He was born and raised in El Paso Texas. Miguel Ortega (father) was a cross country truck driver and Paulina Ortega (mother) a housewife. Began career doing summer stock theater for 2 years - El Paso Del Norte. Moved to Los Angeles in 1978. Shortly after arriving, he started to work as a stuntman on a picture by the name of Hooper (1978). His first acting job was in a guest starring role on a TV show by the name of CHiPs (1977). He has won a Stuntman's Award - Most Spectacular Sequence - "North & South" miniseries. He also won a Screen Actors Guild Award - Outstanding Performance By Cast - Traffic (2000).
Babylon
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Sabotage
All the Pretty Horses
The Italian Job
Snoop Dogg's Hood of Horror
The Mask of Zorro
Vampires
K-9
Bram Stoker's Dracula
Delta Farce
The A-Team
Hooper
Mars Attacks!
American History X
Predator 2
Strange Days
Beverly Hills Cop III
Mr. & Mrs. Smith
Once Upon a Time in Mexico
