He was born and raised in El Paso Texas. Miguel Ortega (father) was a cross country truck driver and Paulina Ortega (mother) a housewife. Began career doing summer stock theater for 2 years - El Paso Del Norte. Moved to Los Angeles in 1978. Shortly after arriving, he started to work as a stuntman on a picture by the name of Hooper (1978). His first acting job was in a guest starring role on a TV show by the name of CHiPs (1977). He has won a Stuntman's Award - Most Spectacular Sequence - "North & South" miniseries. He also won a Screen Actors Guild Award - Outstanding Performance By Cast - Traffic (2000).
Beverly Hills Cop III
(Rondell)
Moving Violations
(Spanish Immigration Officer)
The Replacement Killers
(Gangster)
Last Man Standing
(Ramirez Bodyguard)
Delta Farce
(Bandito #2)
Out of the Blue
(Henchman #2)
Dead Connection
(Vince)
Fugitive Nights: Danger in the Desert
(Fugitive Look-Alike)
Babylon
(Elephant Wrangler)
Guilty As Charged
(Electrician)
Vampires
(Male Vampire #1)
L.A. Confidential
(Second Mexican (uncredited))
Juarez
(Luis)
Snoop Dogg's Hood of Horror
(Cop)
The A-Team
(Mexican Captor #2)
The Rum Diary
(Cop on Fire)
Safe Harbor
(Sheriff)
Man of the House
(Border Bus Driver)
Just Like Heaven
(Security Guard)
Sabotage
(Sicario)
Jailbait
(Johnny)
Crank: High Voltage
(Groundskeeper (uncredited))
The Double
(Coyote)
Extreme Prejudice
(Young Mexican Man)
Ticker
(Body Guard 2)
Internal Affairs
(Oscar)
Persons Unknown
(Comet (as Jim Ortega))
Traffic
(Arrested Man in Apartment)
Ground Zero
(Johanson)
CHiPs
Dallas
(Sheriff)
Columbo
(Reporter)
Star Trek: The Next Generation
(Torres)
Walker
(Lookout)
Arrested Development
(Mexican Border Official)
Brooklyn South
(First Killer)
Lethal Weapon
(Drug Dealer)
Knots Landing
(Sheriff)
V.I.P.
(Driver)
Falcon Crest
(Ramon)
Renegade
(Acosta)
Renegade
(Border Guard)
Running Red
(Stunts)
L.A. Confidential
(Stunts)
Mr. & Mrs. Smith
(Utility Stunts)
Predator 2
(Stunts)
Ringmaster
(Stunts)
Across the Line
(Stunts)
Extreme Prejudice
(Stunts)
Dragstrip Girl
(Stunts)
Escape from L.A.
(Stunts)
Smokin' Aces
(Stunts)
Bram Stoker's Dracula
(Stunts)
Foxfire
(Stunts)
Peppermint
(Stunts)
David and Lisa
(Stunt Coordinator)
Marked for Death
(Stunts)
Man of the House
(Stunts)
3 Ninjas Knuckle Up
(Stunts)
Soul of the Game
(Stunts)
The Rookie
(Stunts)
Traffic
(Stunt Double)
Once Upon a Time in Mexico
(Stunts)
Ghosts of Mars
(Stunts)
Mars Attacks!
(Stunts)
The Babymakers
(Stunt Double)
Lakeview Terrace
(Stunts)
Midnight Man
(Stunts)
American Me
(Stunts)
The Brady Bunch Movie
(Stunts)
The Nude Bomb
(Stunts)
Ring of Fire III: Lion Strike
(Stunts)
All the Pretty Horses
(Stunts)
American History X
(Stunts)
Strange Days
(Utility Stunts)
Hidalgo
(Utility Stunts)
Spawn
(Stunts)
Tombstone
(Stunts)
Tall Tale: The Unbelievable Adventure
(Stunts)
Hot Shots! Part Deux
(Stunts)
She's So Lovely
(Stunts)
Dead Write
(Stunt Coordinator)
The Longest Yard
(Stunts)
Serving Sara
(Stunts)
Savages
(Stunt Double)
Spanglish
(Stunts)
Delta Force 2: The Colombian Connection
(Stunts)
Blind Side
(Stunts)
The Mask of Zorro
(Stunts)
Hooper
(Stunts)
Night Eyes II
(Stunts)
The Base
(Stunts)
Submerged
(Stunts)
Just Like Heaven
(Stunts)
A Low Down Dirty Shame
(Stunts)
Fast & Furious
(Stunts)
Running Scared
(Stunts)
Sicario: Day of the Soldado
(Stunts)
The Italian Job
(Stunts)
A Man Apart
(Stunts)
The Seventh Sign
(Stunts)
Nemesis
(Stunts)
Ticker
(Stunts)
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
(Stunt Double)
Amistad
(Stunts)
K-9
(Stunts)
Double Take
(Stunts)
Out to Sea
(Stunts)
Westworld
(Stunts)
North and South
(Stunts)