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Benjamin Bratt (born December 16, 1963) is an American actor. Handsome, with chiseled, smooth looks and deep olive skin, Benjamin Bratt became known to TV viewers in 1995 when he joined the hit NBC series "Law & Order" in its sixth season, creating the role of Reyaldo 'Rey' Curtis, whose mestizo ancestry--mixed Latino-Indian and German background--matched Bratt's own. His character on the series, a family-oriented younger cop with conservative values, provided a marked contrast to the older, more liberal and cynical Det. Lenny Briscoe (Jerry Orbach). Bratt's insertion into the long-running series went smoothly with no loss of ratings, and audiences stuck by Rey even when he fell into the arms of another woman. After four seasons on the series, however, the actor opted to leave at the end of the 1998-1999 season in order to pursue other interests. He went on a high note, earning a supporting actor Emmy nomination. Bratt was born in San Francisco, California, the son of Eldy (née Banda), a nurse, and a father who was a sheet metal worker. Bratt's father was an American of German and English descent and his mother is a Quechua Native American activist; she was born in Peru and moved to the U.S. at age fourteen. Bratt's paternal grandfather, George Cleveland Bratt, was a Broadway actor. In San Francisco, California, Bratt attended Lowell High School, where he developed his dramatic and oratory skills as a member of the Lowell Forensic Society. Bratt went on to earn a B.F.A. at the University of California, Santa Barbara where he also joined Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity. Although accepted into the M.F.A. program at the American Conservatory Theater, San Francisco, California, he left before receiving his degree to star in the television series, Juarez, which never aired. His brother, Peter Bratt, wrote and directed Follow Me Home, casting Benjamin as Abel. Bratt's best-known role was that of Det. Rey Curtis on the television show Law & Order. In 1999, he was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his work on the series. His more popular films include Miss Congeniality, Blood in Blood out and Traffic. Prior to "Law & Order", Bratt's feature work consisted of supporting roles, usually as Latinos or Native Americans. Following his debut in "Bright Angel", he appeared in "Chains of Gold" (both 1990), portraying a vicious drug dealer who kept young Joey Lawrence in a cage in order to lure hero John Travolta to his den. In the spring of 2001, Bratt's relationship with Julia Roberts ended, amid a flurry of media scrutiny. After being her loyal companion at the 2001 Oscars where Roberts took home the Best Actress award, everyone wanted to know what went wrong with Hollywood's dark-eyed darling couple. While remaining expectedly ambivalent about the break-up ("I've moved on"), Bratt hinted that Roberts's fame put him too much in the spotlight. Other sources said Bratt was just looking to marry and start a family, and Roberts was not on the same page. Soon after his parting with Roberts, however, Bratt's career began to pick up steam. He was cast as the lead in two high profile features, "Abandon" (2002), opposite Katie Holmes, and "The Great Raid" (filmed in 2002). With these big screen appearances, Bratt was poised to really come into his own as a powerful leading-man star. His personal life fell into place too; he married longtime acquaintance Talisa Soto in May of 2002 and announced soon after that Soto was pregnant. He raised his profile further with roles in "One Good Cop" (1991), "Bound by Honor" and "Demolition Man" (both 1993) before grabbing Hollywood's attention with two 1994 releases: "The River Wild", in which he portrayed a Native American ranger doomed for his attempt to help Meryl Streep; and "Clear and Present Danger", as the field officer for American soldiers sent by the CIA to infiltrate the Colombian countryside. The increased exposure led to a lead in the ABC miniseries "James A. Michener's Texas" (1995), and he developed his role as the proud, impatient Mexican Benito Garza as far as the subject material allowed. Bratt dated Julia Roberts for several years. On April 13, 2002, in San Francisco, he married actress Talisa Soto, whom he met while filming Piñero. Their first child, daughter Sophia Rosalinda Bratt, was born on December 6, 2002. Their second child, son Mateo Bravery Bratt was born on October 3, 2005, in Los Angeles. Attended Lowell High School in San Francisco, California.His mother is a native American activist. She took her five children along when she was part of the Alcatraz prison takeover in 1970. Dated Julia Roberts. between 1997 - 2001. Brother of Peter Bratt. Benjamin studied at the University of California at Santa Barbara and at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco. Is a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. Was nicknamed "Scarecrow" by high school classmates because he was so thin. Of Peruvian (Qechua) and German extraction. Engaged to Talisa Soto (April 2002), whom he met while filming Piñero (2001) in 2001. Had baby girl, Sophia Rosalinda Bratt, with wife, actress Talisa Soto, on December 6, 2002 in New York City. Received a B.F.A. in Theatre (acting) from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Has a home in San Francisco. Had baby boy, Mateo Bravery Bratt, with his wife, Talisa Soto, on October 3, 2005 in Los Angeles. Mateo weighed in at 7lb 7oz. Wore a Calvin Klein suit in his April 2002 wedding to Talisa Soto. As a child, Bratt's mother took Bratt along with his siblings to participate in the 1969 Native American occupation of Alcatraz. Today Bratt is an active supporter of Native American causes such as the American Indian College Fund. |
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