Bio
Jay Hernandez is an American actor best known for his starring roles as Carlos in the television series Six Degrees (2006-2007); and as Paxton in the 2005 film Hostel.
Hernandez emerged onto the Hollywood scene opposite Kirsten Dunst in the 2001 film Crazy/Beautiful. Since then he has had roles in a number of films, including Disney’s The Rookie opposite Dennis Quaid, Torque with Ice Cube, Ladder 49 with Joaquin Phoenix and John Travolta, and the inspiring action drama Friday Night Lights, alongside Billy Bob Thornton.
In 2006 he starred in the Oliver Stone 9/11 project, World Trade Center.The story follows three New York City Port Authority officers (played by Nicolas Cage, Michael Pena and Hernandez) who volunteered to enter the World Trade Center after the planes were flown into the towers.
Hernandez also had a role in the historical epic Nomad an independent feature set in 18th-century Kazakhstan.
Unlike many of his contemporaries, Hernandez didn’t grow up with the dream of moving to Hollywood to become an actor. Born and raised in Montebello, California with his two older brothers and younger sister, Hernandez was discovered in an elevator by a talent manager when he was 18 years old.
Shortly afterwards he made his television debut in the US saturday morning show Hang Time.
In 2007 he can be seen in the Quentin Tarantino/Robert Rodriguez film Grindhouse and the sequel to Hostel, Hostel 2, which premieres in the US on 8 June, 2007.
Hernandez currently resides in Los Angeles.