Jose Zuniga

Jose Zuniga Headshot

Actor

Birth Date: April 1, 1965

Age: 59 years old

Birth Place: Tegucigalpa, Honduras

A familiar face to film and television audiences for over two decades, José Zúñiga landed small but memorable roles in features like "Con Air" (1997), "Mission: Impossible III" (2006) and "Twilight" (2008) while maintaining a host of guest and recurring turns on such primetime series as "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (CBS, 2000- ) and "Law & Order" (NBC, 1990-2010).

Like many character actors, he was frequently cast as a "type" - in his case, as intense, ethnic authority figures on both sides of the law - though on occasion, his compact frame and soulful visage led to assignments outside of his niche, including a hapless romantic in "Next Stop Wonderland" (1998) and a kindly biology teacher in "Twilight." Zúñiga's ability to imbue even the most stock character with nuance granted him the ideal career for a character actor: immediate identification, and more importantly, appreciation by audiences.

In 1973, 7-year-old José Zúñiga left his native Honduras with his mother to settle in the Bronx and Washington Heights neighborhoods of New York City. There, he quickly overcame the language barrier and assimilated into his new culture, graduating from Manhattan's Xavier High School before moving on to higher education.

Though he developed an appreciation for acting at a young age, counting inner city action heroes like Ron O'Neal ("Super Fly," 1972) as an early influence, Zúñiga did not consider an acting career until he reached his 20s, when he was pursuing a graduate degree in law. He soon became involved in the New York stage scene, where he co-founded the Malaparte Theater Company, before making his on-screen debut in the independent feature "Riding the Rails" (1988).

Bit parts as policemen and street denizens in films like Spike Lee's "Crooklyn" (1994) led to his first substantive turn on "NY Undercover" (Fox, 1994-1998) as a Catholic priest and brother to series co-lead Michael DeLorenzo. Zúñiga's performance as an ill-fated DEA agent in "Con Air" (1997) was soon followed by his first stint as a series regular playing a youth pastor on the controversial drama "Nothing Sacred" (ABC, 1997-1998), which earned him an ALMA Award nomination.

It was soon followed by a second ALMA nod for his debut as a series lead in the crime program "Sins of the City" (USA Network, 1998). Zúñiga rebounded from that show's speedy cancellation to a steady stream of television guest appearances, and while playing cops and crooks on top-rated shows like "CSI: Miami (CBS, 2002-2012) and "Desperate Housewives" (ABC, 2004-2012) remained his most consistent showcase, he brought depth to these parts, most notably as a detective on "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" with a penchant for photographing victims in curious states of final rest.

His busy schedule of television appearances cut down his availability for features, though Zúñiga managed to score roles in several high-profile releases, including a 911 operator working with Halle Berry in the surprise hit thriller "The Call" (2013), which reunited him with his "Next Stop Wonderland" director, Brad Anderson.

Credits

A Sudden Case of Christmas

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2024

AccusedStream

Guest Star
Detective Serrano
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61%

Sound of FreedomStream

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57%

Quantum LeapStream

Guest Star
Commander Jim Reynolds
Series
2022
57%

Reefa

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2021

Half Brothers

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Evaristo
Movie
2020

New AmsterdamStream

Guest Star
Lou Navarro
Series
2018

Baja

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Luis Bolanos
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2018

The Dark TowerStream

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Dr. Hotchkiss
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2017
15%

The Most Hated Woman in America

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Detective Campos
Movie
2017

Un lugar en el Caribe

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Gael
Movie
2017

ShooterStream

Guest Star
Series
2016

NotoriousStream

Guest Star
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2016
22%

The DuelStream

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General Calderon
Movie
2016
28%

Code BlackStream

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Chef Holder
Series
2015

DiabloStream

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Guillermo
Movie
2015
19%

Victor

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Manuel
Movie
2015

ScorpionStream

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Series
2014
61%

Madam SecretaryStream

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Senator Carlos Morejon
Series
2014

Taxi Brooklyn

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Eddie Esposito
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2014

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Frank
Series
2014

Chicago P.D.Stream

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2014

Mary Loss of Soul

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2014

Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.Stream

Guest Star
Series
2013
95%

Lucky 7Stream

Guest Star
Series
2013
29%

The CallStream

Actor
Marco
Movie
2013
44%

666 Park Avenue

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Series
2012
58%

ScandalStream

Guest Star
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Series
2012
93%

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Movie
2012

Eye of the Hurricane

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2012

A Gifted ManStream

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Series
2011
66%

Person of InterestStream

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Vargas
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92%

SuitsStream

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Harry the Cab Driver
Series
2011
91%

Body of ProofStream

Guest Star
Series
2011
76%

The Chicago Code

Guest Star
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Show
2011

The Chaperone

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Movie
2011

Smell the Coffee

Actor
Show
2010

Lone Star

Guest Star
Series
2010
81%

Hawaii Five-0Stream

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Flores
Series
2010

Dark Blue

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Show
2009

CastleStream

Guest Star
Alfredo Quintana
Series
2009
82%

Lie to MeStream

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Detective Molina
Series
2009

Burn NoticeStream

Guest Star
Vasquez
Series
2007
88%

Next

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Security Chief Roybal
Movie
2007

Tortilla Heaven

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Isidor
Movie
2007

DexterStream

Guest Star
Jorge Castillo
Series
2006
71%

Ghost WhispererStream

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Series
2005

Criminal MindsStream

Guest Star
Series
2005

BonesStream

Guest Star
Mickey Santana
Series
2005
90%

Prison BreakStream

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Coyote
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2005
61%

Grey's AnatomyStream

Guest Star
Series
2005
84%

NUMB3RSStream

Guest Star
Bernardo Infante
Series
2005

MediumStream

Guest Star
Series
2005

HouseStream

Guest Star
Nate Weinmann
Series
2004
90%

Desperate HousewivesStream

Guest Star
Series
2004
72%

NCISStream

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Navy Capt. Dr. Adrian De La Cas
Series
2003

The O.C.Stream

Guest Star
Series
2003
68%

Nip/TuckStream

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Detective Cyrus
Series
2003
74%

The HuntedStream

Actor
Bobby Moret
Movie
2003
29%

CSI: MiamiStream

Guest Star
Series
2002

The ShieldStream

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Gino
Series
2002
90%

24Stream

Guest Star
Joseph Malina
Series
2001
87%

Law & Order: Criminal IntentStream

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Series
2001

AliasStream

Guest Star
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Series
2001
86%

Snow White: The Fairest of Them All

Actor
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Movie
2001

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Guest Star
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2000

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Guest Star
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2000

Gun Shy

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2000

Happy Accidents

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2000

The Opportunists

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2000

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2000

For Love or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story

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Law & Order: Special Victims UnitStream

Guest Star
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Series
1999
78%

Sins of the City

Actor
Series
1998

Next Stop Wonderland

Actor
Andre de Silva
Movie
1998

Nothing Sacred

Actor
J.A. Ortiz
Series
1997
71%

Hurricane

Actor
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Movie
1997

Con AirStream

Actor
DEA Agent Willie Sims
Movie
1997
58%

RansomStream

Actor
David Torres
Movie
1996
74%

Touched by an AngelStream

Guest Star
Series
1994

ERStream

Guest Star
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Series
1994

New York UndercoverStream

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Series
1994

CrooklynStream

Actor
Tommy La La
Movie
1994
79%

Fresh Kill

Actor
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Movie
1994

NYPD BlueStream

Guest Star
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Series
1993
83%

Mad About YouStream

Guest Star
Arturo
Series
1992

Law & OrderStream

Guest Star
Series
1990

Riding the Rails

Actor
Movie
1989