Jesse Garcia

Jesse García (born December 14, 1982) is an American actor. He is known for his roles in Quinceañera and Flamin' Hot for which he won Imagen Awards Best Actor.

Early life and education Garcia was born December 14, 1982 in Rawlins, Wyoming, and spent most of his childhood in Hanna, Wyoming. His father is from the Mexican state of Durango and his mother, a native of Wyoming, is of Spanish descent. He has a younger sister. He was raised as a Jehovah's Witness, though he no longer practices that faith.

In high school, Garcia was heavily involved with cheerleading. He subsequently attended the University of Nebraska on a cheerleading scholarship and studied exercise science. Garcia later moved to Atlanta and took classes at What Films where he learned to write, direct, act, and produce original material. In 2003, he moved to Los Angeles.

Career Garcia starred in the 2006 film Quinceañera, written and directed by Wash Westmoreland and Richard Glatzer with executive producer Todd Haynes, which won both the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival in the Dramatic Independent Feature Competition. Quinceañera was also selected to play at the 2006 Berlin Film Festival. Garcia won Best Actor at the 2007 ALMA Awards for his role as Carlos, a troubled gay teenager, in Quinceañera.

Garcia appeared in the thriller Locker 13 in 2009. He appeared in the 2010 revival of The Pee-wee Herman Show and in the 2010 music video of Wisin & Yandel's "Estoy enamorado". He made a cameo appearance on Marvel's The Avengers in 2012.

He portrayed Richard Montañez in the biographical movie Flamin' Hot (2023), based on Montañez's disputed claim of inventing Flamin' Hot Cheetos.

In 2026, he appeared as Menetus, in Christopher Nolan's adaptation of Homer's epic poem, The Odyssey.

Filmography Films

Television Year Title Role Notes 2004 Expeditions to the Edge Episode: "Hostage Mountain" 2005 Unfabulous Fashion Designer Episode: "The Charity Chase" 2006 The Shield Mariano 2 episodes Walkout Armando Lopez TV movie The Closer Carlos Episode: "Borderline Justice Frankie Duarte Episode: "Shotgun" 2007 ER Carlos Vega Episode: "In a Different Light" CSI: Miami Vasco Torres Episode: "Permanent Vacation" Law & Order: Criminal Intent Felix Aguilar Episode: "Senseless" 2008 Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles Carlos 3 episodes 2009 NCIS Marine Private First Class Tomas Tamayo Episode: "Deliverance" 2011 Sons of Anarchy Rafi 5 episodes 2012 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Ollie Ruiz Episode: "Wild Flowers" 2013 East Los High Abraham Episode: "The Beauty to the Bitch" Longmire Rodeo Sharpshooter Episode: "The Great Spirit" 2014 You're the Worst Martinez Episode: "What Normal People Do" 2014–2016 From Dusk till Dawn: The Series Freddie Gonzalez Main cast 2015 Looking Hector Episode: "Looking for Truth" 2018 Chicago P.D. Reimundo Morales Episode: "Captive" The Last Ship Manuel Plasencia / Michael / Manuelito 2 episodes 2019 The High Life Gabriel Episode: "Pilot" El Asesino Frankie TV movie 2020 Narcos: Mexico Sal Orozco 9 episodes 2021 Snowfall Officer Carlos Lorca 3 episodes 2024 Not Dead Yet TJ 5 episodes