Esai Morales

Esai Morales is an actor who has graced both the small and big screens in a variety of roles. Notable among his film and television roles are those in "Bad Boys," "La Bamba," and "NYPD Blue." Recently, he took on the role of Gabriel Martinelli, the main antagonist in "Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One" and reprised this role in "Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning." Morales also appeared in the western thriller "Cottonmouth."

In addition to his acting career, Morales has been recognized by several organizations for his contributions to the arts. In 2005, he was presented with the Rita Moreno HOLA Award for Excellence by the Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors (HOLA), and later with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Arpa Foundation for Film, Music, and Art. Beyond acting, he channels his influence towards promoting the arts and environmental causes, as evidenced by his roles as a co-founder of the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts and a founding board member of the environmental group E.C.O. (Earth Communications Office).

Continuing to diversify his portfolio, Morales has also taken on roles in the video game industry, providing voice talent for "True Crime: NYC." He was featured in the main cast of the second season of "Titans" as Slade Wilson/Deathstroke in 2019, and portrayed Jorge Castillo in "How to Get Away with Murder" from 2016 to 2020. He also had a significant role in the TV series "Ozark" and was part of the recurring cast in "NCIS: Los Angeles" during its tenth season. He joined the cast of "Criminal Minds" as the new Section Chief and has been active in public service, participating in a public service announcement on safe listening with ASHA.