Edward James Olmos' Main TV Roles Show Character(s) Battlestar Galactica Admiral Wil… Miami Vice Lt. Martin … Discovery Atlas Narrator (2) American Family Jess Gonzalez

Main Movie Roles 2011 - The Green Hornet 2008 - Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2000 - The Road to El Dorado 1997 - Selena 1996 - Caught 1995 - My Family 1993 - Even Cowgirls Get the Blues 1992 - American Me 1988 - Stand and Deliver 1982 - Blade Runner 1981 - Wolfen

BIOGRAPHY:

If Edward James Olmos had followed the first love of his life, he'd have been a professional baseball player. But by age 13, another love entered his life: rock music. By age 15 he was already an experienced rock singer, forming and reforming several "garage bands" along the way. During the late '60s and early '70s he played the most famous clubs on Sunset Strip, including Gazzarri's and The Factory. But a friend suggested that, with his flair for the dramatic, he consider a career in acting.

Throughout the seventies he divided his time between rock music gigs, acting classes, bit parts in TV, Off-off-off Broadway plays and his business of moving fine furniture (which kept body, soul and family together). His first big break was a starring role in Luis Valdez's play, "Zoot Suit", in 1978. The play moved to Broadway and led to a Tony nomination and great critical acclaim. Perhaps best known for his role as "Lt. Martin Castillo" in the NBC TV series, "Miami Vice" (1984) (1984-1989), he has been seen in numerous film and TV productions. He received an Accademy Award nomination for "best actor" for his starring role in Stand and Deliver (1988). Most notable of his recent offerings is American Me (1992), which was also his directing debut. But acting, directing and screenwriting are only parts of what he does. Olmos contends he would much rather be known as an activist than an actor. He devotes much of his time to causes, particularly those focusing on the needs and rights of children. He makes, on average, some 150 personal appearances a year to places where he can reach kids at risk; juvenile halls, detention centers, boys/girls clubs, schools. Anywhere he can get across his message that "we all have a choice" about where life takes us. He stresses the importance of education, the risks of gang life and tries to promote the notion of taking responsibility for one's own actions and one's own happiness in life. Using his own "disadvantaged background" as an example (he grew up in East Los Angeles, infamous for its gang problems), he tells the kids, "If I can do it, so can you". And he tries to point them in a positive direction. He has served as an ambassador for UNICEF and has received numerous accolades for his activism. He will long be remembered for getting out in the thick of the L.A. Riots of 1992 with his broom: one calm, reasonable presence in the midst of chaos and gunfire. Olmos was married to actress Lorraine Bracco. Between them they have 6 children, ages 10 - 25.


TRIVIA:

• Says that he is Aztec and Spanish ancestry.
• (10 August 2001) Sentenced to 20 days in prison for trespassing in April of 2000 on US Navy land on the Puerto Rican island of Vieques. Olmos & others were protesting the use of the island as a bombing test ground. President 'George W Bush' promised to end the testing in 2003.
• Gained twenty pounds and thinned his hair to prepare for the role of 'Jaime Escalante' (qv) in _Stand and Deliver (1988)_ (qv).
• Grduated from California State University Los Angeles (Cal State L.A.) which is located in the northern part of his home town of East L.A.
• Agreed to the role of William Adama on the Battlestar Galactica remake only on the condition that the stories reflect as much realism and credibility as possible.
• Was considered for the part of Klingon Commander Kruge in _Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984)_ (qv), but lost the role to 'Christopher Lloyd (I)' (qv) because Lloyd was taller.
• Father of 'Mico Olmos' (qv) and 'Bodie Olmos' (qv).
• Was nominated for Broadway's 1979 Tony Award as Best Actor (Featured Role - Play) for "Zoot Suit," a part he recreated in the film version of the same name, _Zoot Suit (1981)_ (qv).