Esai Morales

Acting • 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.

Known For

8.3

Fan Club

No Nerds have favorited Esai Morales yet — be the first.

All fan clubs

From Nerdspin

Filmography

2026
War MachineFilm
Torres
★ 7.5
2026
Beyond the Border: Latino Representation in HollywoodFilm
self
★ 8.0
2025
Mission: Impossible - The Final ReckoningFilm
Gabriel
★ 7.2
2025
Side QuestTV
Gustavo • 1 episodes
★ 5.8
2025
CottonmouthFilm
Abe
★ 5.3
2025
Queen of ManhattanFilm
Papi
★ 2.2
2024
Crescent CityFilm
Luke Carson
★ 6.1
2023
Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part OneFilm
Gabriel
★ 7.5
2023
Master GardenerFilm
Oscar Neruda
★ 6.0
2023
Can't Go HomeTV
Victor Castelo • 1 episodes
2021
More Than Miyagi: The Pat Morita StoryFilm
Self
★ 7.1
2021
Senior MomentFilm
Diego Lozana
★ 5.6
2021
Art of LoveFilm
★ 3.6
2020
The Wall of MexicoFilm
Henry Arista
★ 4.2
2020
Find Your GrooveFilm
Self
★ 10.0
2019
ImprisonedFilm
Governor Mandera
★ 4.5
2019
Raúl Juliá: The World’s a StageFilm
Self
2018
TitansTV
Slade Wilson / Deathstroke • 13 episodes
★ 7.8
2018
SuperFlyFilm
Adalberto Gonzalez
★ 6.7
2018
Love and Other StuntsFilm
2017
OzarkTV
Camino 'Del' Del Rio • 4 episodes
★ 8.2
2017
Halfway ThereFilm
Ian Sanchez
★ 2.0
2016
Never Back Down: No SurrenderFilm
Hugo Vega
★ 7.0
2016
MarsTV
Mike Glenn / Lt. Michael Glenn • 6 episodes
★ 7.1
2016
Casa VitaFilm
Rodrigo Vita
★ 6.7
2015
Spare PartsFilm
Mr. Santillan
★ 7.2
2015
The BrinkTV
President Julian Navarro • 10 episodes
★ 7.0
2015
Adam Ruins EverythingTV
★ 7.4
2015
Playin' for LoveFilm
Principle Jose Marti
★ 5.0
2014
Chicago P.D.TV
Chief Lugo • 6 episodes
★ 8.4
2014
How to Get Away with MurderTV
Jorge Castillo • 11 episodes
★ 7.8
2014
Mozart in the JungleTV
Juan Delgado • 2 episodes
★ 7.5
2014
From Dusk Till Dawn: The SeriesTV
Amancio Malvado • 10 episodes
★ 6.4
2014
Jarhead 2: Field of FireFilm
Cpt. Jones
★ 6.2
2014
The Journey of a Female ComicFilm
★ 6.2
2014
From Dusk Till Dawn: Making the First SeasonFilm
★ 2.0
2014
Give Me ShelterFilm
Self - Animal Advocate
★ 2.0
2013
Return to BabylonFilm
Assistant Director (scenes deleted)
★ 5.6
2013
Saving Westbrook HighFilm
Manny
★ 6.0
2012
Major CrimesTV
Deputy Manuel Diaz • 1 episodes
★ 7.4
2012
Atlas Shrugged: Part IIFilm
Francisco d'Anconia
★ 5.2
2012
Seattle SuperstormFilm
Tom Foster
★ 4.8
2011
Fairly LegalTV
Aaron Davidson • 6 episodes
★ 6.6
2011
Gun Hill RoadFilm
Enrique Rodriguez
★ 5.8
2011
We Have Your HusbandFilm
Eduardo Valseca
★ 5.7
2011
17th PrecinctFilm
Liam Butterfield
★ 4.0
2010
CapricaTV
Joseph Adama • 18 episodes
★ 6.9
2010
CherryFilm
Wes
★ 6.3
2010
King of the AvenueFilm
Natas
★ 4.4
2009
NCIS: Los AngelesTV
Louis Ochoa • 7 episodes
★ 7.5
2009
Celebrity Ghost StoriesTV
Self • 1 episodes
★ 7.3
2009
The LineFilm
Pelon
★ 4.8
2009
Celebrity HablaFilm
Self
2008
Kill Kill Faster FasterFilm
Markie
★ 4.2
2007
Burn NoticeTV
Ernie Paseo • 1 episodes
★ 7.5
2007
The CureFilm
Jorge
★ 7.0
2007
24: Day six DebriefTV
Agent Jorge Ramirez • 5 episodes
★ 10.0
2007
The Manufacturing of 'Fast Food Nation'Film
Self
2006
JerichoTV
Major Edward Beck • 7 episodes
★ 7.4
2006
Fast Food NationFilm
Tony
★ 6.0
2006
VanishedTV
Michael Tyner • 11 episodes
★ 5.4
2006
The Virgin of JuarezFilm
Father Herrera
★ 6.3
2006
How to Go Out on a Date in QueensFilm
Frankie
★ 2.6
2005
Criminal MindsTV
Mateo Cruz • 6 episodes
★ 8.3
2005
FreddieTV
Carlos • 1 episodes
★ 4.7
2005
Once Upon a WeddingFilm
Pineda
★ 4.4
2005
Lethal SeductionFilm
Rick Benes / David Lopez
★ 3.3
2005
American FusionFilm
Jose
★ 6.0
2004
On Air with Ryan SeacrestTV
Self • 1 episodes
★ 9.5
2004
SudburyFilm
Gary Hallet
★ 5.7
2003
Real Time with Bill MaherTV
Self • 1 episodes
★ 6.0
2003
The Adventures of Tom Thumb and ThumbelinaFilm
Vargas Mouse (voice)
★ 5.3
2003
Celebrities UncensoredTV
Self • 1 episodes
★ 4.9
2003
ABC's 50th Anniversary CelebrationFilm
Self
★ 8.0
2002
CSI: MiamiTV
Stephen Madsen • 1 episodes
★ 7.7
2002
Paid in FullFilm
Lulu
★ 6.9
2002
George LopezTV
Manny Lopez • 1 episodes
★ 7.5
2002
The Bronze Screen: 100 Years of the Latino Image in American CinemaFilm
★ 6.5
2002
American FamilyTV
Esteban Gonzalez • 1 episodes
★ 9.0
2000
Curb Your EnthusiasmTV
Francisco • 1 episodes
★ 8.1
2000
Dora the ExplorerTV
Papi (voice) • 1 episodes
★ 6.2
2000
American VirginFilm
Jim the Director
★ 3.4
2000
A Family in Crisis: The Elian Gonzales StoryFilm
Juan Miguel Gonzalez
★ 5.8
2000
Doomsday ManFilm
Mike
★ 5.5
1999
Law & Order: Special Victims UnitTV
Jimmy Vazquez • 1 episodes
★ 8.0
1999
Family LawTV
Mr. Santiago • 1 episodes
★ 8.1
1999
Atomic TrainTV
Noris MacKenzie • 2 episodes
★ 4.9
1999
Southern CrossFilm
Philip Solano
★ 3.2
1998
The Wonderful Ice Cream SuitFilm
Dominguez
★ 7.0
1998
L.A. DoctorsTV
Vince Duralde • 1 episodes
★ 8.5
1998
Circle of DeceitFilm
Jeff Silva
★ 4.2
1997
The HungerTV
Tony • 1 episodes
★ 6.2
1997
Dog WatchFilm
Murrow
★ 4.9
1996
Death in GranadaFilm
Ricardo
★ 5.6
1996
Scorpion SpringFilm
Astor
★ 6.4
1996
The Real ThingFilm
Collin
★ 7.2
1996
Dying to Be Perfect: The Ellen Hart Pena StoryFilm
Federico Pena
★ 7.1
1995
The Outer LimitsTV
Frank Kelton • 1 episodes
★ 7.7
1995
My FamilyFilm
Chucho
★ 7.4
1995
Deadlocked: Escape from Zone 14Film
Tony Archer
★ 9.5
1995
Somos un solo puebloFilm
Self
★ 9.0
1994
In the Army NowFilm
Sgt. Stern
★ 5.1
1994
Rapa NuiFilm
Make
★ 6.4
1994
The Burning SeasonFilm
Jair
★ 6.3
1994
Don't Do ItFilm
Charles
★ 5.0
1993
NYPD BlueTV
Tony Rodriguez • 87 episodes
★ 7.1
1993
Living and Working in Space: The Countdown Has BegunFilm
Kenny
★ 5.0
1993
The WaiterFilm
Julius
★ 4.5
1992
FreejackFilm
Ripper
★ 5.5
1992
UltravioletFilm
Nicholas Walker
★ 3.3
1992
Bay City StoryFilm
★ 7.0
1990
Naked TangoFilm
Zico Borenstein
★ 6.5
1989
Tales from the CryptTV
Puck • 1 episodes
★ 8.0
1989
Bloodhounds of BroadwayFilm
Handsome Jack
★ 5.7
1987
La BambaFilm
Bob Morales
★ 7.3
1987
The PrincipalFilm
Raymi Rojas
★ 6.4
1986
On Wings of EaglesTV
Rashid • 2 episodes
★ 6.0
1985
The Twilight ZoneTV
★ 7.7
1985
The EqualizerTV
Officer Miguel Canterra • 1 episodes
★ 7.2
1985
Rainy Day FriendsFilm
Neekos Valdez
★ 10.0
1984
Miami ViceTV
Felipe Cruz • 1 episodes
★ 7.5
1984
Miami ViceTV
Pete Romano • 1 episodes
★ 7.5
1984
The Great Love ExperimentFilm
Miguel Rados
1983
Bad BoysFilm
Paco Moreno
★ 7.0
1982
FameTV
★ 6.8
1982
American PlayhouseTV
Handsome Jack • 1 episodes
★ 6.6
1982
Forty DeuceFilm
Mitchell
★ 5.1

Known For

Criminal Minds

Chicago P.D.

NCIS: Los Angeles

How to Get Away with Murder

NYPD Blue

Titans

Fan Club

From Nerdspin

Filmography