Robert Beltran plays Chakotay, the fearless first officer on Star Trek: Voyager. A Native American who attended the Starfleet Academy and rose to the rank of lieutenant commander, Chakotay resigned his position to join the Maquis as a captain. When his Maquis rebels united with the Federation crew when both became stranded far from home in the premiere episode, Chakotay agreed to serve under Captain Janeway. "Chakotay is a passionate man who has earned Captain Janeway's respect as her friend and first officer," Beltran explains.
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.
Beltran's 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 the Luis Valdez play I Don't Have To Show You No Stinkin' Badges.
His feature film credits include his 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 film Nixon.
Prior to joining Star Trek: Voyager , Beltran appeared in the recurring role of Lieutenant Soto in 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 theater company has performed A Touch of the Poet and The Price at California State University at Los Angeles. Most recently Robert directed and starred in Hamlet at the Actor's Gang Theater in Hollywood.