# Jesse Borrego

Jesse Borrego (born August 1, 1962) is an American actor best known for his roles as Cruz Candelaria in Blood In Blood Out, Jesse V. Velasquez in Fame, Gael Ortega in 24, and George King in Dexter.

## Early life

Jesse Borrego was born in San Antonio, Texas, to Gloria Flores and Jesse Borrego Sr., an accordion player and singer of conjunto Mexican music. Jesse is the second oldest of five children: Gloria Marina, James, Georgina, and Grace. As a youth Jesse often danced with his sister Marina entering and winning several dance contests. Borrego lived with his grandparents during his high school years. He considered going into the US Air Force to become a pilot but pursued an acting career instead because it came naturally to him. After graduating from Harlandale High School, he attended University of the Incarnate Word, studying theater and dance, and The California Institute of the Arts alongside actor Don Cheadle. He earned a degree in Performance in 1984. About the same time, he attended an open audition for the TV Series Fame where he won the role of "Jesse Velasquez" for seasons 4, 5 and 6 from 1984-1987.

## Career

He was a regular on the musical television series Fame for the show's final three seasons from 1984-1987. He appeared on Married... with Children as Bruno in the episode "Can't Dance, Don't Ask Me" (1989). He is well-remembered for his performance in the film Blood In Blood Out portraying the role of Cruz Candelaria.
Borrego appeared in productions at the Joseph Papp Theatre in New York City and the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles. In addition to performing on stage and in films such as Mi Vida Loca, Follow Me Home, New York Stories, and Con Air, he began Lupita Productions in 1990. He has produced theatrical productions and concerts as well as two 16mm short films: El Suendo de Simon (1993) by James Borrego and Flattime (1995) by Jimmy Santiago Baca. He also played role of an original gangster on DarkRoom Familia's "Veteranos" in 1999. Borrego is a member of the theatre group "Tribal Players." He is well known for his recurring roles on the third season of 24 as Gael Ortega and the third season of Dexter as George King. In 2009, Borrego starred in the movie La Mission where he reunited with former Blood In Blood Out co-star Benjamin Bratt.
Borrego has also had his hand in directing. Borrego directed the no-budget indie film titled Closer to Bottom which premiered at the inaugural Austin Indie Fest in November, 2017. The movie won an award for Best Made in Texas Feature Film.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1989 | New York Stories | Reuben Toro | |
| 1991 | Before the Storm | Sam | TV movie |
| 1993 | Blood In Blood Out | Cruz Candelaria | |
| 1993 | Mi Vida Loca | Juan "El Duran" Temido | |
| 1994 | I Like It Like That | Alexis | |
| 1994 | Bienvenido Welcome | Dario/Jijio | |
| 1995 | Tecumseh: The Last Warrior | Tecumseh | TV movie |
| 1996 | Follow Me Home | Tudee | |
| 1996 | Dalva | Duane Stonehorse | TV movie |
| 1996 | Lone Star | Danny | |
| 1997 | Retroactive | Jesse | |
| 1997 | Con Air | Francisco Cindino | |
| 1997 | The Maker | Felice A. Beato | |
| 1998 | Veteranos | Santo | |
| 1999 | The Darkest Day | Jonathan | TV movie |
| 2000 | Hell Swarm | Darius | TV movie |
| 2000 | A Lowrider Spring Break En San Quilmas | Sonny Gutierrez | |
| 2001 | Come and Take it Day | Jesse | |
| 2003 | The Maldonado Miracle | Hector Maldonado | TV movie |
| 2003 | The Shadow Chaser | - | Short |
| 2003 | Scooby-Doo! and the Monster of Mexico | Luis Otero (voice) | Video |
| 2005 | The New World | Pepaschicher | |
| 2008 | The Bookie | Jesus | |
| 2009 | La Mission | Rene | |
| 2010 | Dream Healing | Marco | |
| 2011 | Colombiana | Fabio Restrepo | |
| 2013 | Mission Park | Mr. Ramirez | |
| 2013 | Go for Sisters | Juan Calles | |
| 2013 | Wappo vs the World | Jesse | Short |
| 2014 | Shut Out: A Baseball Film | Martin Duque | Short |
| 2016 | Birth of a Killer | Lucas Father | Short |
| 2016 | Duqüe | Martin Duque | Short |
| 2016 | Gino's Wife | Agent Montoya | |
| 2016 | Dead Awake | Dr. Hassan Davies | |
| 2017 | Closer To Bottom | Thomas | |
| 2017 | The Dagger | - | Short |
| 2018 | Colossal Youth | Mr. De La Vega | |
| 2019 | Phoenix, Oregon | Carlos | |
| 2019 | The Margarita Man | Jimmy Martinez | |
| 2019 | Teenage Girl: Valerie's Holiday | Joe | |
| 2020 | Limbo | CPS Investigator | |
| 2020 | Luminous | Lou | Short |
| 2023 | Addicted to You | Papa Felipe | Short |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1984-87 | Fame | Jesse Velasquez | Main Cast: Season 4-6 |
| 1987 | The Bronx Zoo | Julio Gaspare | Episode: "Small Victories" |
| 1988 | Miami Vice | Enrique 'Rique' Lorca-Mendez | Episode: "A Bullet For Crocket" |
| 1989 | Miami Vice | Octavio Escandero | Episode: "Jack Of All Trades" |
| 1989 | Married... with Children | Bruno | Episode: "Can't Dance Don't Ask" |
| 1990 | Midnight Caller | Carlos Mendez | Episode: "Kid Salinas" |
| 1991 | Under Cover | Sam | Episode: "Sacrifices" |
| 1991 | China Beach | Hector | Episode: "100 Klicks Out" |
| 1997 | Chicago Hope | Michael Waters | Episode: "The Sun Also Rises" |
| 1997 | ER | HIV-Positive Patient | Episode: "Ambush" |
| 1997 | Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child | Tanatiuh the Fierce (voice) | Episode: "The Elves and the Shoemaker" |
| 1998 | The Hunger | Jess | Episode: "Plain Brown Envelope" |
| 1999 | Brimstone | Paco Gomez | Episode: "Lovers" |
| 1999 | Magnificent Seven | Don Paulo Monterro | Episode: "Love & Honor" |
| 2001 | Touched By An Angel | Tommy Hernandez | Episode: "Mi Familia" |
| 2002 | Animated Tales of the World | Sanchez (voice) | Episode: "John Henry: The Steel Driving Man" |
| 2002 | What's New, Scooby-Doo? | Luis Cepeda (voice) | Episode: "3-D Struction" |
| 2003-04 | 24 | Gael Ortega | Recurring Cast: Season 3 |
| 2005 | Medical Investigation | Antonio Baracas | Episode: "Mission La Roca: Part 1 & 2" |
| 2006 | CSI Miami | Nicholas Suero | Episode: "Free Fall" |
| 2007 | CSI Crime Scene Investigation | Felix Rodriguez | Episode: "Lying Down with Dogs" |
| 2007-08 | ER | Javier | Recurring Cast: Season 14 |
| 2008 | Dexter | George King | Recurring Cast: Season 3 |
| 2008 | Independent Lens | Fred Cruz (voice) | Episode: "Writ Writer" |
| 2011 | Chaos | Ernesto Salazar | Episode: "Proof of Life" |
| 2013 | Burn Notice | Nando | Episode: "Things Unseen" |
| 2014 | From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series | T.T. Doorman | Recurring Cast: Season 1 |
| 2015 | American Crime | Oscar | Recurring Cast: Season 1 |
| 2016 | Good Behavior | David | Episode: "The Ballad of Little Santino" |
| 2017 | Fear the Walking Dead | Efraín Morales | Recurring Cast: Season 3 |
| 2020 | Vida | Victor | Recurring Cast: Season 3 |