Jesse Borrego

Jesse Borrego 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, 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 Borrego 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 portrayed Cruz Candelaria in the film Blood In Blood Out.

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 the role of an original gangster on DarkRoom Familia's "Veteranos" in 1999. Borrego is a member of the theatre group "Tribal Players." He had recurring roles during 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 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 Juan "El Duran" Temido 1994 I Like It Like That Alexis Bienvenido Welcome Dario/Jijio 1995 Tecumseh: The Last Warrior Tecumseh TV movie 1996 Follow Me Home Tudee Dalva Duane Stonehorse TV movie Lone Star Danny 1997 Retroactive Jesse Con Air Francisco Cindino The Maker Felice A. Beato 1998 Veteranos Santo 1999 The Darkest Day Jonathan TV movie 2000 Hell Swarm Darius TV movie A Lowrider Spring Break En San Quilmas Sonny Gutierrez 2001 Come and Take it Day Jesse 2003 The Maldonado Miracle Hector Maldonado TV movie The Shadow Chaser - Short 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 Go for Sisters Juan Calles Wappo vs the World Jesse Short 2014 Shut Out: A Baseball Film Martin Duque Short 2016 Birth of a Killer Lucas Father Short Duqüe Martin Duque Short Gino's Wife Agent Montoya Dead Awake Dr. Hassan Davies 2017 Closer To Bottom Thomas The Dagger - Short 2018 Colossal Youth Mr. De La Vega 2019 Phoenix, Oregon Carlos The Margarita Man Jimmy Martinez Teenage Girl: Valerie's Holiday Joe 2020 Limbo CPS Investigator 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" 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" China Beach Hector Episode: "100 Klicks Out" 1997 Chicago Hope Michael Waters Episode: "The Sun Also Rises" ER HIV-Positive Patient Episode: "Ambush" 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" 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" 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 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