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 natural to him. After graduating from Harlandale High School, he attended University of the Incarnate Word, studying theatre 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.

Filmography

• New York Stories (1989) ~ Reuben Toro
• Spy Games (1991) ~ Sam
• Before The Storm (1991) TV movie
• City Of Passion (1993) short
• El Sueno De Simon (1993) short
• Mi Vida Loca (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

• 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

[ Source: Wikipedia ]