Benjamin Bratt, an American actor and producer, has gained recognition for his roles in popular movies like “Bright Angel,” “Demolition Man,” “The River Wild,” “Traffic,” “Thumbsucker,” and “The Infiltrator.”
He has also made his mark on television with notable appearances on shows such as “Law & Order,” “Private Practice,” and “Star.” In addition to his acting career, Bratt produced the documentary “Dolores,” which delves into the life of civil rights champion Dolores Huerta.
Benjamin Bratt Bio Summary
Full name: Benjamin George Bratt
Date of birth: December 16, 1963
Place of birth: San Francisco, California, United States
Height: 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight: 198 lbs (90 kg)
Education: University of California-Santa Barbara and Lowell High School
Profession: Actor
Nationality: American
Marital status: Married
Wife’s name: Talisa Soto
Children: 2 (Sophia Rosalinda and Mateo Bravery)
Early Life
Benjamin Bratt was born as the third of five children, on December 16, 1963, in San Francisco, California. His father- Peter was a sheet metal worker, and his mother Eldy was a nurse and political activist. His father’s side of the family is of German and English descent, while his mother’s side is of Peruvian Quechuan heritage.
Bratt’s parents divorced when he was three and he was raised by his mother. During his teenage years, he attended Lowell High School and after completing his studies, he pursued a BFA degree at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Later, Bratt joined the MFA program at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco.
After dropping out of the program, he pursued a career in acting and landed a role in the 1987 TV movie “Juarez.” In the following year, he appeared in both the TV movie “Police Story: Gladiator School” and the feature film “Lovers, Partners & Spies” in supporting roles.
Career
Benjamin Bratt appeared in the 1990 drama “Bright Angel” and the next year, he landed roles in the crime flicks “One Good Cop” and “Chains of Gold.”
His most significant role to date was in 1993, portraying Chicano gang member Paco Aguilar in the crime saga “Blood in Blood Out.” That same year, he also starred as Officer Alfredo Garcia in the sci-fi action movie “Demolition Man.”
In 1994, Bratt starred in two successful movies, both of which were action-packed thrillers: “Clear and Present Danger” by Phillip Noyce and “The River Wild” by Curtis Hanson. A few years later, he took on the dual roles of actor and producer in “Follow Me Home,” a film directed by his brother Peter.
In 2000, Benjamin Bratt had his most successful year yet, starring in five movies. These included the Madonna dramedy “The Next Best Thing”, Burt Reynolds’ drama “The Last Producer”, the science-fiction action film “Red Planet”, the Sandra Bullock comedy “Miss Congeniality”, and Steven Soderbergh’s ensemble crime drama “Traffic.”
After a successful year, Bratt showcased his talent in the lead role of the biopic “Piñero,” portraying the renowned Puerto Rican performer and writer. He also appeared in other notable films such as “Abandon,” “The Woodsman,” “Catwoman,” “Thumbsucker,” “The Great Raid,” “Love in the Time of Cholera,” and “Trucker.”
In 2009, Benjamin Bratt provided his voice for the animated movie “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” and acted in his sibling’s film “La Mission.”
He also has roles in various other works such as “Snitch,” “Despicable Me 2,” “Ride Along 2,” “The Infiltrator,” “Doctor Strange,” “Coco,” and “A Score to Settle.” Additionally, Bratt served as a producer for the documentary “Dolores” in 2017.
In 1988, Bratt landed his initial leading role on a TV show as Tony Maldonado in the short-lived drama “Knightwatch.” The following year, he took on another primary role in the short-lived action series “Nasty Boys.” Bratt then appeared in TV movies “Shadowhunter” and “Texas.”
In 1995, he achieved his most significant role to date as Detective Rey Curtis on the crime drama series “Law & Order.” He starred in a prominent role from seasons six to nine and made a guest appearance in season 20.
As a result, Benjamin Bratt earned an Emmy Award nomination in 1999. He also revisited his character in three episodes of “Homicide: Life on the Street” and the TV movie “Exiled: A Law & Order Movie.”
Personal Life
Between 1998 and 2001, Benjamin Bratt was in a romantic relationship with actress Julia Roberts. After this, he married actress Talisa Soto, and they tied the knot in 2002. Together, they have a daughter named Sophia and a son named Mateo.
Net Worth
With a net worth of $12 million, Benjamin Bratt is recognized as both an actor and producer in the United States. He has garnered praise for his roles in various movies including “Bright Angel,” “Demolition Man,” “The River Wild,” “Traffic,” “Thumbsucker,” and “The Infiltrator.”
