercover as a beauty pageant contestant (Sandra Bullock). His less-successful efforts that year also included the sci-fi offering "Red Planet" (2000) and the critically lambasted Madonna vehicle "The Next Best Thing" (2000). Bratt's relationship with Julia Roberts ended in the spring of 2001 amid a flurry of media speculation, with the actor offering a dignified and tasteful explanation that "I've moved on." He moved on in his career, as well, giving an incredible performance in John Leguizamo's directorial debut "Pinero" (2001), a biopic of important New York literary figure Miguel Pinero, which earned Bratt an Award for Outstanding Actor from the American Latino Media Arts Awards.

In 2002, Bratt married his "Pinero" co-star Talisa Soto and starred in the panned college-set thriller "Abandon" (2002), playing opposite Katie Holmes as a detective investigating the disappearance of her boyfriend. The indie character-based drama "The Woodsman" (2004) earned substantially more critical accolades including multiple Independent Spirit Awards and a string of successful festival screenings. Bratt gave a strong supporting performance in the film as an understanding relative of a newly released ex-convict (Kevin Bacon) adjusting to life on the outside. His next high-profile film appearance was in the lackluster comic book adaptation "Catwoman" (2004), in which Bratt demonstrated a healthy dose of leading man charm and an enviable lack of ego that allowed him to be physically dominated on screen by Halle Berry and villainous Sharon Stone. Bratt had a small role as a suave movie star in the quirky indie comedy "Thumbsucker" (2005) and followed up with the lead in the big budget WWII picture "The Great Raid" (2005), which unfortunately was a financial flop.

The folks at NBC apparently admired Bratt's performance as an Army Lieutenant, so promptly cast him to play a career military man and top-ranking Pentagon official alongside Dennis Hopper in the series "E-Ring" (NBC, 2005-06). Bratt resumed his film career by portraying one point of the infamous lovers' triangle in "Love in the Time of Cholera" (2007), a film adaptation of Gabriel Garcia Marquez' book, which most critics agreed reduced the grand story to an overwrought melodrama. On the small screen, Bratt starred as a scientist on a mission to eradicate a deadly virus from space in the Michael Crichton-based "The Andromeda Strain" (2008), which garnered excellent ratings and an Outstanding Miniseries Emmy Award nomination for the A&E network. Bratt experienced continued success in television with A&E's series "The Cleaner" (2008-09), where he starred as a reformed drug addict dedicated to helping others free themselves from addiction. Despite the show's critical acclaim, "The Cleaner" failed to attract a sufficiently large enough audience and was cancelled after two seasons. For such an exceedingly good-looking guy, he also made the unusual move of voicing a comically odd-looking character in the CGI-animated hit "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" (2009), portraying Manny, a courageous cameraman from Central America with a surprising number of useful skills.

Bratt reprised Det. Rey Curtis for a 2009 episode of "Law & Order" (NBC, 1990-2010), before landing a special guest-starring role as Dr. Jake Reilly on "Private Practice" (ABC, 2007-13), which turned into a regular series gig in 2011. Meanwhile, Bratt took a rare turn into comedic territory with occasional appearances on "Modern Family" (ABC, 2009- ), where he played Manny Delgado's absentee father and Gloria's ex-husband. Returning to the realm of animation, Bratt played dubious restaurant owner Eduardo in the massively successful hit sequel "Despicable Me 2" (2013) and had a second turn as Manny in the eagerly awaited "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" (2013).

Credits

Mother of the BrideStream

Actor
Will
Movie
2024
13%

Skull IslandStream

Voice
Cap
Series
2023
82%

Poker FaceStream

Guest Star
Cliff Legrand
Series
2023
98%

DMZStream

Actor
Parco Delgado
Miniseries
2022
52%

Dead For A DollarStream

Actor
Movie
2022
53%

Soul of a Nation Presents: Corazón de América -- Celebrating Hispanic Culture

Host
Show
2021

GMA3: What You Need to Know

Guest
Show
2020

A Celebration of the Music From Coco

Host
Show
2020

Best Summer Ever

Actor
Daphne's Dad
Movie
2020

The Kelly Clarkson Show

Guest
Talk
2019

Today With Hoda & Jenna

Guest
Show
2019

A Score to Settle

Actor
Q
Movie
2019

Today 3rd Hour

Guest
Show
2018

Benjamin Bratt: Remember Me (Ernesto de la Cruz) (From Coco)

Music Performer
Show
2018

Live with Kelly and Ryan

Guest
Talk
2017

CocoStream

Voice
Ernesto de la Cruz
Movie
2017
97%

Shot Caller

Actor
Sanchez
Movie
2017

StarStream

Actor
Jahil Rivera
Series
2016

StarStream

Guest Star
Jahil
Series
2016

Harry

Guest
Talk
2016

Star: Extras

Actor
Show
2016

Doctor StrangeStream

Actor
Jonathan Pangborn
Movie
2016
89%

Ride Along 2Stream

Actor
Antonio Pope
Movie
2016
14%

Special Correspondents

Actor
John Baker
Movie
2016

The InfiltratorStream

Actor
Roberto Alcaino
Movie
2016
71%

The Late Show With Stephen ColbertStream

Guest
Talk
2015

Justice League: Gods and Monsters

Voice
Zod / Superman
Movie
2015

24: Live Another Day

Actor
Steve Navarro
Show
2014

24: Live Another Day -- Jack Is Back

Actor
Steve Navarro
Show
2014

Late Night With Seth MeyersStream

Guest
Talk
2014

Latino Americans

Narrator
Show
2013

Snitch: Extras

Actor
Show
2013

SnitchStream

Actor
Juan Carlos "El Topo" Pintera
Movie
2013
58%

Despicable Me 2Stream

Voice
Eduardo/El Macho
Movie
2013
75%

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2

Voice
Manny
Movie
2013

We Shall Remain: After the Mayflower

Narrator
Show
2012

Live! With Kelly and Michael

Guest
Talk
2012

We Shall Remain: Wounded Knee

Narrator
Show
2012

We Shall Remain: Geronimo

Narrator
Show
2012

We Shall Remain: Trail of Tears

Narrator
Show
2012

The Lesser Blessed

Actor
Jed
Movie
2012

LIVE with Kelly

Guest
Talk
2011

The Chew

Guest
Talk
2011

The TalkStream

Guest
Talk
2010

George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight

Guest
Show
2010

Access Hollywood Live

Guest
Show
2010

Modern FamilyStream

Guest
Series
2009
85%

Modern FamilyStream

Guest Star
Javier Delgado
Series
2009
85%

Watch What Happens Live With Andy CohenStream

Guest
Talk
2009

Cloudy with a Chance of MeatballsStream

Voice
Manny
Movie
2009
86%

Mission Street Rhapsody

Actor
Che Rivera
Movie
2009

Mission Street Rhapsody

Producer
Movie
2009

The Bonnie Hunt Show

Guest
Talk
2008

The CleanerStream

Actor
William Banks
Series
2008
24%

The Wendy Williams Show

Guest
Talk
2008

The Andromeda StrainStream

Actor
Dr. Jeremy Stone
Miniseries
2008
30%

Pioneers of Television

Narrator
Show
2008

Trucker

Actor
Len
Movie
2008

Lyons & Bailes Reel Talk

Guest
Show
2007

Private PracticeStream

Actor
Dr. Jake Reilly
Series
2007

The Morning Show With Mike & Juliet

Guest
Show
2007

Love in the Time of CholeraStream

Actor
Juvenal Urbino
Movie
2007
27%

E-Ring

Actor
Maj. Jim "JT" Tisnewski
Show
2005

The Great Raid

Actor
Lieutenant Colonel Henry Mucci
Movie
2005

ThumbsuckerStream

Actor
Matt Schramm
Movie
2005
71%

American Latino TV

Guest
Show
2004

Tavis Smiley

Guest
Talk
2004

CatwomanStream

Actor
Tom Lone
Movie
2004
8%

The Woodsman

Actor
Carlos
Movie
2004

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

Guest
Talk
2003

Jimmy Kimmel Live!Stream

Guest
Talk
2003

AbandonStream

Actor
Detective Wade Handler
Movie
2002
16%

Live With Regis and Kelly

Guest
Show
2001

After the Storm

Actor
Arno
Movie
2001

Piñero

Actor
Miguel Piñero
Movie
2001

Alcatraz Is Not an Island

Narrator
Movie
2001

The Next Best Thing

Actor
Ben
Movie
2000

Red Planet

Actor
Ted Santen
Movie
2000

TrafficStream

Actor
Juan Obregon
Movie
2000
93%

Miss CongenialityStream

Actor
Eric Matthews
Movie
2000
41%

The Last Producer

Actor
Damon Black
Movie
2000

Exiled: A Law & Order Movie

Actor
Detective Rey Curtis
Movie
1998

The View

Guest
Talk
1997

Access Hollywood

Guest
News
1996

Woman Undone

Actor
Jim Mercer
Movie
1996

Follow Me Home

Actor
Abel
Movie
1996

Texas

Narrator
Benito Garza
Show
1995

Texas

Actor
Show
1995

Clear and Present DangerStream

Actor
Captain Ramirez
Movie
1994
81%

The River WildStream

Actor
Ranger Johnny
Movie
1994
57%

Texas

Actor
Benito Garza
Movie
1994

FrasierStream

Guest Voice
Kevin
Series
1993
95%

Late Night With Conan O'Brien

Guest
Talk
1993

Homicide: Life on the StreetStream

Guest Star
Series
1993
91%

Les princes de la ville

Actor
Movie
1993

Blood In, Blood Out: Bound by HonorStream

Actor
Paco
Movie
1993
62%

Demolition ManStream

Actor
Alfredo Garcia
Movie
1993
62%

Shadowhunter

Actor
Nakai Twobear
Movie
1992

One Good Cop

Actor
Felix
Movie
1991

Chains of Gold

Actor
Carlos
Movie
1991

Law & OrderStream

Actor
Det. Reynaldo Curtis
Series
1990

Law & OrderStream

Guest Star
Det. Reynaldo Curtis
Series
1990

Bright Angel

Actor
Claude
Movie
1990

Kill or Be Killed

Actor
Eduardo Cruz
Movie
1990

Nasty Boys II: Lone Justice

Actor
Eduardo Cruz
Movie
1990

Nasty Boys

Actor
Eduardo Cruz
Movie
1989

Knightwatch

Actor
Tony Maldonado
Show
1988

American ExperienceStream

Narrator
Series
1988

Police Story: Gladiator School

Actor
Officer Dave Ramirez
Movie
1988

Entertainment Tonight

Guest
News
1981

Good Morning America

Guest
News
1975

Today

Actor
News
1952

Today

Guest
News
1952

News aboutBenjamin Bratt