Jay Hernandez

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Jay Hernandez
Jay Hernandez by Gage Skidmore.jpg
Hernandez at the 2016 San Diego Comic-Con
Born
Javier Manuel Hernandez

(1978-02-20) February 20, 1978 (age 47)
Montebello, California, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1998–present
Spouse
​
​
(m. 2006)​

Javier Manuel "Jay" Hernandez [1] (born February 20, 1978) is an American actor. After making his television debut in NBC's Hang Time , he made his film debut opposite Kirsten Dunst in the romantic drama Crazy/Beautiful (2001). He has since starred in numerous films, including Friday Night Lights (2004), Hostel (2005), Bad Moms (2016), and as Chato Santana / El Diablo in Suicide Squad (2016). From 2018 until 2024, he played Thomas Magnum in the reboot of Magnum P.I.

Contents

Early life

Hernandez was born on February 20, 1978, in Montebello, California, the son of Isis (née Maldonado), a secretary and accountant, [2] [3] and Javier Hernandez Sr., a mechanic. [2] [4] He has a younger sister, Amelia, and two older brothers, Michael and Gabriel. He attended Don Bosco Technical Institute in Rosemead, California, but transferred to Schurr High School in Montebello for his senior year. [3] While riding an elevator in a high-rise in Los Angeles, [2] [3] he was approached by talent manager Howard Tyner who suggested he had what it took to have a successful career in Hollywood. [4] He enrolled Hernandez into acting school and sent his pictures to casting agents. [2] He is first generation Mexican-American; his parents are immigrants from Michoacán, Mexico.

Career

From 1998 to 2000, Hernandez played Antonio Lopez on the NBC series Hang Time . His name break came with his role opposite Kirsten Dunst in the 2001 Touchstone Pictures feature Crazy/Beautiful . He has since appeared in several major Hollywood films, including lead roles in Carlito's Way: Rise to Power , [5] the 2005 horror film Hostel [3] and World Trade Center . He appeared in the action/crime film Takers (2010).

He appeared in the 2005 crime prequel Carlito's Way: Rise to Power as Carlito Brigante, the role originated by Al Pacino in the 1993 film of the same name.

Hernandez portrayed Paxton in Eli Roth's Hostel (2005) and its 2007 sequel, Hostel: Part II .

In 2015, he appeared in Max as a US military sergeant assigned with the titular rescue dog, which was traumatized by his previous handler's death. [6]

In 2016, he starred as Jessie Harkness in the comedy film Bad Moms , and as metahuman ex-gangster El Diablo in the superhero film Suicide Squad .

On February 20, 2018, Hernandez was cast as Thomas Magnum in CBS drama series Magnum P.I. reboot. [7] It premiered on September 24, 2018. [8] After four seasons, it was canceled in May 2022, before being rescued by NBC with a two-season order that June. [9]

Personal life

In 2006, Hernandez married his former Hang Time co-star Daniella Deutscher. [10]

Filmography

Film

YearFilmRoleNotes
2000 Living the LifeKikicho
2001 Crazy/Beautiful Carlos Nuñez
Joy Ride MarineCameo
2002 The Rookie Joaquin "Wack" Campos
2004 Torque Dalton
Ladder 49 Keith Perez
Friday Night Lights Brian Chavez
2005 Hostel Paxton Rodriguez
Carlito's Way: Rise to Power Carlito Brigante
2006 Nomad Erali
Karas: The Prophecy NueVoice role
World Trade Center Dominick Pezzulo
2007 Grindhouse BobbyTeaser trailer segment: "Thanksgiving"
Live! Pablo
Hostel: Part II Paxton Rodriguez
2008 American Son Junior
Lakeview Terrace Detective Javier Villareal
Quarantine Jake
Nothing like the Holidays Ozzy
2010 Takers Detective Eddie Hatcher
2012 LOL James
2013TrooperCarlos Coto
2015 Max Sgt. Reyes
The Night Is YoungDean
2016 Bad Moms Jessie Harkness
Suicide Squad Chato Santana / El Diablo
2017 A Bad Moms Christmas Jessie Harkness
Bright Rodriguez
2019 Toy Story 4 Bonnie's DadVoice role
2023 The Long Game JB Peña
2025 Aztec Batman: Clash of Empires TBAVoice role; Direct-to-Video [11]

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1998–2000 Hang Time Antonio LopezGuest star (Season 4)

Main cast member (Seasons 5–6)

1999 USA High Jose1 episode
2000 Undressed EddieUnknown episodes
One World Octavio1 episode
2002 American Family Cisco2 episodes
2006–2007 Six Degrees Carlos Green14 episodes
2012 Last Resort Paul Wells7 episodes
2013 Nashville Dante Rivas6 episodes
Ghost Ghirls Agent Sanchez1 episode
2014 Gang Related Daniel Acosta13 episodes
2015 The Expanse Dimitri Havelock5 episodes
2017 Scandal Curtis PryceSeason 7
2018–2024 Magnum P.I. Thomas Magnum Main role, 96 episodes; producer (2021–2024)
2019 BoJack Horseman Himself/Mario Voice role;
Episode: "A Horse Walks into a Rehab"
2020 Hawaii Five-0 Thomas MagnumEpisode: "Ihea 'oe i ka wa a ka ua e loku ana?"

Awards and nominations

YearAssociationCategoryResultWork
2002 ALMA Awards Outstanding Actor in a Motion PictureNominated Crazy/Beautiful
2006 Fangoria Chainsaw Awards Dude You Don't Wanna Mess With (Best Hero) Hostel
Teen Choice Awards Movie – Choice Scream
2020 National Hispanic Media Coalition Impact AwardsOutstanding Performance in a Television SeriesWon Magnum P.I.

References

  1. ↑ "The New York Times". Movies & TV Dept. Baseline & All Movie Guide. 2007. Archived from the original on December 28, 2007. Retrieved February 18, 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Garcia Berumen, Frank Javier (August 1, 2014). Latino Image Makers in Hollywood: Performers, Filmmakers and Films Since the 1960s. McFarland, p. 307. Archived at Google Books. Retrieved August 13, 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Actor gets a tortured role in 'Hostel'", eastvalleytribune.com, January 11, 2006.
  4. 1 2 Munoz, Lorenza (June 27, 2001). "Suddenly, Expectations Are Being Heaped on Him". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  5. ↑ Anita Gates (October 1, 2005). "Carlito, When He Was Young". The New York Times . Retrieved February 18, 2012.
  6. ↑ "Max: What Kind Of Dog Is Max?". The New York Times. June 18, 2015.
  7. ↑ Otterson, Joe (February 20, 2018). "'Magnum PI' Reboot Pilot at CBS Casts Jay Hernandez in Lead Role". Variety. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
  8. ↑ Travers, Ben (September 20, 2018). "'Magnum P.I.' Review: This Humdrum CBS Procedural Is the Corporatized, Synergistic Reboot of the Future". IndieWire. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  9. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (June 30, 2022). "'Magnum P.I.' Rescued By NBC With 2-Season, 20-Episode Order". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  10. ↑ Cabrera, Daniela (August 2016). "Jay Hernandez & His Wife Had A Very '90s Meeting". Bustle.
  11. ↑ Rubble, Royal (July 26, 2025). "Aztec Batman: Clash Of Empires Trailer Released".
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