Robert Beltran plays Chakotay, the fearless First Officer on STAR TREK: VOYAGER. A Native American who attended the Starfleet Academy and became a Lieutenant Commander, Chakotay resigned his position to join the Maquis as a Captain. When the Maquis rebels united with the Federation crew in the series’ debut episode, Chakotay agreed to become Voyager’s First Officer.
Born and raised in Bakersfield, California, Beltran graduated from Fresno State University with a degree in Theater Arts. His love for acting began in elementary school and his passion has flourished throughout the years into an impressive list of credits.
His extensive theater background includes performances in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” “Hamlet,” and “King Henry IV” for the California Shakespeare Festival. He has worked with El Teatro Campesino, the theater company of famed writer/director Luis Valdez, where he appeared in “Corridos,” “Rose of the Rancho,” and “La Pastorela.” In the Los Angeles Theater Center, Beltran performed to critical acclaim in Valdez’s play “I Don’t Have To Show You No Stinkin’ Badges.”
His feature film credits include a critically-acclaimed performance in “Eating Raoul,” which was proceeded with lead roles in “Gaby” and “Kiss Me A Killer.” He also starred in “Scenes From the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills” and portrayed John Sturges in Oliver Stone’s “Nixon.”
Prior to joining STAR TREK: VOYAGER, Beltran appeared in the recurring role of Lieutenant Soto on FOX’s “Models, Inc.” His television performances include the lead role in HBO’s “Midnight Caller” and the ABC mini-series “The Mystic Warrior.” He has also guest starred on numerous programs including “Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman,” “Murder, She Wrote” and “Miami Vice.”
Beltran is the founding member and co-artistic director of the East Los Angeles Classic Theater Group. Designed to provide cultural enrichment to the East Los Angeles community, the theatre company has performed “A Touch of the Poet” and “The Price” at California State University at Los Angeles. Most recently he directed and starred in “Hamlet” at the Actor’s Gang Theater in Hollywood.
