Robert Adame Beltran was born in Bakersfield, California, to a family of Mexican-Native American descent, which he affectionately describes as Latindio. He was the seventh of ten children, and his upbringing was deeply rooted in his cultural heritage.
After completing high school, Beltran attended Fresno State College, where he earned a degree in theater arts. His passion for the performing arts led him to land his first film role in Luis Valdez's Zoot Suit in 1981. The following year, he secured the role of Raoul in Paul Bartel's Eating Raoul.
Throughout his career, Beltran has appeared in a wide range of films and television shows, including Gaby: A True Story, Nixon, and Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills, among others. In addition to his work in film and television, he has had a successful career in theater, performing in productions for Luis Valdez's El Teatro Campesino, the LA Theater Center, the California Shakespeare Festival, and others.
In 1995, Beltran landed the iconic role of Commander Chakotay on Star Trek: Voyager, earning him a Nosotros Golden Eagle Award as best actor in a television series. He has also founded and serves as co-artistic director of the East LA Classic Theater Group, where he has directed and produced numerous productions, including Hamlet, A Midsummer Night's Dream, King Henry IV, A Touch of the Poet, and The Price.
Beltran is a vocal advocate for social justice and has been involved in various political and cultural organizations. He has participated in classical drama workshops with the LaRouche Youth Movement and has spoken at several Schiller Institute conferences on the subject of classical drama, including his 2003 staging of Clifford Odets' play "The Big Knife".
Today, Beltran continues to live in Los Angeles, California, and remains committed to his craft, supporting organizations such as the National Down Syndrome Society.
