Robert Beltran (born November 19, 1953) is best known for his role as Commander Chakotay on Star Trek: Voyager. However, he has been working steadily since 1979 in both theater and in films. He has won The Nosostros Golden Eagle Award for Outstanding Actor in a Television Series (1997) and been nominated for the NCLR Bravo Award for Outstanding Television Series Actor in a Crossover Role (1996), the Alma Award for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Television Series in a Crossover Role (1998, 1999).

Mr. Beltran is the seventh son of first generation Mexican-American parents, and refers to himself as being "Latindio". He has seven brothers and two sisters. He was born in Bakersfield, California where he attended East Bakersfield High School and Bakersfield College. He graduated from California State University, Fresno with a degree in Theater Arts and moved on to Los Angeles to begin his acting career. He had his first film role in Zoot Suit , in 1981.

Mr. Beltran founded and co-directed the East LA Classic Theater Group. He is also a member of the Classical Theater Lab, an ensemble of professional actors who co-produced his production of Hamlet in 1997, which he directed as well as starred in.

One of Beltran's siblings was born with Down Syndrome and for four years ( 1998 - 2001) he hosted the Galaxy Ball a fund raising event for the Down Syndrome Association of Los Angeles (DSALA)which brought together actors from other Star Trek series for a small convention. During the evening, there was a cabaret and dinner dance. In 2001 it was reported in USA Today that the Galaxy Ball raised more than US$50,000 for the DSALA, as well as other charities.

Recordings

Latino Poetry, excerpts from a live performance by Robert Beltran. This was recorded during a poetry reading at the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach, California, in April 2002.

Theater

• California Shakespeare Festival (1979)
• Bard in the Box Tour (1980)
• La Pastorela (1980)
• A Midsummer Night's Dream (1981)
• Henry IV, part 1 and Henry IV, part 2 (1981)
• Hamlet (1981)
• Romeo and Juliet (1981)
• Taming of the Shrew (1981)
• Corridos (1983)
• The Quartered Man (1985)
• I Don't Have To Show You No Stinkin' Badges (1986)
• Stars In The Morning Sky (1987)
• A Burning Beach (1988)
• Macbeth (1989)
• Widows (1991)
• A Touch Of The Poet (1993)
• Hamlet (1997)
• The Big Knife (2003)

Film and television

• Zoot Suit (1981)
• Eating Raoul (1982)
• Lone Wolf McQuade (1983)
• Night of the Comet (1984)
• Calendar Girl Murders (1984)
• The Mystic Warrior (1984)
• Latino (1985)
• Streethawk (1986)
• The Family Martinez (1986)
• Slam Dance (1987)
• Gaby, A True Story (1987)
• Sisters (1988)
• Scenes From the Class Stuggle in Beverly Hills (1989)
• Miami Vice ("Free Fall") (1989)
• Forbidden Sun (1989)
• El Diablo (1990)
• Midnight Caller ("Life Without Possibility") (1990)
• To Die Standing (1990)
• Kiss Me a Killer (1991)
• Veronica Clare (1991)
• The Chase (1991)
• Bugsy (1991)
• La Pastorela (1992)
• Stormy Weathers (1992)
• Shadow Hunter (1993)
• Murder, She Wrote ("Double Jeopardy") (1993)
• State of Emergency (1993)
• Lois & Clark ("Fly Hard") (1993)
• Rio Shannon (1993)
• Shannongate (1994)
• Murder, She Wrote ("Time to die") (1994)
• Models, Inc. (1994)
• Nixon (1995)
• 500 Nations (1995)
• Star Trek: Voyager (1995 - 2001)
• Managua (1997)
• Trekkies (1997)
• How Else Am I Supposed To Know I'm Still Alive (1997)
• Ultimate Trek: Star Trek's Greatest Moments (1999)
• Luminarias (1999)
• Fahrenheit 452: The Art Police (short) (2000)
• 2001 ALMA Awards (Presenter) (2001)
• Foto-Novelas (2002)
• CSI: Miami (2003)

External links

• Official website
• Down Syndrome Association of Los Angeles
• East Bakersfield High School
• Bakersfield College