Editing Esai Morales

{{short description|American actor (born 1962)}}
{{Infobox person
| name         = Esai Morales
| image        = Esai Morales at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival 05 Cropped.jpg
| caption      = Morales in 2025
| birth_name   = Esai Manuel Morales Jr.
| birth_date   = {{Birth date and age|1962|10|1}}<ref name="STARpulse.com">{{citation|url=http://www.starpulse.com/Actors/Morales,_Esai/Biography/|title=Esai Morales Biography|access-date=2011-08-29|archive-date=2016-03-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304052902/http://www.starpulse.com/Actors/Morales,_Esai/Biography/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| birth_place  = [[Brooklyn]], [[New York (state)|New York]], U.S.<ref name="BUDDYtv.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.buddytv.com/info/esai-morales-info.aspx |title=Esai Morales Biography |date=2021-10-26 |website=[[BuddyTV]] |access-date= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230321004314/https://www.buddytv.com/actors/esai-morales/ |archive-date=2023-03-21 |url-status=live}}</ref>
| education  = [[School of Performing Arts]]
| occupation   = {{flatlist|
*Actor
*producer
*director
*musician}}
| years_active = 1982–present
| children     = 1
| spouse       = {{marriage|Elvimar Silva|2010}}
}}

'''Esai Manuel Morales Jr.''' (born October 1, 1962) is an American actor. He has had notable roles in the films ''[[Bad Boys (1983 film)|Bad Boys]]'' with [[Sean Penn]] and ''[[La Bamba (film)|La Bamba]]'' with [[Lou Diamond Phillips]]. His television roles include the [[Public Broadcasting Service|PBS]] 2002 drama series ''[[American Family (2002 TV series)|American Family]]'', the [[Showtime (TV network)|Showtime]] series ''[[Resurrection Blvd.]]'' (2000–2002), portraying [[Tony Rodriguez (NYPD Blue)|Lt. Tony Rodriguez]] on ''[[NYPD Blue]]'' (2001–2003), [[List of Caprica characters#Joseph Adama|Joseph Adama]] in the [[science fiction]] series ''[[Caprica]]'' (2009–2010), Camino del Rio in the [[Netflix]] original series ''[[Ozark (TV series)|Ozark]]'' (2017), and the [[DC Comics]] supervillain [[Deathstroke|Slade Wilson / Deathstroke]] in the superhero series ''[[Titans (2018 TV series)|Titans]]'' (2019).

Morales appeared as Gabriel Martinelli, the main antagonist in the 2023 spy action film ''[[Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One]]'' opposite [[Tom Cruise]], a role which he reprise in ''[[Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning]]'' in 2025.

==Early life==
Of Puerto Rican descent, Morales was born in Brooklyn to Esai Morales Sr., a welder, and Iris Margarita (née Declet), a union activist involved with the [[International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20136678,00.html|title=Esai Does It|access-date=2017-04-18|date=2002-03-25|website=[[People (magazine)|People]]|first1=Tom|last1=Gliatto}}</ref> Morales began his pursuit of an acting career by attending the [[School of Performing Arts]] in Manhattan.<ref name="METAcritic.com">{{citation|url=http://www.metacritic.com/person/esai-morales?filter-options=movies|title=Esai Morales Biography}}</ref>

==Career==
His first professional performances were in theater and television in New York. His first major film was ''[[Bad Boys (1983 film)|Bad Boys]]'' (1983), about rival teenagers sentenced to a juvenile correction facility. Morales appeared in a 1985 episode of the TV series ''[[Fame (1982 TV series)|Fame]]''. He co-starred with [[Burt Lancaster]] in the 1986 NBC [[miniseries]] ''[[On Wings of Eagles (miniseries)|On Wings of Eagles]]'', playing the Iranian Rashid, the hero of a true story about [[Ross Perot]]. Morales also appeared in ''[[Miami Vice]]'', ''[[The Equalizer (1985 TV series)|The Equalizer]]'', and ''[[24 (TV series)|24]]''.

He played Bob Morales, the real-life ex-convict and biker half-brother of 1950s rock and roll singer [[Ritchie Valens]], in ''[[La Bamba (film)|La Bamba]]'' (1987). He also played Nicholas Walker in ''Ultraviolet'' (1992). Some of his other roles have reflected his socio-political interests, such as ''[[The Burning Season (1994 film)|The Burning Season]]'' in 1994, ''[[My Family (1995 film)|My Family/Mi Familia]]'' in 1995, ''[[The Disappearance of Garcia Lorca]]'' (1997), and ''Southern Cross'' (1999).<ref name="BLOCKBUSTER.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.blockbuster.com/browse/catalog/movieDetails/141134|title=Southern Cross (1999)|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018131043/http://www.blockbuster.com/browse/catalog/movieDetails/141134|archive-date=2012-10-18|website=Blockbuster}}</ref>  In the latter three films, as well as in others such as ''[[Bloodhounds of Broadway (1989 film)|Bloodhounds of Broadway]]'' (1989) and ''[[Rapa-Nui (film)|Rapa-Nui]]'' (1994), Morales saw increased amounts of screen time, starting with a role in the [[Pauly Shore]] film ''[[In the Army Now (film)|In The Army Now]]'' (1994).  He portrayed a police officer in the film ''[[Dogwatch (film)|Dogwatch]]'' (1996) and Father Herrera in ''The Virgin of Juarez'' (2006).<ref name="STARpulse">{{cite web|website=StarPulse|url=http://www.starpulse.com/Actors/Morales,_Esai/Videos/?vxChannel=Movie+Trailers+-+VD+-+Sci-Fi+and+Mystery&vxClipId=2430_223080&clip_id=&video_title=The+Virgin+Of+Juarez|title=The Virgin Of Juarez}}</ref>

In the 1990s, he guest-starred on episodes of ''[[The Outer Limits (1995 TV series)|The Outer Limits]]'', ''[[Tales from the Crypt (TV series)|Tales from the Crypt]]'', and two shorter-lived series, ''[[L.A. Doctors]]'' and ''[[The Hunger (TV series)|The Hunger]]''.  He appeared in a two-part episode of ''[[Family Law (American TV series)|Family Law]]'' in 2000. He was part of the main cast of the long-running series ''[[NYPD Blue]]'' for three and a half seasons, from 2001 to 2004, as the head of the 15th precinct detective squad.

He played a drug dealer named Lulu in the 2002 film ''[[Paid in Full (2002 film)|Paid in Full]]''. In 2005, he was a voice actor in the video game ''[[True Crime: New York City]]''.

[[File:Eric Stoltz-2009.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Morales (right) with [[Grace Park (actress)|Grace Park]] (left) and [[Eric Stoltz]] (center)]]

Morales was cast in the film ''American Fusion'' (2005),<ref name="AMERICANFUSIONthemovie">{{cite web|website=AmericanFusionTheMovie.com|url=http://www.americanfusionthemovie.com/cast.htm|title=Cast}}</ref> and in 2006, he joined the cast of the Fox series ''[[Vanished (TV series)|Vanished]]'', as [[FBI]] agent Michael Tyner; the series ran for one season.<ref name="TVSERIESfinale.com">{{cite web|website=tvseriesfinale.com|url=http://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/vanished-watch-the-last-episode-of-the-cancelled-tv-show/|title=Vanished: Watch the Last Episode of the Cancelled TV Show|date=30 December 2008 }}</ref> In 2007, Morales appeared in an episode of the [[USA Network]] drama series ''[[Burn Notice]]'', as a Cuban shopkeeper being shaken down for "protection" money by local criminals. In 2008, Morales had a role in the [[CBS]] drama ''[[Jericho (2006 TV series)|Jericho]]'', as Major Edward Beck. He appeared in all seven episodes of the shortened [[List of Jericho episodes#Season 2: 2008|second season]]. That same year, he appeared in ''[[Kill Kill Faster Faster]]'', a [[film noir]] based on the novel of the same name by [[Joel Rose]].

Morales played the role of [[List of Caprica characters#Joseph Adama|Joseph Adama]] in the science fiction television series ''[[Caprica]]'' &ndash; [[Syfy]]'s prequel to the series ''[[Battlestar Galactica (2004 TV series)|Battlestar Galactica]]''.<ref name="TVguide.com">{{cite news|url=http://www.tvguide.com/news/Esai-Morales-Cast-12541.aspx|title=Esai Morales Cast on Caprica — as Adama's Father|work=TVGuide}}</ref><ref name="BLASTR.com">{{cite web|website=Blastr|url=http://blastr.com/2009/03/caprica-star-esai-morales.php|title=Caprica star Esai Morales sees parallels with these great stories}}</ref> The series, though highly anticipated, only ran for one season in 2010. In 2009, he served as an official festival judge for the [[Noor Iranian Film Festival]] in Los Angeles.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://noorfilmfestival.com/index.php/2009-festival-overview|title=2009 Festival Overview|last=Festival|first=Noor Iranian Film|website=Noor Iranian Film Festival|language=en-gb|access-date=2019-02-18}}</ref>

In 2011, Morales starred in the drama film ''[[Gun Hill Road (film)|Gun Hill Road]]'' as Enrique,<ref name="FILMcritic.com">{{cite web|website=filmcritic.com|url=http://www.filmcritic.com/reviews/2011/gun-hill-road/|title=Gun Hill Road|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805031743/http://www.filmcritic.com/reviews/2011/gun-hill-road/|archive-date=2011-08-05}}</ref> and in the web drama ''Los Americans'' airing on PIC.tv.<ref name="THECELEBRITYcafe.com">{{cite web|website=thecelebritycafe.com|url=http://thecelebritycafe.com/feature/interview-esai-morales-02-10-2011|title=Interview with Esai Morales|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110213042506/http://thecelebritycafe.com/feature/interview-esai-morales-02-10-2011|archive-date=2011-02-13}}</ref> Morales worked with [[Tony Plana]], [[Yvonne DeLaRosa]], [[Lupe Ontiveros]], and [[JC Gonzalez]] in ''[[Los Americans]]'',  an Internet program launched in 2011.

In 2015, [[Robert Rodriguez]] cast him as Lord Amancio Malvado for the second season of horror series ''[[From Dusk till Dawn: The Series]]'',<ref>{{cite web|website=Bloody Disgusting|url=http://bloody-disgusting.com/news/3336487/dusk-till-dawn-casts-lord-amancio-malvado/1|title="From Dusk Till Dawn" Casts Its 'Lord Amancio Malvado'|date=18 March 2015 }}</ref> which was followed in 2017 by a main role in the first season of the [[Netflix]] original series ''[[Ozark (TV series)|Ozark]]'', and then in 2019 in an antagonist role for the second season of the [[DC Universe (streaming service)|DC Universe]] superhero series ''[[Titans (2018 TV series)|Titans]]'' as [[Deathstroke|Slade Wilson / Deathstroke]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/03/titans-esai-morales-joins-dc-universe-as-deathstroke-1202575173/|title='Titans': Esai Morales Joins DC Universe As Deathstroke|date=2019-03-13|website=Deadline|access-date=2019-03-13}}</ref>

Morales appeared in ''[[Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One]]'' as Gabriel, the film's main villain, a role which he is reprising in its sequel ''[[Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Couch|first=Aaron|date=May 21, 2020|title=Esai Morales Replaces Nicholas Hoult in 'Mission: Impossible 7'|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/esai-morales-replaces-nicholas-hoult-mission-impossible-7-1295456/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210130152420/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/esai-morales-replaces-nicholas-hoult-mission-impossible-7-1295456|archive-date=January 30, 2021|access-date=April 28, 2022|website=The Hollywood Reporter}}</ref>

In 2023, Morales starred in the western thriller [[Cottonmouth (film)|''Cottonmouth'']], which is set for release in 2024.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://deadline.com/2023/09/ron-perlman-martin-sensmeier-western-cottonmouth-filming-oklahoma-sag-agreement-1235558479/ |title= Martin Sensmeier, Ron Perlman, Esai Morales & Eric Nelsen Lead Western 'Cottonmouth'; Filming Underway In Oklahoma |access-date= September 28, 2023 |author= Andreas Wiseman |date= September 28, 2023 |work= [[Deadline Hollywood]] }}</ref>

==Awards and honors==
In 2005, Morales (along with [[Mercedes Ruehl]]) received the [[Rita Moreno]] HOLA Award for Excellence from the [[Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors]] (HOLA).{{Citation needed|date=July 2023}}

He received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the [[Arpa Foundation for Film, Music and Art]], for his impact as an actor and role model.{{Citation needed|date=July 2023}}

==Activism==
Morales has described himself as an "actorvist",<ref name="PBS.org">{{citation|url=https://www.pbs.org/americanfamily/cast.html|title=Introducing the actors who bring American Family to life}}</ref> primarily as one of the founders of the ''National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts'', taking inspiration from his mother, who was an organizer for the [[International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union]].<ref name="PRWeb">{{citation|url=http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/8/prweb8687155.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017101902/http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/8/prweb8687155.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 17, 2012|title=ASHA and Film/TV Star Esai Morales Collaborate on Safe Listening Public Service Announcement|date=1 August 2011}}</ref> He is also interested in environmental issues and was a founding board member of E.C.O. (Earth Communications Office).<ref name="GREATERtalent.com">{{citation|url=http://www.greatertalent.com/EsaiMorales/|title=Esai Morales Award-Winning Actor & Activist|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110924205630/http://www.greatertalent.com/EsaiMorales/|archive-date=2011-09-24}}</ref>

In a February 28, 2007, all-star [[Benefit concert|benefit]] reading of ''The Gift of Peace'' at [[UCLA]]'s Freud Playhouse, he portrayed a hopeful member of a struggling [[immigration|immigrant]] family. The play was an open appeal and fundraiser for passage of [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House]] [[Resolution (law)|Resolution]] 808, which sought to establish a [[Cabinet (government)|Cabinet]]-level "Department of Peace" in the U.S. government, to be funded by a two percent diversion of the [[United States Department of Defense|Pentagon]]'s annual budget.<ref name="THEGIFTOFpeace.org">{{citation|url=http://www.thegiftofpeace.org/|title=The Gift of Peace}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Morales is a [[vegetarian]].<ref name="IVU.org">{{cite web|website=ivu.org|url=http://www.ivu.org/people/actors/morales.html|title=Famous Vegetarians - Esai Morales}}</ref> He has a daughter, born in 2010.<ref>{{cite web |author=<!--Not stated--> |title=Esai Morales Welcomes Daughter Mariana Oliveira |url=https://people.com/parents/esai-morales-welcomes-daughter-mariana-oliveira/ |website=People.com |access-date=2020-11-17 }}</ref>

Morales' first name is frequently used in [[crossword puzzle]]s, because its rare construction makes it a prize for crossword constructors (it is a four-letter word in English that is 75 percent vowels, including the first and last letters). One crossword clue website estimated that between 1994 and 2016, "ESAI" had been used as a crossword answer over 100 times in American papers such as ''Los Angeles Times'', ''The New York Times'',  and ''The Washington Post''.<ref name="crosswordtracker.com">{{cite web|website=crosswordtracker.com|url=http://crosswordtracker.com/clue/actor-morales/|title=Clue: Actor Morales}}</ref>

==Filmography==

{| class="wikitable"
|+Key
| style="background:#FFFFCC;"| {{dagger|alt=Not yet released}}
|Denotes works that have not yet been released
|}

===Film===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 1982
| ''[[Forty Deuce]]''
| Mitchell
|
|-
| 1983
| ''[[Bad Boys (1983 film)|Bad Boys]]''
| Paco Moreno
|
|-
| 1985
| ''[[Rainy Day Friends]]''
| Neekos Valdez
|
|-
|rowspan="2" | 1987
| ''[[La Bamba (film)|La Bamba]]''
| Roberto 'Bob' Morales
|
|-
| ''[[The Principal]]''
| Raymundo 'Raymi' Rojas
|
|-
| 1989
| ''[[Bloodhounds of Broadway (1989 film)|Bloodhounds of Broadway]]''
| Jack 'Handsome Jack'
|
|-
| 1990
| ''[[Naked Tango]]''
| Zico Borenstein
|
|-
|rowspan="2"| 1992
| ''[[Freejack]]''
| 'Ripper'
|
|-
| ''Ultraviolet''
| Nicholas Walker
|
|-
|rowspan="2"| 1993
| ''The Waiter''
| Julius
| Short
|-
| ''Living and Working in Space: The Countdown Has Begun''
| Kenny
| Video
|-
|rowspan="3"| 1994
| ''[[Rapa-Nui (film)|Rapa-Nui]]''
| Make
|
|-
| ''[[In the Army Now (film)|In the Army Now]]''
| Sergeant Stern
|
|-
| ''[[Don't Do It (film)|Don't Do It]]''
| Charles
|
|-
|rowspan="2"| 1995
| ''[[My Family (1995 film)|My Family]]''
| 'Chucho'
|
|-
| ''[[Scorpion Spring]]''
| Astor
|
|-
|rowspan="3"| 1996
| ''[[Livers Ain't Cheap]]''
| Collin
|
|-
| ''[[The Disappearance of Garcia Lorca]]''
| Ricardo
|
|-
| ''[[Dogwatch (film)|Dogwatch]]''
| Murrow
| Video
|-
| 1998
| ''[[The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit]]''
| Dominguez
|
|-
|rowspan="2"| 1999
| ''Southern Cross''
| Philip Solano
|
|-
| ''[[American Virgin (2000 film)|American Virgin]]''
| Jim The Director
|
|-
|rowspan="2"| 2000
| ''Doomsday Man''
| Mike
| 
|-
| ''Spin Cycle''
| Nickens
|
|-
|rowspan="2"| 2002
| ''[[The Adventures of Tom Thumb and Thumbelina]]''
| Vergas Mouse (voice)
| Video
|-
| ''[[Paid in Full (2002 film)|Paid in Full]]''
| Luis "Lulu" Lujano
|
|-
| 2005
| ''Once Upon a Wedding''
| Pineda
|
|-
|rowspan="3"| 2006
| ''The Virgin of Juarez''
| Father Herrera
|
|-
| ''[[Fast Food Nation (film)|Fast Food Nation]]''
| Tony
|
|-
| ''How to Go Out on a Date in Queens''
| Frankie
|
|-
| 2008
| ''[[Kill Kill Faster Faster]]''
| Markie
|
|-
| 2009
| ''[[The Line (2009 film)|The Line]]''
| Pelon
|
|-
|rowspan="2"| 2010
| ''Cherry''
| Wes
|
|-
| ''[[King of the Avenue]]''
| Natas
|
|-
| 2011
| ''[[Gun Hill Road (film)|Gun Hill Road]]''
| Enrique
| 
|-
| 2012
| ''[[Atlas Shrugged: Part II]]''
| Francisco D'Anconia
|
|-
| 2013
| ''[[Playin' for Love]]''
| Principle Jose Martin
|
|-
| 2014
| ''[[Jarhead 2: Field of Fire]]''
| Captain Jones
| Video
|-
| 2015
| ''[[Spare Parts (2015 film)|Spare Parts]]''
| Mr. Santillan
| 
|-
| 2016
| ''[[Never Back Down: No Surrender]]''
| Hugo Vega
| Video
|-
|rowspan="2"| 2018
| ''[[Superfly (2018 film)|Superfly]]''
| Adalberto Gonzalez
|
|-
| ''[[Imprisoned (film)|Imprisoned]]''
| Governor Mandera
| 
|-
| 2019
| ''[[The Wall of Mexico]]''
| Henry Arista
|
|-
| 2021
| ''[[Senior Moment]]''
| Diego Lozana
| 
|-
|rowspan="3"| 2022
| ''[[Art of Love (2022 film)|Art of Love]]''
| Professor/Writer
|
|- 
| ''Queen of Manhattan''
| Papi
|
|- 
| ''[[Master Gardener (film)|Master Gardener]]''
| Oscar Neruda
|
|-
| 2023
| ''[[Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One]]'' 
| Gabriel Martinelli
|
|-
| 2024
| ''[[Crescent City (film)|Crescent City]]''
| Luke
|
|-
| 2025
| ''[[Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning]]''
| Gabriel Martinelli
| 
|-
| rowspan="2" | TBD
| style="background:#FFFFCC;" | ''The Latin from Manhattan'' {{dagger|alt=Not yet released}}
| Papi
| Post-production
|-
| style="background:#FFFFCC;" | ''[[War Machine (upcoming film)|War Machine]]'' {{dagger|alt=Not yet released}}
| {{TBA}}
| Filming
|}

===Television===
{| class="wikitable sortable"

! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 1984
| ''[[ABC Afterschool Special]]''
| Miguel Rados
| Episode: "The Great Love Experiment"
|-
|rowspan="3"| 1985
| ''[[The Equalizer (1985 TV series)|The Equalizer]]''
| Officer Miguel Canterra
| Episode: "[[The Equalizer (1985 TV series) season 1#ep5|Lady Cop]]"
|-
| ''[[Fame (1982 TV series)|Fame]]''
| George
| Episode: "Savage Streets"
|-
| ''[[Miami Vice]]''
| Pete Romano 
| Episode: "The Home Invaders"
|-
| 1986
| ''[[On Wings of Eagles (miniseries)|On Wings of Eagles]]''
| Rashid
| Episode: "Part I & II"
|-
| 1987
| ''[[Miami Vice]]''
| Felipe Cruz
| Episode: "God's Work"
|-
| 1989
| ''[[The Twilight Zone (1985 TV series)|The Twilight Zone]]''
| Jesse Cardiff
| Episode: "[[A Game of Pool (1989)|A Game of Pool]]"
|-
| 1991–92
| ''[[The Legend of Prince Valiant]]''
| Various Roles (voice)
| Recurring cast (season 1)
|-
| 1992
| ''Bay City Story''
| Jim Duran
| TV movie
|-
|rowspan="2"| 1994
| ''[[Tales from the Crypt (TV series)|Tales from the Crypt]]''
| 'Puck'
| Episode: "The Bribe"
|-
| ''[[The Burning Season (1994 film)|The Burning Season]]''
| Jair
| TV movie
|-
| 1995
| ''Deadlocked: Escape from Zone 14''
| Tony Archer
| TV movie
|-
| 1996
| ''Dying to Be Perfect: The Ellen Hart Pena Story''
| Federico Peña
| TV movie
|-
|rowspan="2"| 1997
| ''[[The Outer Limits (1995 TV series)|The Outer Limits]]''
| Frank Kelton
| Episode: "Heart's Desire"
|-
| ''[[The Hunger (TV series)|The Hunger]]''
| Tony
| Episode: "I'm Dangerous Tonight"
|-
|rowspan="2"| 1998
| ''[[Adventures from the Book of Virtues]]''
| Guillermo (voice)
| Episode: "Charity"
|-
| ''[[Circle of Deceit (1998 film)|Circle of Deceit]]''
| Jeff Silva
| TV movie
|-
|rowspan="2"| 1999
| ''[[L.A. Doctors]]''
| Vince Duralde
| Episode: "The Life Lost in Living"
|-
| ''[[Atomic Train]]''
| Noris MacKenzie
| Episode: "Part I & II"
|-
|rowspan="2"| 2000
| ''A Family in Crisis: The Elian Gonzales Story''
| Juan Miguel Gonzalez
| TV movie
|-
| ''[[Family Law (American TV series)|Family Law]]''
| Mr. Santiago
| Episode: "Telling Lies, Conclusion"
|-
| 2000–02
| ''[[Resurrection Blvd.]]''
| Paco Corrales
| Recurring cast (season 1-2), guest (season 3)
|-
| 2001–04
| ''[[NYPD Blue]]''
| [[Tony Rodriguez (NYPD Blue)|Lieutenant Tony Rodriguez]]
| Main cast (season 8-11)
|-
|rowspan="2"| 2002
| ''[[American Family (2002 TV series)|American Family]]''
| Esteban Gonzalez
| Recurring cast (season 1)
|-
| ''[[George Lopez (TV series)|George Lopez]]''
| Manny Lopez
| Episode: "Who's Your Daddy?"
|-
| 2002–03
| ''[[Dora the Explorer (TV series)|Dora the Explorer]]''
| Papi (voice)
| Recurring cast (season 2)
|-
|rowspan="2"| 2005
| ''[[Heartless (2005 film)|Heartless]]''
| Rick Benes/David Lopez
| TV movie
|-
| ''[[Freddie (TV series)|Freddie]]''
| Carlos
| Episode: "The Courtship of Freddie's Father"
|-
| 2006
| ''[[Vanished (TV series)|Vanished]]''
| Michael Tyner
| Recurring cast
|-
|rowspan="2"| 2007
| ''[[List of 24 (TV series) media#24: Day 6 Debrief|24: Day 6 Debrief]]''
| Agent Jorge Ramirez
| Recurring cast (season 6)
|-
| ''[[Burn Notice]]''
| Ernie Paseo
| Episode: "Broken Rules"
|-
| 2008
| ''[[Jericho (2006 TV series)|Jericho]]''
| Major Edward Beck
| Recurring cast (season 2)
|-
| 2009–10
| ''[[Caprica]]''
| [[List of Caprica characters#Joseph Adama|Joseph Adama]]
| Main cast
|-
| 2010
| ''[[CSI: Miami]]''
| Stephen Madsen
| Episode: "All Fall Down"
|-
|rowspan="2"|2011
| ''[[Los Americans]]''
| Leandro 'Lee' Valenzuela
| Main cast
|-
| ''We Have Your Husband''
| Eduardo Valseca
| TV movie
|-
| 2011–12
| ''[[Fairly Legal]]''
| District Attorney Aaron Davidson
| Guest (season 1), recurring cast (season 2)
|-
|rowspan="2"| 2012
| ''Seattle Superstorm''
| Tom
| TV movie
|-
| ''[[Law & Order: Special Victims Unit]]''
| Jimmy Vasquez
| Episode: "Home Invasions"
|-
|rowspan="3"| 2013
| ''[[Magic City (TV series)|Magic City]]''
| Carlos "El Tiburon" Ruiz
| Recurring cast (season 2)
|-
| ''[[Major Crimes (TV series)|Major Crimes]]''
| Deputy Diaz
| Episode: "Jailbait"
|-
| ''Teachers''
| Manny
| TV movie
|-
| 2013–15
| ''[[Criminal Minds]]<ref name="chief">{{cite web|url=http://www.tvguide.com/News/Criminal-Minds-Exclusive-Esai-Morales-1068277.aspx|title=Exclusive: Esai Morales Joins ''Criminal Minds'' as New Section Chief|website=TVGuide.com|access-date=July 26, 2013}}</ref>''
| Section Chief Mateo 'Matt' Cruz
| Guest (season 9), recurring cast (season 10)
|-
| 2014
| ''[[Cleaners (TV series)|Cleaners]]''
| Father Brooks
| Recurring cast (season 2)
|-
|rowspan="3"| 2015
| ''[[The Brink (TV series)|The Brink]]''
| President Julian Navarro
| Main cast
|-
| ''[[From Dusk till Dawn: The Series]]''
| Lord Amancio Malvado
| Main cast (season 2)
|-
| ''[[Mozart in the Jungle]]''
| Juan Delgado
| Recurring cast (season 2) 
|-
| 2015–16
| ''[[Blue Bloods (TV series)|Blue Bloods]]''
| Sergeant Trey Delgado
| Guest cast (season 6-7)
|-
|rowspan="3"| 2016
| ''Casa Vita''
| Rodrigo Vita
| TV movie
|-
| ''[[Hit the Floor (TV series)|Hit the Floor]]'' 
| Joe Desario
| Episode: "Til Death Do Us Part"
|-
| ''[[Adam Ruins Everything]]''
| Alfonso
| Episode: "Adam Ruins Immigration"
|-
| 2016–20
| ''[[How to Get Away with Murder]]''
| Jorge Castillo
| Recurring cast (season 3-4 & 6)
|-
|rowspan="3"| 2017
| ''[[Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders]]''
| Section Chief Mateo 'Matt' Cruz
| Episode: "La Huesuda"
|-
| ''[[Ozark (TV series)|Ozark]]''
| Camino Del Rio
| Main cast (season 1)
|-
| ''[[Chicago P.D. (TV series)|Chicago P.D.]]''
| Police Chief Lugo
| Recurring cast (season 4), guest (season 5)
|-
| 2018
| ''[[Mars (2016 TV series)|Mars]]''
| Roland St. John
| Recurring cast (season 2) 
|-
| 2018–19
| ''[[NCIS: Los Angeles]]''
| NCIS Deputy Director [[Louis Ochoa]]
| Recurring cast (season 10)
|-
| 2019
| ''[[Titans (2018 TV series)|Titans]]''
| [[Deathstroke|Slade Wilson/Deathstroke]]
| Main cast (season 2)
|-
| 2020
| ''[[Curb Your Enthusiasm]]''
| Francisco
| Episode: "Artificial Fruit"
|-
| 2025
| ''[[Side Quest (TV series)|Side Quest]]''
| Gustavo
| Episode: "Fugue"
|}

===Video game===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year
! Title
! Voice role
! Notes
|-
| 2005
|''[[True Crime: New York City]]''
| Chief Victor Navarro 
|<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/true-crime-nyc-cuffs-voice-talent/1100-6133852/ | title=True Crime: NYC cuffs voice talent | website=[[GameSpot]] | last=Surette | first=Tim | date=September 19, 2005 | access-date=May 23, 2015}}</ref>
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
{{commons category|Esai Morales}}
* {{IMDb name}}
* {{Facebook}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Morales, Esai}}
[[Category:1962 births]]
[[Category:American male film actors]]
[[Category:American actors of Puerto Rican descent]]
[[Category:American male television actors]]
[[Category:American male voice actors]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Male actors from Brooklyn]]
[[Category:Hispanic and Latino American male actors]]
[[Category:Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School alumni]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:21st-century American male actors]]