Jay Hernandez

Jay Hernandez (born February 20, 1978, in Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico) is a Mexican-born American actor and former fashion model whose career spans television and film. He first gained attention with an early TV appearance on NBC’s Hang Time, quickly positioning himself as a charismatic new presence on screen.

Hernandez broke into movies opposite Kirsten Dunst in the romantic drama Crazy/Beautiful (2001), playing Carlos Nuñez. He went on to build a varied résumé, from the grounded intensity of World Trade Center as Dominick Pezzulo to genre fare that made him widely recognizable, notably as Paxton in Hostel and Hostel: Part II.

Over the years, he has balanced mainstream thrillers and ensemble projects, including Takers as Eddie Hatcher and roles in films such as Joy Ride and Live!. On television, he reached a new level of visibility by leading the CBS reboot Magnum P.I. as Thomas Magnum, reinforcing his status as a dependable, audience-friendly star.