You probably know him as the stoic elf Arondir, patrolling the Southlands with a bow and a heavy heart. Or maybe you recognize him as the guy who made history in Middle-earth. But honestly, the resume of Ismael Cruz Córdova is way weirder and more impressive than just fantasy epics.
He didn't just appear out of nowhere.
Before the big-budget Amazon sets, he was grinding in roles that most people totally forget. From the streets of NYC to the gritty world of professional boxing, Ismael Cruz Córdova TV shows cover a range that most actors would kill for. He’s been a writer on Sesame Street, a cult leader, and a CIA agent.
It's kind of wild when you think about it.
The Breakthrough: From Sesame Street to Middle-earth
Most fans don't realize that one of his most significant early roles was actually for the preschool crowd. Back in 2013, he beat out hundreds of actors in an open casting call to play Mando on Sesame Street. This wasn't just a "job." He played a Latino writer and techie, teaching kids about Spanish rhymes and identity. He’s mentioned in interviews how he actually learned English by watching the show back in Puerto Rico. Talk about a full-circle moment.
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But let’s get into the stuff you’re probably looking for.
The big one. The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. When he was cast as Arondir, it was a massive deal. He became the first person of color to play an elf in a live-action Tolkien adaptation. The backlash was real—and loud—but Córdova didn't flinch. He brought a physical, almost dance-like quality to the role that felt entirely new. If you’ve seen the scene where he catches an arrow mid-air, you know exactly why he was the right choice. He basically redefined what a Silvan Elf could look like.
Ismael Cruz Córdova TV Shows: The Gritty Side
If you only see him as an elf, you're missing the best parts of his career. He’s great at playing characters who are... well, kinda falling apart.
Take Ray Donovan. In season 4, he played Hector Campos. Hector wasn't just a boxer; he was a world champion with a massive, dark secret involving his half-sister (played by Lisa Bonet). It was a messy, high-stakes role that required him to look like a pro athlete while acting like a man on the edge of a breakdown.
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Then there’s The Undoing.
He played Fernando Alves, the husband of the woman whose murder kicks off the whole plot. Facing off against heavyweights like Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant isn't easy, but he held his own. He played Fernando with this simmering, protective rage that made you constantly wonder if he was the one who did it.
A Quick List of Roles You Should Check Out:
- The Good Wife (2011): He popped up in five episodes as Jimmy Patrick, a cult leader. This was his first big English-speaking role.
- Berlin Station (2018–2019): He joined the third season as Rafael Torres. He’s a CIA agent from the Special Activities Division—basically a highly trained operative who isn't afraid to get his hands dirty.
- The Mandalorian (2019): Remember the prisoner transport episode in season 1? He’s Qin, the purple-skinned Twi’lek that Mando has to break out of jail. You’d barely recognize him under all that makeup.
- Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities (2022): He starred in "The Dreams in the Witch House" episode. If you like weird, gothic horror, this is the one.
Why People Get Him Wrong
People often pigeonhole actors who do fantasy. They think, "Oh, he's just the elf guy." But if you look at his work in Berlin Station, you see a completely different energy. Rafael Torres is impulsive and aggressive. Arondir is the opposite—controlled and ancient.
It’s that "chameleon" quality that critics always talk about.
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He grew up in Aguas Buenas, Puerto Rico, and that perspective informs everything he does. Whether he’s voicing Capitán Calavera in Santiago of the Seas or playing a father in a psychological thriller, there’s a specific weight he brings to his characters. He’s stated that he looks for roles that "shift the needle," and honestly, looking at the variety here, he’s doing exactly that.
What's Next in 2026?
The momentum isn't slowing down. We're currently in 2026, and he’s moving more into the film space while keeping his TV roots alive.
One of the biggest projects on the horizon is The Bluff, which is hitting Prime Video in February 2026. He’s playing T.H. Bodden, starring alongside Priyanka Chopra Jonas. It’s a 19th-century pirate thriller set in the Caribbean. It’s a huge "homecoming" vibe for him, filming in locations that mirror his own roots.
He’s also attached to Verity, a project that has fans of the Colleen Hoover novel buzzing.
Actionable Tips for Fans
If you want to actually see the range of Ismael Cruz Córdova TV shows, don't just stick to the Prime Video homepage.
- Watch "The Prisoner" episode of The Mandalorian first. It’s a fun game to see if you can spot his performance through the Twi'lek prosthetics.
- Binge Season 3 of Berlin Station. This is where he really gets to show off his "action hero" chops without the fantasy tropes.
- Check out his early work in The Good Wife. It’s a trip seeing a younger version of him playing a manipulative cult leader compared to the noble characters he plays now.
Most of these shows are scattered across different platforms like Max, Paramount+, and Disney+, so you might need to do a little digital hopping to find them all. But if you're a fan of acting that feels raw and intentional, it’s worth the effort. He’s one of those actors who is clearly just getting started, even though he's already been everywhere.