Joining the cast of Star Wars: Episode II is Emmy-award winning actor Jimmy Smits. The next chapter in the Star Wars series is currently filming in Australia under George Lucas' direction for a summer 2002 release. Smits will portray Senator Bail Organa of Alderaan, a character briefly mentioned in Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope.

"I'd thought of Jimmy for the role before George Lucas had even confirmed the character's appearance," recalls Casting Director Robin Gurland. "Then completely independently, his agents let me know that he would love to be involved in a Star Wars project. It worked out great."

The as-yet-untitled Star Wars: Episode II adds another film to Smits' exemplary roster of movie and television work. Among his most recent motion picture credits are Wim Wenders' Million Dollar Hotel, co-starring Mel Gibson, Milla Jovovich and Jeremy Davies; New Line Cinema's Price of Glory, directed by Carlos Avila; and Chuck Russell's Bless the Child, a thriller co-starring Kim Basinger, due out this August.

Many know Smits from his acclaimed television series work; for every year Smits has worked in television he has been honored with an Emmy award nomination. He received six consecutive nominations for his role as Victor Sifuentes in L.A. Law, winning the award in 1990. For his role as Bobby Simone in NYPD Blue, Smits received five Emmy nominations. Smits also has three Golden Globes nominations -- one of which he won - and four SAG Award nominations.