Jacob Vargas began his acting career at the tender age of 12, when he was discovered breakdancing in a schoolyard. This chance encounter led to his introduction to acting, with a small part as a breakdancer on the popular TV show Diff'rent Strokes in 1978.
Fast forward to 1995, when Vargas won the very first ALMA Award for Emerging Artist of the Year, recognizing his work in both Allison Anders' My Crazy Life and Gregory Nava's My Family. This prestigious award marked a significant milestone in his career, and he continued to make a name for himself in the industry.
Vargas' impressive filmography includes notable roles in Selena, Get Shorty, American Me, Romy and Michele's High School Reunion, and the cult classic Next Friday, where he played the nemesis of Ice Cube's character, Joker. His portrayal of Tijuana cop Manolo, partner to Benicio del Toro's character in Steven Soderbergh's Academy Award-winning film Traffic, earned him a Screen Actors Guild Award and another ALMA Award.
Vargas' versatility as an actor was showcased in his roles in Flight of the Phoenix, where he played a chef, and Jarhead, a war drama directed by Sam Mendes. He also starred as a DEA agent in The Death and Life of Bobby Z, and joined an all-star cast in Emilio Estevez's historical drama Bobby. In addition, he played a psychologically tortured drone pilot in Alex Rivera's sci-fi political love story Sleep Dealer.
Beyond his acting career, Vargas has also pursued his passion for writing and producing through his production company, Third Son Productions. He executive produced and starred in the independent film Road Dogz in 2002, and co-produced and starred in the stage play "Latinologues", which ran on Broadway in 2005 and is available on DVD.
Through Third Son Productions, Vargas is currently developing several feature film and television projects, solidifying his position as a talented and multifaceted artist in the entertainment industry.
