Jesse Borrego

Jesse Borrego (born August 1, 1962) is an American actor. 
He is best known for his roles as Cruz Candelaria in Blood In Blood Out, Jesse V. Valesquez in Fame, Gael Ortega in 24, and as George King in Dexter.

Early life
Jesse Borrego, a Mexican American, 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 2nd to the oldest of five children: Gloria Marina, James, Georgina, and Grace. As a youth Jesse often danced with his sister Marina entering & 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, studying theater and dance, and The California Institute of the Arts 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
He 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 is well-remembered for his performance in the film Blood In Blood Out portraying the role of Cruz Candelaria.

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 role of an original gangster on DarkRoom Familia's "Veteranos" in 1999. Borrego is a member of the theatre group "Tribal Players". He is well known for his recurring roles on 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 titled 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
 New York Stories (1989) ~ Reuben Toro
  Spy Games (1991) ~ Sam
  Before the Storm (1991) TV movie
  City of Passion (1993) short 
  (1993) short 
  (1993) ~ Juan Temido a.k.a. El Duran
 Blood In Blood Out (1993) ~ Cruz Candelaria 
 I Like It Like That (1994) ~ Alexis
 Tecumseh: The Last Warrior (1995) TV movie ~ Tecumseh
 Bienvenido Welcome  (1995) ~Dario/Jijio
 Flattime (1995) short 
 Dalva (1996) TV movie ~ Duane Stonehorse
  Pain Flower (1996) ~ Gus
 Lone Star (1996) ~ Danny
 Follow Me Home (1996) indie ~Tudee
 The Maker (1997) indie ~ Felice A. Beato
 Con Air (1997) ~ Francisco Cindino
 Retroactive (1997) ~ Jesse
 Veteranos (1998) ~ Santo
 Black (1998) ~ Jesus
 Bubba & Ike (1998) ~ Matador
 Liteweight (1998) ~ Sammy
 The Darkest Day (1999) TV movie ~ Jonathan
 A Lowrider Weekend (2000) video 
 Hell Swarm (2000) TV movie ~ Darius
 Come and Take it Day (2001) ~ Jesse
 Scooby-Doo! and the Monster of Mexico (2003) video ~ Luis Otero
 The Maldonado Miracle (2003) TV movie ~ Hector Maldonado
 The Shadow Chaser (2003) short
  The New World (2005) ~ Pepaschicher
  The Bookie (2008) ~ Jesus
  Dream Healing(2009) indie film ~ Marco
 La Mission (2009) ~ Rene
 Colombiana (2011) ~ Fabio Restrepo
  Wappo vs the World  (2013) short ~Jesse
  Mission Park / aka Line of Duty(2013) indie film ~Mr. Ramirez 
  Go for Sisters (2013) indie film ~ Juan Calles
  Closer To Bottom (2014) indie film ~Thomas
  Duque (2014) indie film ~ Martin Duque
  Three Hundred Miles For Stephanie (2014/2015) TV movie ~ Alberto Rodriguez
  HOA Havoc (2014) indie film ~ costarring Daniel Baldwin
  The Untitled GW Project (2014) indie film ~ Agent Montoya

Television
  2017  Fear the Walking Dead - Efraín Season 3
  2014  From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series - Place of Dead Roads - sea.1 ep6 ~ TT Doorman
  2013  Burn Notice - Things Unseen - sea.7ep 10 - Nando
  2011  Chaos (TV series) - Proof of Life - sea.1 ep3 -- Ernesto Salazar
  2008  Dexter - Do You Take Dexter Morgan -  sea3 ep12 -  George King
  2008  Dexter - I Had A Dream - sea3 ep11 - George King
  2008  Dexter - Go Your Own Way - sea3 ep10 - George King
  2008  Dexter - About Last Night - sea3 ep9 - George King
  2008  Dexter - The Damage A Man Can Do - sea3 ep8 - George King
  2008  Dexter - The Lion Sleeps Tonight - sea3 ep7 - George King
  2008  ER - Believe The Unseen - sea14 ep12 - Javier
  2008  Independent Lens - Writwriter - sea9ep 24 - voice
  2007  ER - Black Out - sea14 ep7 - Javier
  2007  ER - Gravity - sea14 ep4 - Javier
  2007  CSI Crime Scene Investigation - Lying Down With Dogs - sea8 ep10 - Felix Rodriguez
  2006  CSI Miami - Free Fall - sea 4 ep20 - Nicholas Suero
  2005  Medical Investigation - Mission La Roca pt.2 - sea1 ep20 - Antonio Baracas
  2005  Medical Investigation - Mission La Roca pt.1 - sea1 ep19 - Antonio Baracas
  2005  Behind The Mask Of Zorro - documentary - Joaquin Murrieta 
  2004  24 (TV series) - Day 3 - sea3 eps 15-17 - Gael Ortega 
  2003  24 - Day 3 - sea3 eps 1-11 - Gael Ortega
  2002  American Family (2002 TV series) - Journey of Dreams pt.2 -sea1 ep21 - Shady
  2002  American Family - Journey of Dreams pt.1 - sea1 ep20 - Shady
  2002  What's New, Scooby Doo ? - 3-D Struction - sea1 ep2 - Luis Cepeda
  2001  Touched By An Angel - Mi Familia - sea7 ep11 - Tommy
  2001  Happily Ever After Fairy Tales for Every Child - The Elves & The Shoemaker - sea2 ep24 - voice
  1999  Brimstone (TV series) - Lovers - sea1 ep9 - Paco Gomez 
  1999  Magnificent Seven (TV series) - Love & Honor - sea2 ep3 - Don Paulo 
  1998  The Hunger (TV series) TV Series - Plain Brown Envelope - sea1 ep19 - Jess
  1997  Chicago Hope - The Sun Also Rises - sea3 ep19 - Michael Waters
  1997  ER - Ambush - sea4 ep1 - HIV Patient
  1995  500 Nations vol.2 - Mexico The Rise & Fall Of The Aztecs - voice
  1991  China Beach - 100 Klicks Out - sea4 ep1 - Hector
  1991  Under Cover (TV series) - Sacrifices - sea1 ep3 - Sam Hamadi
  1990  Midnight Caller - Kid Salinas - sea2 ep14 - Carlos Mendez
  1989  Married... with Children - Can't Dance Don't Ask - sea3 ep13 - Bruno
  1988  Miami Vice - A Bullet For Crocket - sea4 ep19 - Enrique Lorca Mendez
  1987  Miami Vice - Jack Of All Trades - sea5 ep12 - Octavio
  1987  The Bronx Zoo (TV series) - Small Victories - sea1 ep3 - Julio Gaspare
  1987 - 1986  Fame (1982 TV series) - season 6 - 24 episodes - Jesse Velasquez
  1986 - 1985  Fame - season 5 - 24 episodes - Jesse Velasquez
  1985 - 1984  Fame - season 4 - 25 episodes - Jesse Velasquez
2018 Ebenazio Northwest Vista College Jump Start Company

References
 
2.Conjunto Borrego bid farewell to Salute-The Music Beat 
posted 7-20-2012
blog mysanantonio.com/TheMusicBeat

3.Jesse Borrego-Fame Forever/Kids From Fame
www.fameforever.com/series/bios-jesse.php

4. Where are they now - Back to School
Fame forever.com

5. Heart and Casa posted Sept 6,2013
Blog /Latino Americans/PBS
www.pbs.org/Latinos Americans

6.Actor Jesse Borrego, Guest co-host !!/ Kens5.com San Antonio
www.kens5.com 
Great Day San Antonio Show

7.Latest Titles with Jesse Borrego- IMDb
www.imdb.com/filmosearch

External links

Category:1962 births
Category:Living people
Category:American male film actors
Category:American male stage actors
Category:American male television actors
Category:University of the Incarnate Word alumni
Category:American male actors of Mexican descent
Category:Hispanic and Latino American male actors
Category:Harlandale High School alumni