Néstor Gastón Carbonell[1][2] (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈnestoɾ ɣasˈtoŋ kaɾβoˈneʎ]; born December 1, 1967) is an American actor, director, and screenwriter.

[6] Carbonell's father worked for PepsiCo,[7][8] which required the family to live for periods of time in London, Mexico City, the Bahamas, and Caracas.

He then appeared in episodes of Law & Order, Melrose Place, A Different World, Reasonable Doubts, Good Advice, Brotherly Love, and The John Larroquette Show.

For much of his early career, he played characters with thick Hispanic accents, and was so convincing that people often assumed that was his normal speaking voice.

[14] In 2000, Carbonell made his debut as a screenwriter with the comedy film Attention Shoppers, in which he also starred as Enrique Suarez, the lead role.

He has since had recurring roles on Resurrection Blvd., The Tick, Kim Possible (as the voice of Señor Senior Jr.), Century City, Strong Medicine, and Cold Case.

In 2006, he appeared alongside his future Lost co-star Matthew Fox, as assassin Pasquale Acosta, in the film Smokin' Aces.

[15] While producing the final episodes of the third season, Carbonell was cast in a starring role as Frank Duque on the CBS series Cane.

[17] In 2008, Lost showrunner Carlton Cuse stated that Carbonell would reprise his role as Richard Alpert towards the end of the series' fourth season,[18] as a result of Cane's cancellation.

[30] In 2017, Carbonell directed the episode "Apple" of the ABC drama series The Good Doctor, starring his Bates Motel co-star Highmore.

[31][32] In 2024 he appeared as Rodrigues in the FX miniseries Shōgun, winning the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for the role.

[34] A short skit during the Lost panel at the 2009 San Diego Comic-Con featured Carbonell allegedly applying eyeliner before throwing a rant upon receiving the wrong color makeup from an assistant.