Hernandez was born on February 20, 1978, in Montebello, California, the son of Isis (née Maldonado), a secretary and accountant,[2][3] and Javier Hernandez Sr., a mechanic.[2][4] He has a younger sister, Amelia, and two older brothers, Michael and Gabriel. He met his wife, actress Daniella Deutscher, when he was 20 years old and she was 23 in 1998.[4] He attended Don Bosco Technical Institute in Rosemead, California, but transferred to Schurr High School in Montebello for his senior year.[3] While riding an elevator in a high-rise in Los Angeles,[2][3] he was approached by talent manager Howard Tyner who suggested he had what it took to have a successful career in Hollywood.[4] He enrolled Hernandez into acting school and sent his pictures to casting agents.[2] He's first generation Mexican-American, his parents are Mexican immigrants from Michoacán, Mexico.
On February 20, 2018, Hernandez was cast as Thomas Magnum in CBS drama series Magnum P.I. reboot.[7] It premiered on September 24, 2018.[8] After four seasons, it was canceled in May 2022, before being rescued by NBC with a two-season order that June.[9]
