You probably know the hair. Or the booming, slightly dramatic voice. For most people in the U.S., Jaime Camil is Rogelio de la Vega from Jane the Virgin—the lavender-loving, self-obsessed but gold-hearted telenovela star. But if you think he just appeared out of thin air to play Jane's dad, you're missing out on about twenty years of cinema history.
Honestly, the range of movies with Jaime Camil is a bit wild. He’s done everything from gritty Mexican indie films to massive Pixar blockbusters.
The Crossover King: Why Pulling Strings Changed Everything
Before he was a household name in the States, Camil was already the king of the Mexican box office. In 2013, he starred in a little movie called Pulling Strings (originally Amor a la Carta). It was a massive deal because it proved he could carry a bilingual rom-com. He plays a mariachi singer trying to get a visa for his daughter.
It’s cheesy? Yeah, maybe. But Camil’s charm is like a tractor beam. You can’t look away.
That movie basically paved the road for his Hollywood career. He didn't just "get lucky" with Jane the Virgin; he had already mastered the art of the charming loser in Mexican cinema.
The Voice You Didn't Realize Was Him
If you have kids, you've heard Jaime Camil way more than you've seen him. Remember Coco? He’s the voice of Papá Rivera, Miguel’s dad. It’s a relatively small role compared to the leads, but he brings this grounded, stern-but-loving energy that anchors the family dynamic.
✨ Don't miss: Why the Cast of Hold Your Breath 2024 Makes This Dust Bowl Horror Actually Work
He’s actually a prolific voice actor.
- The Secret Life of Pets: He plays Fernando.
- Hotel Transylvania 3: He's the Chupacabra.
- The Bad Guys 2 (2025): He recently joined the cast as "Handsome Jorge."
Voice acting in animation is hard because you can't use your face—and Camil has a very expressive face. Yet, he manages to let that personality bleed through the microphone.
Breaking the Telenovela Mold in Modern Cinema
One of the coolest things about movies with Jaime Camil is how he handles his "pretty boy" image. He’s spent his whole life being the lead in soaps like La Fea Más Bella, so in film, he often pokes fun at that.
Take Las Píldoras de Mi Novio (My Boyfriend's Meds).
It’s a 2020 comedy where he plays Hank, a guy who seems perfect until he forgets his cocktail of prescription meds on an island retreat. It’s physical comedy at its peak. He goes from suave to absolutely unhinged in about four seconds. It shows a level of vulnerability and "ugly" acting that most leading men are too scared to try.
🔗 Read more: Is Steven Weber Leaving Chicago Med? What Really Happened With Dean Archer
Small Roles, Big Impact
Even when he isn't the lead, he shows up in the weirdest, coolest places. He had a role in Steven Soderbergh’s KIMI (2022). If you blinked, you might have missed him, but he played Antonio Rivas. Seeing a "telenovela star" in a sleek, paranoid tech-thriller by one of the world's most respected directors was a massive "I've arrived" moment for his filmography.
What’s Happening in 2026?
Right now, Camil is leaning heavily into musical theater and high-end streaming. While fans are waiting for his next big theatrical lead, he’s currently making waves in Mexico City.
Starting March 13, 2026, he’s actually taking on the role of Miss Trunchbull in the musical Matilda at the Centro Cultural Teatro I.
Yes, you read that right. The guy known for being a heartthrob is playing a terrifying, hammer-throwing headmistress in drag. It’s a bold move that perfectly summarizes his career: he’s bored of being the "handsome guy." He wants to act.
He’s also finishing up the final season of Acapulco on Apple TV+, where he plays Alejandro Vera. It’s not a movie, sure, but the production value is so high it might as well be.
💡 You might also like: Is Heroes and Villains Legit? What You Need to Know Before Buying
The Essential Watchlist
If you want to actually understand why this guy is a big deal, don't just watch Jane the Virgin clips. Look at these specific movies:
- 7 Días (2005): This is the one that earned him a Diosa de Plata. He plays a guy trying to bring U2 to Monterrey, Mexico. It’s a cult classic.
- Salvando al Soldado Pérez (Saving Private Perez): A hilarious spoof of war movies where a Mexican drug lord goes to Iraq to save his brother. Camil is brilliant here.
- 200 Cartas: A fun, breezy film set in Puerto Rico that showcases his chemistry with Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Jaime Camil has successfully dodged the "Latin Lover" trope by simply being funnier and more talented than the trope allows. Whether he's a cartoon dog, a tech-world henchman, or a mariachi, he's always the most charismatic person on the screen.
To see the latest updates on his production schedule, check out his official credits on IMDb or follow his Broadway updates, as he often moves between the stage and the big screen during the summer months.
How to Keep Up With Jaime Camil
If you’re looking to dive deeper into his filmography, start with his earlier Mexican comedies like Regresa to see the foundation of his comedic timing. Keep an eye on Apple TV+ and HBO Max, as those platforms have become the primary homes for his recent English-language film and prestige TV work.
Finally, if you find yourself in Mexico City this spring, seeing him live in Matilda is likely going to be the performance of a lifetime—it’s the kind of transformative role that usually leads back to a major film award nomination.