Miguel Sandoval, who was born on November 16, 1951 in Washington, D.C., first acted professionally when he became a part of a mime school in New Mexico. He eventually joined the troupe full time, continued his study of pantomime and helped form the troupe into a professional company. The members of The Performing Arts Collective disbanded in 1979, but it has been known for performing in parks and schools throughout the state.
Miguel Sandoval began his career during the early 1980s, obtaining small roles in films like Do the Right Thing, Jungle Fever and Jurassic Park. His breakthrough came in his portrayal of Ernesto Escobedo in Clear and Present Danger in 1994, leading him to take on even larger roles. He soon appeared in Get Shorty in 1995, Up Close & Personal in 1996, and Blow in 2001. He has also made a number of TV appearances, some of them in Seinfeld, Frasier, Law & Order, ER, Batman Beyond, and The X Files. He has also been seen in The West Wing, Alias, 7th Heaven, Kingpin and The Court. Sandoval is also known for his voice work, which can be heard on animated shows like Static Shock, Higglytown Heroes, Jackie Chan Adventures and the video game Scarface: The World is Yours. Miguel Sandoval is known for playing the district attorney Manuel Devalos on the NBC hit drama series Medium. Sandoval is also known for his friendship with director Alex Cox, who has cast him in the major roles of Treviranus in Death and the Compass and as Bennie Reyes in Three Businessmen. He also became a guest star in Lois & Clark: The New Superman and The Boondocks, and was seen in comedies like Tortilla Heaven and Bottle Shock starring Chris Pine, Alan Rickman and Bill Pullman. Miguel Sandoval also played the title role in the short film The Killer, written and directed by David A. Nelson.