Jay Hernandez

Jay Hernandez Headshot

Actor

Birth Date: February 20, 1978

Age: 46 years old

Birth Place: Morelia, Michoacan, Mexico

Armed with the requisite good looks and plenty of screen charisma, Jay Hernandez had his career kickstarted by one of those serendipitous only-in-Hollywood experiences. While riding an elevator in a high rise in his native Los Angeles, the young man was approached by talent manager Howard Tyner who suggested Hernandez had what it took to have a successful career in Hollywood. In 1998, he made his TV series debut as Antonio Lopez, a high school basketball player, in the Saturday morning teen sitcom "Hang Time" (NBC 1998-2000) and stayed with the show for two seasons. Hernandez moved to MTV with the short-term role of pizza delivery guy Eddie on the popular late-night serial "Undressed" (MTV 1999-2002) before segueing to the big screen. Although he shot roles in two movies ("Living the Life" and "Joy Ride") in 2000, neither had been released before his first lead role hit the multiplexes. In 2001, Hernandez co-starred with Kirsten Dunst in the teen romance "crazy/beautiful," portraying stalwart, straight-A high school student Carlos Nunez, whose plans to attend the US Naval Academy are threatened by his growing attraction to a self-destructive rich girl. He next appeared in Disney's surprise hit film of 2002, "The Rookie," as high school baseball team captain "Wack" Campos, and had a supporting role in the videogame-ish actioner "Torque" (2004). He next appeared in the melodramatic "Ladder 49" (2004), playing a firefighter who, along with other members of his crew, struggles to rescue a seasoned veteran (Joaquin Phoenix) trapped inside a burning building. Hernandez moved on to Peter Berg's acclaimed sports drama, "Friday Night Lights" (2004), a true-life story about the Permian High School Panthers' quest for a fifth-straight championship. Hernandez played a level-headed tight end with a one-way ticket to Harvard. He next starred in Eli Roth's "Hostel" (2005), a brutal horror flick about two American college buddies (Hernandez and Derek Richardson) lured to an out-of-the-way Slovakian hostel. Hernandez starred in "Carlito's Way: Rise to Power" (2006), a prequel to the 1993 film starring Al Pacino, depicting merciless kingpin Carlito Brigante's rise to power after being lured into a deadly circle of greed and retribution. Hernandez next appeared in "World Trade Center" (2006), Oliver Stone's sober and heart-wrenching look at the September 11th terrorist attacks. Hernandez returned to regular television series work with "Six Degrees" (ABC 2006-07), a one-hour drama about the intertwining lives of six New Yorkers who are all strangers to one another. Back in the feature world, Hernandez signed on for a small role in "Stop-Loss" (2006), a war drama about a soldier returning home to Texas from Iraq who is recalled, but refuses to return to battle. Meanwhile, Hernandez returned for the sequel "Hostel: Part II" (2007) and took on supporting roles in the dramas "American Son" (2008) and "Lakeview Terrace" (2008). A co-starring role in found-footage thriller "Quarantine" (2008) was followed by steady supporting work in films ranging from Miley Cyrus-starring teen drama "LOL" (2012) to family-friendly animal drama "Max" (2015). Hernandez raised his profile significantly with key roles in raunchy comedy "Bad Moms" (2016) and DC Comics supervillain-ensemble blockbuster "Suicide Squad" (2016), in which he costarred as El Diablo.

Credits

The Long Game

Actor
Movie
2024

You're Not Alone

Executive Producer
Movie
2020

The Kelly Clarkson ShowStream

Guest
Talk
2019

Access Daily

Guest
Show
2019

Toy Story 4Stream

Voice
Bonnie's Dad
Movie
2019
97%

Beneath Us

Executive Producer
Movie
2019

Today 3rd Hour

Guest
Show
2018

Magnum P.I.Stream

Actor
Thomas Magnum
Series
2018

Magnum P.I.Stream

Director
Series
2018

CBS Fall Preview

Host
Show
2018

Magnum P.I.: Extras

Actor
Thomas Magnum
Show
2018

Live with Kelly and Ryan

Guest
Talk
2017

A Bad Moms ChristmasStream

Actor
Jessie
Movie
2017
32%

BrightStream

Actor
Rodriguez
Movie
2017
26%

Jay Hernandez: Vamo A Invertir

Music Performer
Show
2016

Suicide SquadStream

Actor
Diablo
Movie
2016
26%

Bad MomsStream

Actor
Jessie Harkness
Movie
2016
59%

The Late Show With Stephen ColbertStream

Guest
Talk
2015

The Late Late Show With James CordenStream

Guest
Talk
2015

The Night Is Young

Actor
Dean
Movie
2015

Gang Related

Actor
Daniel Acosta
Show
2014

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy FallonStream

Guest
Talk
2014

The Queen Latifah Show

Guest
Talk
2013

NashvilleStream

Guest Star
Dante Rivas
Series
2012
91%

Last ResortStream

Guest Star
Series
2012
79%

ScandalStream

Guest Star
Curtis Pryce
Series
2012
93%

My Own Korean Drama

Cinematographer
Movie
2012

LOL

Actor
James
Movie
2012

ConanStream

Guest
Talk
2010

The Talk

Guest
Talk
2010

Hawaii Five-0Stream

Guest Star
Thomas Magnum
Series
2010

Access Hollywood Live

Guest
Show
2010

TakersStream

Actor
Eddie Hatcher
Movie
2010
28%

QuarantineStream

Actor
Jake
Movie
2008
55%

Lakeview TerraceStream

Actor
Javier Villareal
Movie
2008
44%

American Son

Actor
Junior
Movie
2008

Nothing Like the HolidaysStream

Actor
Ozzy
Movie
2008
53%

Hostel Part II

Actor
Paxton
Movie
2007

Live!

Actor
Pablo
Movie
2007

Karas: The Revelation

Voice
Nue
Movie
2007

Six Degrees

Actor
Carlos Greene
Show
2006

etalk

Guest
Show
2006

World Trade CenterStream

Actor
Dominick Pezzulo
Movie
2006
66%

HostelStream

Actor
Paxton
Movie
2005
59%

Nomad: The Warrior

Actor
Erali
Movie
2005

Carlito's Way: Rise to Power

Actor
Carlito Brigante
Movie
2005

American Latino TV

Guest
Show
2004

TorqueStream

Actor
Dalton
Movie
2004
22%

Ladder 49

Actor
Keith Perez
Movie
2004

Friday Night LightsStream

Actor
Brian Chavez
Movie
2004
82%

The RookieStream

Actor
Joaquin "Wack" Campos
Movie
2002
84%

Crazy/Beautiful

Actor
Carlos Nuñez
Movie
2001

Living the Life

Actor
Kikicho
Movie
2000

One World

Guest Star
Series
1998

Access Hollywood

Guest
News
1996

Hang Time

Actor
Antonio Lopez
Series
1995

Hang Time

Guest Star
Antonio Lopez
Series
1995

Entertainment Tonight

Actor
News
1981

Entertainment Tonight

Host
News
1981

Good Morning America

Guest
News
1975

News aboutJay Hernandez

Jay Hernandez Thomas Magnum P.I.

‘Magnum’ Finale: Jay Hernandez Doesn’t Like Way Show Ended – Fans React

Tim Kang in 'The Mentalist,' Jay Hernandez in 'Gang Related,' and Perdita Weeks in 'Penny Dreadful'

‘Magnum P.I.’ Ending: Watch the Cast in These Other Screen Roles

Perdita Weeks and Jay Hernandez — 'Magnum P.I.'

‘Magnum P.I.’ 2-Hour Series Finale Date Set

Jay Hernandez and Perdita Weeks — 'Magnum P.I.'
Spoiler Alert

‘Magnum P.I.’: Zachary Knighton on Directing Sweet Miggy Scene

Jay Hernandez as Thomas Magnum in Magnum PI - Season 5 Premiere - 'The Passenger'

‘Magnum P.I.’ Boss Says Season 5 Finale Is ‘Quite Satisfying’ as the Unexpected Series Finale

Jay Hernandez and Perdita Weeks in 'Magnum P.I.'
Preview

‘Magnum P.I.’ Boss Warns Magnum & Higgins ‘May Not Be As in Sync As They Thought’

Jay Hernandez and Perdita Weeks in 'Magnum P.I.'
Spoiler Alert

‘Magnum P.I.’ Midseason Premiere: Is Higgins Pregnant?

Zachary Knighton, Amy Hill, Perdita Weeks, Jay Hernandez, Tim Kang, Stephen Hill in 'Magum P.I.'
Preview

‘Magnum P.I.’: Maybe Baby Time for Magnum & Higgins, Plus Is This Truly the End…Again?

Perdita Weeks in Magnum PI

‘Magnum P.I.’ Bombshell: Is Higgins Pregnant? (VIDEO)

Quantum Leap and Magnum P.I.

‘Magnum P.I.’ and ‘Quantum Leap’ Moved as NBC Tweaks Fall Schedule

Jay Hernandez as Thomas Magnum and Perdita Weeks as Juliet Higgins in Magnum PI

Will ‘Magnum P.I.’ Be Saved With New Freevee Streaming Deal?

Magnum P.I. Perdita Weeks Jay Hernandez

‘Magnum P.I.’ Cast Reacts to NBC Cancellation

Ellen Pompeo as Meredith Grey in 'Grey's Anatomy' on ABC

Best Lines of the Week (February 17-23): ‘If I Have to Choose, I’m Going to Pick Me’

Perdita Weeks and Jay Hernandez in 'Magnum P.I.'

‘Magnum P.I.’: Where We Left Off & What to Expect in Season 5

Jay Hernandez and Perdita Weeks of 'Magnum P.I.'
Preview

‘Magnum P.I.’ Starts Off ‘With A Bit of a Bang’ in First Season on NBC (VIDEO)

Perdita Weeks and Jay Hernandez in 'Magnum P.I.' Season 5
Preview

‘Magnum P.I.’ Gets ‘a Little Sexier’: Jay Hernandez & Perdita Weeks Tease Season 5

Tom Selleck as Magnum, Jay Hernandez as Magnum in 'Magnum P.I.'

Who Wore the ‘Magnum P.I.’ Hawaiian Shirt Best: Tom Selleck or Jay Hernandez? (POLL)

Jay Hernandez Thomas Magnum P.I.

Aloha, NBC! ‘Magnum P.I.’ Drops Season 5 Trailer and Key Art (VIDEO)

Perdita Weeks and Jay Hernandez in 'Magnum P.I.'

‘Magnum P.I.’: Magnum & Higgins Are Cozy in Season 5 Premiere (PHOTOS)

Magnum P.I. - Juliet Higgins and Thomas Magnum - Perdita Weeks and Jay Hernandez in the shower

Magnum and Higgins Get Steamy in ‘Magnum P.I.’ Season 5 First Look (VIDEO)

Magnum P.I. - Jay Hernandez as Thomas Magnum

‘Magnum P.I.’ Saved! NBC Orders 20 New Episodes After CBS Cancellation

Jay Hernandez in Magnum PI

Why Was ‘Magnum P.I.’ Canceled? CBS Boss Explains

Actors on Canceled Shows

10 Now-Unemployed TV Actors We Need Back on Screen Pronto

Perdita Weeks as Juliet Higgins and Jay Hernandez as Thomas Magnum in Magnum PI

‘Magnum P.I.’: Jay Hernandez & Perdita Weeks React to Cancellation

Jay Hernandez
Finale

Will ‘Magnum P.I.’ Get a Season 5? Jay Hernandez Isn’t Worried (VIDEO)

Chantal Thuy as Lia and Jay Hernandez as Thomas in Magnum PI
Preview

‘Magnum P.I.’ Premiere: Meet Katsumoto’s Partner — and Thomas’ New Girlfriend? (VIDEO)

Jay Hernandez Magnum PI
Preview

‘Magnum P.I.’: Jay Hernandez on a Magnum-Higgins Romance Igniting in the Finale (VIDEO)

Ethan Shah Higgins Magnum PI
Preview

‘Magnum P.I.’s Perdita Weeks Teases Higgins’ New Romance & a Major Threat

Jay Hernandez as Thomas and Perdita Weeks in Higgins in Magnum PI's red sports car
Fall Preview

‘Magnum P.I.’: How Will Magnum React When Cupid Strikes Higgins?

Magnum PI Season - Perdita Weeks, Jay Hernandez

Friday TV Ratings: Back-to-Back ‘Magnum P.I.’ Finale Episodes Win Night

Jay Hernandez as Magnum PI - Season 2
Finale

Jay Hernandez on What ‘Magnum P.I.’s Finale Wedding Means for Magnum & Higgins

Payback for Beginners
Fall Preview

Will Higgins Accept Magnum’s Offer in ‘Magnum P.I.’ Season 2?

Lucas Till, Alex O'Loughlin, and Jay Hernandez at Paley Fest LA
Q&A

Why the ‘MacGyver,’ ‘Hawaii Five-0’ & ‘Magnum, P.I.’ Reboots Work

The Day It All Came Together
Finale

Jay Hernandez Previews Romantic Drama in the ‘Magnum P.I.’ Finale

Magnum PI -Jay Hernandez, Tom Selleck - Magnum PI -Jay Hernandez, Tom Selleck

Reboot vs. Original: Which ‘Magnum P.I.’ Is Better?

MAGNUM P.I.
Preview

‘Magnum P.I.’ Star Jay Hernandez Teases Intense Chemistry With New Character Juliet Higgins

Manifest - Seaon 1
Review

Roush Review: Mysteries Abound in High-Concept ‘Manifest,’ CBS Remakes ‘Magnum’

Jay Hernandez as Thomas Magnum leaning against a tree in Magnum P.I.
Preview

Behind the Scenes of the ‘Magnum P.I.’ Reboot With the Cast & Crew (PHOTOS)

Jay Hernandez attends the premiere of 'A Bad Moms Christmas'

CBS Has Found Its New ‘Magnum, P.I.’ in Jay Hernandez