Trivia

Has a Puerto Rican mother and a Surinamese father of Dutch descent.

Turned down the offer to play a character named Flinn on NYPD Blue (1993). The character in question was later renamed Detective John Kelly, played by David Caruso. Ironically, after Caruso's departure from the series in 1994, Smits accepted the role of Detective Bobby Simone (Detective Kelly's successor).

Jimmy is the name on his birth certificate and it is not short for James.

Received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre from Brooklyn College (1980) and his Master of Fine Arts degree from Cornell University (1982).

Father of a daughter, Taina Smits (born 1973), and a son, Joaquin Smits (born 1983) with ex-wife, Barbara Smits. Barbara Smits died on April 16, 2010.

Attended and graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in Brooklyn, New York.

Smits has been a long-term relationship living with actress Wanda De Jesus since 1986.

Honored by the Congressional Award in Washington, D.C. with the 1997 Horizon Award. The Horizon Award is a special recognition from the Joint Leadership of the United States Congress and the Congressional Award Board of Directors. The Horizon Award is presented to individuals from the private sectors who have contributed to expanding opportunities for all Americans through their own personal contributions, and who have set exceptional examples for young people through their successes in life.

He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6100 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on June 2, 2021. Walk of Fame inductee Lin-Manuel Miranda and Paris Barclay were guest speakers at the ceremony.

Has had a difficult time returning to television in recent years. In 1998, after leaving NYPD Blue (1993), he signed a development deal with ABC, but nothing ever came of it. Three years later, in 2001, he was set to play the lead in the NBC action series "UC: Undercover", but his commitments to ABC forced him to back out just four days before the pilot was shot. Shortly after, in September 2001, he inked a new seven-figure deal with ABC to develop a series for the 2002-2003 television season, but once again, the deal failed to produce a series. Later, in 2002, he turned down the chance to play the lead in "CSI: Miami" and backed out of the lead role in "Boomtown" at the last minute. In 2004, he was attached to star in a Jerry Bruckheimer produced drama for NBC called "City of Dreams" as a Los Angeles private investigator who caters to the rich and famous. However, script problems eventually caused that project to be scrapped. Finally, in August 2004, he inked a deal to join the cast of The West Wing (1999) for the 2004-2005 season, and a few weeks later, made a separate deal with ABC and Touchstone studios to develop and star in a new series after his time on "The West Wing".

Is a partner in "The Conga Room" club in Los Angeles, California with Jennifer Lopez, Paul Rodriguez and Brad Gluckstein as partners.

Was named as "King of Brooklyn" at the Welcome Back to Brooklyn Festival (1991).

Has played a lawyer on four dissimilar television series: L.A. Law (1986), Dexter (2006), Outlaw (2010) and Bluff City Law (2019).

Currently resides with his partner Wanda De Jesus in Los Angeles, California.

He has appeared in one film that has been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: Mi familia (1995).