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Esai Morales Lieutenant Tony Rodriguez on NYPD Blue 
Throughout his career Esai Morales has successfully and gracefully transcended film, television and theater. In his latest endeavor as Lt. Tony Rodriguez on ABC's "NYPD Blue," he shows the world once again what a truly versatile talent he is. Morales describes his gripping new role as "a good cop who has risen to the lieutenant position pretty rapidly." He premiered on the hit series in April as a replacement for the character of Arthur Fancy.
Esai has been a familiar face on both the large and small screens for years. He has made many notable TV appearances in guest-star roles on sitcoms, as well as in a slew of made-for-TV movies and miniseries. Most recently he starred in the television movie "The Elian Gonzalez Story." He starred alongside "Wings'" Crystal Bernard in the ABC telefilm "Dying to Be Perfect: The Ellen Hart Pena Story," played a top criminal defense attorney in ABC's "Circle of Deceit," opposite Janine Turner, and appeared opposite Burt Lancaster in the NBC miniseries "On Wings of Eagles." He has also guest starred on such successful shows as "Family Law," "Resurrection Blvd.," "The Outer Limits," "Tales From The Crypt," "The Twilight Zone," "Fame" and "Miami Vice."
Morales made his feature film debut in the 1983 acclaimed drama "Bad Boys," opposite Sean Penn. This powerful drama detailing gang violence in prison was so well received by critics that it left many wondering why they had not seen this aspiring young actor before. He went on to appear in numerous big screen hits, establishing himself as a full-fledged young star in 1980's Hollywood. He appeared in "La Bamba," as Ritchie Valenz' older brother; HBO's "The Burning Season," with Sonja Braga and Raul Julia; "In the Army Now"; "My Family (Mi Familia)," with Jimmy Smits, Jennifer Lopez and Edward James Olmos; "Scorpion Spring." with Alfred Molina and Ruben Blades; the Kevin Costner-produced "Rapa Nui"; "Livers Ain't Cheap," with James Russo, Emily Llyod and Rod Steiger; "The Disappearance of Garcia Lorca," with Andy Garcia, Edward James Olmos and Giancarlo Gianinni; "American Virgin" and "Spin Cycle." Morales has also lent his vocal talents to several animated features such as "The Adventures of Tom Thumb and Thumbelina" and "Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet the Wolfman." Most recently he completed work on the Dimension film "Paid in Full," with Wood Harris, Chi McBride and Mekhi Phifer -- slated to come out in theaters late 2001 -- and will appear in the independent feature "How to Go Out on a Date in Queens."
Morales' extensive repertoire has not been limited to screen appearances but extends to an impressive resume of stage credits. He is a graduate of New York's prestigious High School for the Performing Arts, where he enrolled at 14. Even before finishing his studies, He had already made two critically acclaimed stage appearances -- in "El Hermano," at the Ensemble Theater Studio, and in "The Tempest," with Raul Julia, produced by Joe Papp at New York's Shakespeare Festival Park. His other credits include the Los Angeles Theater Center's "Tamer of Horses," for which he won the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award, and Oscar Wilde's "Salmone," with Al Pacino, at New York's Circle in the Square Theater.
Over the years Morales has given his name, time, leadership and financial assistance to various causes and charities close to his heart. He was a founding board member of E.C.O. (Earth Communications Office), a clearing house for environmental information which is made available to the industry and public at large. He has also worked for the Wildlife Preservation Fund in Costa Rica and works closely with alternative AIDS and H.E.A.L (Health Education Aids Liaison). In the late 1980s Morales used his heightened public profile to organize an Oscar Night benefit for El Rescate/The Rescue, a Central American refugee service agency. This contributed to the promotion of benefit events on the film industry's most important night of the year, which led to the current trend of Academy Award night benefits.
Morales currently resides in Los Angeles and, when he's not hard at work on his ever-growing career, he continues to devote his time to the community.
PERSONAL INFORMATIONBIRTHPLACE: Brooklyn, NY BIRTHDATE: October 1 Need to write? 
Here's where to send mail to Esai Morales.
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