Biografia

Was offered the role of Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Jornada nas Estrelas: A Nova Geração (1987). He would have been contractually obligated to work exclusively on the series, and not do any other projects while under contract. He wanted the flexibility to be able to work on multiple projects, and declined the role on that basis. Sir Patrick Stewart was eventually cast.

Has stated that Blade Runner: O Caçador de Andróides (1982) and Battlestar Galactica (2004) are the two projects he's most proud to be a part of.

On 8/10/01, he was sentenced to 20 days in jail for trespassing in April 2000 on US Navy land on the Puerto Rican island of Vieques. He and others were protesting the use of the island as a bombing test ground. President George W. Bush promised to end the testing in 2003.

Says that he is of Aztec and Spanish ancestry. His father was a Mexican immigrant and his mother was American-born of Mexican descent.

Agreed to the role of William Adama on the Battlestar Galactica (2004) remake only on the condition that the stories reflect as much realism and credibility as possible.

Sometimes you gotta do things that you don't really want to do. But you don't do them for money.

On Miami Vice (1984) and Battlestar Galactica (2004): "Miami", although it took place among policemen, wasn't about reality. It exploited reality to entertain. "Battlestar" is another thing. Despite it being set in space, it deals with real stuff.

[on his role as "Lt. Castillo" in Miami Vice (1984)] I was the highest-paid actor-- per word-- in the history of television!

[in 2000, on an ideal day getting away from it all] I would drive to Joshua Tree [National Park] and spend the night there in my sleeping bag. The desert--it's spiritual and Joshua Tree has some wonderful flatlands and rock formations. There are places to stay, too, little hotels. But sleeping outside is what's wonderful. It's so darkly clear, and there's no light from the city so the stars are very impressive.

[in 2000] I love to drive. It's one of the most pleasurable things to me. I have a 1986 Porsche--it's got over 100,000 miles on it. Most people don't drive their Porsches at all, but I drive mine like most people drive their Volkswagen.