Cast & creator
Esai Morales
Best known for Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Criminal Minds, NCIS: Los Angeles
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.
Also known as: 에사이 모레일스, ایسای مورالس, إساي مورالس, אסאי מוראלס, 伊塞·莫瑞
94
film credits
47
television credits
137
1982–2027 · acting roles
6.3
average across scored titles
Signature credits
Known for
Across film & television
Filmography (141)
Showing 141 of 141 credits
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Jimmy Vazquez
1999
Criminal Minds
Mateo Cruz
2005
NCIS: Los Angeles
Louis Ochoa
2009
Chicago P.D.
Chief Lugo
2014
CSI: Miami
Stephen Madsen
2002
Real Time with Bill Maher
Self
2003
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Francisco
2000
The Outer Limits
Frank Kelton
1995
NYPD Blue
Tony Rodriguez
1993
How to Get Away with Murder
Jorge Castillo
2014
American Playhouse
Handsome Jack
1982
Miami Vice
Felipe Cruz
1984Miami Vice
Pete Romano
1984
Titans
Slade Wilson / Deathstroke
2018
Ozark
Camino 'Del' Del Rio
2017
Burn Notice
Ernie Paseo
2007
Major Crimes
Deputy Manuel Diaz
2012
The Twilight Zone
1985
The Equalizer
Officer Miguel Canterra
1985
Tales from the Crypt
Puck
1989
Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning
Gabriel
2025
War Machine
Torres
2026
Dora the Explorer
Papi (voice)
2000
Family Law
Mr. Santiago
1999
Fame
1982
Celebrity Ghost Stories
Self
2009
On Air with Ryan Seacrest
Self
2004
From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series
Amancio Malvado
2014
Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One
Gabriel
2023
Mozart in the Jungle
Juan Delgado
2014
Jericho
Major Edward Beck
2006
The Hunger
Tony
1997
Fairly Legal
Aaron Davidson
2011
Caprica
Joseph Adama
2010
L.A. Doctors
Vince Duralde
1998
George Lopez
Manny Lopez
2002
Adam Ruins Everything
2015
Vanished
Michael Tyner
2006
Never Back Down: No Surrender
Hugo Vega
2016
Mars
Mike Glenn / Lt. Michael Glenn
2016
Freddie
Carlos
2005
Side Quest
Gustavo
2025
American Family
Esteban Gonzalez
2002
Bad Boys
Paco Moreno
1983
The Brink
President Julian Navarro
2015
La Bamba
Bob Morales
1987
Atomic Train
Noris MacKenzie
1999
Master Gardener
Oscar Neruda
2023
Crescent City
Luke Carson
2024
The Principal
Raymi Rojas
1987
SuperFly
Adalberto Gonzalez
2018
Freejack
Ripper
1992
On Wings of Eagles
Rashid
1986
Jarhead 2: Field of Fire
Cpt. Jones
2014
My Family
Chucho
1995
Atlas Shrugged: Part II
Francisco d'Anconia
2012
Paid in Full
Lulu
2002
In the Army Now
Sgt. Stern
1994
Dark Horse
Paulo Pontes
2026
Spare Parts
Mr. Santillan
2015
Monty and the Movies
Self (archive footage)
Can't Go Home
Victor Castelo
2023
The Line
Pelon
2009
Fast Food Nation
Tony
2006
Art of Love
2021
Persephone
Lethal Seduction
Rick Benes / David Lopez
2005
The Real Thing
Collin
1996
Scorpion Spring
Astor
1996Tumor
His Heart
His Heart
Executive Producer
ABC's 50th Anniversary Celebration
Self
2003
Queen of Manhattan
Papi
2025
American Virgin
Jim the Director
2000
More Than Miyagi: The Pat Morita Story
Self
2021Company Town
Ray Dupre
The Adventures of Tom Thumb and Thumbelina
Vargas Mouse (voice)
2003
Senior Moment
Diego Lozana
2021
We Have Your Husband
Eduardo Valseca
2011
The Virgin of Juarez
Father Herrera
2006
Find Your Groove
Self
2020
Bloodhounds of Broadway
Handsome Jack
1989
Rapa Nui
Make
1994
The Wall of Mexico
Henry Arista
2020
Don't Do It
Charles
1994
Saving Westbrook High
Manny
2013
Sudbury
Gary Hallet
2004
Beyond the Border: Latino Representation in Hollywood
self
2026
Dying to Be Perfect: The Ellen Hart Pena Story
Federico Pena
1996
Raúl Juliá: The World’s a Stage
Self
2019
The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit
Dominguez
1998
King of the Avenue
Natas
2010
Living and Working in Space: The Countdown Has Begun
Kenny
1993
The Bronze Screen: 100 Years of the Latino Image in American Cinema
2002
Once Upon a Wedding
Pineda
2005
Halfway There
Ian Sanchez
2017
From Dusk Till Dawn: Making the First Season
2014
Naked Tango
Zico Borenstein
1990
Coyote
Hernán Barroca
Coyote
Producer
A Family in Crisis: The Elian Gonzales Story
Juan Miguel Gonzalez
2000
Dog Watch
Murrow
1997
Southern Cross
Philip Solano
1999
Deadlocked: Escape from Zone 14
Tony Archer
1995
24: Day six Debrief
Agent Jorge Ramirez
2007The Americans
Lee Valenzuela
Death in Granada
Ricardo
1996
Kill Kill Faster Faster
Markie
2008
Seattle Superstorm
Tom Foster
2012
The Burning Season
Jair
1994
How to Go Out on a Date in Queens
Frankie
2006
Somos un solo pueblo
Self
1995
The Journey of a Female Comic
2014
Playin' for Love
Principle Jose Marti
2015
Casa Vita
Rodrigo Vita
2016
Cottonmouth
Abe
2025
Gun Hill Road
Enrique Rodriguez
2011
Imprisoned
Governor Mandera
2019
Live Like That
2027
Cherry
Wes
2010
The Manufacturing of 'Fast Food Nation'
Self
2007
Love and Other Stunts
2018
Forty Deuce
Mitchell
1982
Rainy Day Friends
Neekos Valdez
1985
17th Precinct
Liam Butterfield
2011Give Me Shelter
Self - Animal Advocate
2014
Return to Babylon
Assistant Director (scenes deleted)
2013So Much for Love
Geoffrey
Circle of Deceit
Jeff Silva
1998The Waiter
Julius
1993
The Cure
Jorge
2007
Celebrity Habla
Self
2009
Doomsday Man
Mike
2000Doomsday Man
Second Unit Director
2000
American Fusion
Jose
2005Live 2 Die
Live 2 Die
Producer
Bay City Story
1992
Ultraviolet
Nicholas Walker
1992
Celebrities Uncensored
Self
2003