Quotes from Jimmy Smits

I've been in California for about 15 years now. You're always in your car and insulated. I miss New York so much.

There are no right and wrong ways to work in this business, but there are some basic common-sense practices. Work very, very hard and always be prepared never give up and once you get the job, give them more than they ever expected: - Shine!

I am a firm believer in education and have worked very hard to tell young Latinos that they must go to college and that, if possible, they should pursue an advanced degree. I am convinced that education is the great equalizer.

What we need to focus on is not that we're not nominated, but that we have many more Latinos that are in prominent positions on shows all across the dial than ever before.

If you're afraid to live your life in a glass bubble, how can you do what we do in this industry?

People become actors because they want to hide, and it's not easy to talk about myself. I accept that a certain responsibility goes with being an actor in the public eye, but I haven't found a comfortable way to deal with it.

Growing up in New York, we lived all around the city depending on our economic circumstance. I also lived in Puerto Rico for a number of years.

I left 'L.A. Law' after five years when my contract was up because I felt I had done all I could do with the character. I didn't walk off the show with a three-picture deal to pursue this wonderful film career.

I have and will continue to vigorously pursue opportunities in all mediums.

I've been lucky because I've had wonderful teachers along the way who have nurtured and pushed me to the next level.

As an actor and as a performer, I've felt that the education system has really helped me in a lot of ways... there was always a teacher or a professor along the way that kept pushing me to the next stage.

'West Wing' was a show about politics.

That 'who's the sexiest' business is a crock that the media cooked up to sell magazines, so while I say thank you very much, I don't put much stock in it.

I wasn't a great student, but I was interested in this theater thing, and I could spend hours in the library researching why the cuffs in the 18th century had four buttons. It was my handle.

I save the rage for the stage.

What happens to George Clooney and Bruce Willis is great, but I can't gauge my career by anyone else's.

If you're given gifts or blessings in your life, it's up to you to help the guy coming up behind you.

I've had the good fortune to play characters that have a role-model thing to them.

As an actor, you think to yourself, 'I want to do good work,' but you also want the work that you do to make an impact in some way.

I like the gypsy aspect of this business.

There just aren't enough positive portrayals of Latino life in film.

It's a lot of pressure. Some of the cast wants a StairMaster on the set so you can work out like crazy before your naked scene.

I work out, but I'm not doing it specifically because I show my butt on TV.

I am a firm believer in education and have worked very hard to tell young Latinos that they must go to college and that, if possible, they should pursue an advanced degree. I am convinced that education is the great equalizer.