Contributor

Jonathan Del Arco

Actor and activist

JONATHAN DEL ARCO

Jonathan Del Arco is currently filming MAJOR CRIMES, which was just picked up for a third season on TNT and continues to be basic cable’s top rated scripted series. In it, he reprises the role of "Dr. Morales" which he originated in the critically acclaimed THE CLOSER. "Morales" is the witty and opinionated medical examiner, who also just happens to be openly gay.

Jonathan's work extends beyond his acting career, he was just awarded HRC's "2013 Visibility Award" for his activism and positive portrayal of the LGBT community in the media. For the past several years, he has been the keynote speaker at diversity conferences and corporate pride events across the country, including two times at the FBI's Pride events in DC and Los Angeles, sharing his stories of coming-out, being bullied and assimilating to America as a young immigrant. Last year, he served as an Obama Celebrity Surrogate for the 2012 Presidential Campaign.

On television he previously collaborated with THE CLOSER producing team of Michael Robin and Greer Shephard on James Duff’s THE DA, and on Ryan Murphy’s NIP/TUCK, where he made a heart-breaking impact as the transgender character “Sophia Lopez” in the show's first season.

For the better part of the last twenty years, Jonathan has been a part of the television landscape with memorable appearances in countless television shows including: THE SOPRANOS, 24, DOLL HOUSE, AMERICAN DREAMS, CROSSING JORDAN, HUFF, THE DIVISION, FIRST MONDAY, SISTERS, GROSSE POINTE, STAR TREK: VOYAGER, PEARL, THE MOMMIES, THE WONDER YEARS, BLOSSOM, BOY MEETS WORLD and MIAMI VICE. He also appeared in the films TRUE RIGHTS, THE MAMBO KINGS, and LOST ANGELS. However, Jonathan earned "cult status" among Sci-fi fans worldwide with his portrayal of the loveable Hugh Borg on STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION, and has been touring the globe ever since. He jokes, "Once you've been made into an action figure your life is never quite the same."

Jonathan was born in Uruguay and came to the States at the age of ten when his parents settled in Port Chester, a suburb of New York City. When he was old enough to ride the trains on his own, Jonathan would trek to the city to catch the latest Broadway plays. He enrolled in acting classes with the dream of someday being an actor. Not long after, at the age eighteen, he joined the company of the Broadway hit TORCH SONG TRILOGY and toured the country along with “Golden Girl” Estelle Getty in what was then considered a highly controversial gay play. Many other Broadway and off Broadway shows followed before Jonathan settled in Los Angles to pursue a television and film career.

While in Los Angeles, Jonathan found a new passion: social activism after meeting his political mentor Chad Griffin. He worked for environmental causes, gay rights, state initiatives, anti-bullying campaigns, and three presidential campaigns.

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