Clifton Collins, Jr.

Clifton Collins, Jr. is an Emmy Award-nominated actor who played Ayel in . A picture of him was also used for card #70, titled Romulan First Officer Ayel, of the virtual collectible card battle game Star Trek: Rivals.
Hailing from Los Angeles, California, Collins is the grandson of well-known character actor . Collins has been acting in film and television since 1990. Outside of Star Trek, he is known for his roles in such films as Tigerland, Traffic, The Last Castle, Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day, and (2005). He received an Emmy Award nomination for his work on and starred in (2010-11) and (2013).
== Film work ==
=== 1990s ===
Collins made his film debut in (1991, starring Alfre Woodard). He then had a supporting role in (1993, with Jeffrey Combs, Kurtwood Smith, and Tom Towles). This was followed with roles in such films as Poetic Justice (1993; with John Cothran, Jr.) and Dead Presidents (1995; with Seymour Cassel). 
His breakthrough in mainstream cinema came with his role in (1997, co-starring Jack Kehler and Tony Plana). His subsequent film credits included The Replacement Killers (1998; with Patrick Kilpatrick) and Light It Up (1999; also featuring Vanessa Williams).
=== 2000-2005 ===
In 2000, Collins was seen in the acclaimed films Tigerland and Traffic. In the former, he portrayed Private Miter, an Army trainee whose inability to lead a platoon results in his being tormented by his superiors, including a staff sergeant played by guest star James MacDonald. In Traffic, Collins portrayed Francisco Flores, a hit man who is ultimately hired to kill a drug dealer played by actor Miguel Ferrer. (Traffic also featured Enrique Murciano and Tucker Smallwood.)
Collins worked with Maria del Mar, Ron Perlman and Michelle C. Bonilla in (2000). He then co-starred in (2001), for which he received a nomination from the ALMA (American Latino Media Arts) Awards as Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture. Frank Military had a role in this film, as well.
Collins later had supporting roles in such films as The Rules of Attraction (2002; co-starring Paul Williams), American Girl (2002; with Michelle Forbes), and Mindhunters (2004; starring Christian Slater). Perhaps his best known film role to date is that of serial killer Perry Smith in 2005's Capote, for which he received critical praise and a second ALMA Award nomination. This film also starred Bruce Greenwood, whom Collins again worked with on Star Trek.
=== 2005-current ===
Collins played the lead role in (2005, featuring s Gates McFadden). He later had a small role in (2006) and had a supporting role in (2008, with Paul Dooley). Collins again worked with Dooley in (2009). Neal McDonough worked on this film, as well, but he was later replaced and his scenes reshot.
In 2009, aside from his role on Star Trek, Collins appeared in (2009, John de Lancie as a sardonic, atypical news caster. Collins' other film credits in 2009 included (also featuring Tom Virtue), , and (on which Michael De Luca was a producer).
In , which was filmed in 2007 but not released until 2010, Collins played the lead role and worked alongside Bruce McGill. Collins made an uncredited cameo appearance in (2010, featuring the voice of Bill Hader). 
Collins subsequently appeared in (2011, with Sean Whalen), (2012, with Wallace Langham and Courtney Peldon) and (2012, co-starring Clancy Brown). He also appeared in (2013, featuring Carlos Carrasco).
Collins also appeared in (2013, featuring Idris Elba, Ron Perlman and Brad William Henke) and (2014, again working with Wallace Langham). He also worked on (2015). On the latter, Collins acted alongside Benicio del Toro, who was considered for the role of the villain in before it went to Benedict Cumberbatch.
== Television work ==
In addition to his film work, Collins has made a name for himself in television. Early on, he had guest spots on such series as (starring Clarence Gilyard, Jr. and Noble Willingham), (starring Eriq La Salle, with Richard Fancy and Steve Vinovich), NYPD Blue (with K Callan, Gordon Clapp, and Ken Jenkins), and UPN's The Twilight Zone. In 2001, he had a recurring role on , working with Daniel Zacapa and, in one episode, Ray Wise.
Collins first worked with J.J. Abrams and other members of the Star Trek production team when he played the recurring role of Javier Parez on the ABC series Alias. Greg Grunberg, who also participated in Star Trek, was a regular on this series at the time. 
In 2006, Collins starred as Jack "Bump" Hill on Thief. Although this program lasted only six episodes, Collins received an Emmy Award nomination for his performance. The following year, Collins appeared in the recurring role of Hernan on . Fellow Star Trek alumni Michael Jace, Jay Karnes, and Benito Martinez were regulars on this series.
In 2010, Collins appeared as Detective Ray Suarez on the TNT (formerly NBC) police drama Southland. Collins appeared in the fourth episode of the second season; he was slated to continue appearing on the show during its third season, but this never came to fruition. guest star Michael McGrady was a regular on this series at the time.
Collins was a regular cast member on The Event (2010-11). Bill Smitrovich and Collins' Star Trek co-star, Lisa Vidal, also appeared on this program. Later in 2011, Collins guest-starred in a two-episode arc on CSI: NY, on which Robert Joy was a regular.
Collins was also a regular on Red Widow, which aired for eight episodes in 2013 before it was canceled. Natalija Nogulich had a recurring role on this series.
In the first and second season of the HBO series Westworld, first aired in 2016 and 2018, Collins portrayed the recurring character of robot actor and fictional Wild West outlaw Lawrence.
== Video games ==
Gaming fans may recognize Collins as the voice of Cesar Vialpando on Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. This game also featured the voice talents of Andy Dick and Wil Wheaton.
== External links ==
* 
* 
es:Clifton Collins, Jr.
fr:Clifton Collins, Jr
Category:Performers
Category:Film performers
Category:ALMA Award nominees
Category:Boston Society of Film Critics Award winners
Category:Washington DC Area Film Critics Association Award nominees