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Edward James Olmos (born February 24, 1947) is an Emmy-winning and Oscar-nominated American actor and director. Some of his most memorable roles were Gaff in Blade Runner, Lt. Martin Castillo in Miami Vice, Jaime Escalante in Stand and Deliver and Admiral William Adama in the Battlestar Galactica re-imagined series. One of his popular character traits is that he rarely smiles. Though widely recognized for his film and television career, actor Edward James Olmos also spent a great deal of time working for social and political causes, particularly as they have affected his native Latino heritage. Though he struggled early on in his acting career, taking bit parts in various guest spots on popular television shows in the 1970s, Olmos made the most of his success once he found it. Starting with his Tony-nominated performance in “Zoot Suit” (1978), Olmos developed into a highly-acclaimed and sought-after performer whose ability to convey both ambiguity and gravitas was widely recognized. He became a household name with his first regular series role, playing Lieutenant Martin Castillo on the cultural phenomenon “Miami Vice” (NBC, 1984-89), but then languished for a large chunk of his career taking roles in largely unseen or underappreciated feature and television projects. Occasionally, he reminded audiences of his unique talents with lauded performances in “Stand and Deliver” (1988) or “Selena” (1997), but largely remained waiting in the wings for his next significant role. It arrived in the unlikely form of Admiral William Adama on “Battlestar Galactica” (Sci Fi Channel, 2004- ), a show that Olmos felt was one of the best uses of television he had ever been a part of to date. During the show’s four-season run, Olmos was offered the opportunity to direct a couple episodes, revitalizing a passion that translated into landing several feature directing projects in development. On screen, he returned to the feature world with a supporting role as an inept police captain in “Splinter” (2006), a low-budget thriller directed by his son, Michael D. Olmos. He donned his admiral’s uniform again for “Battlestar Galactica: Razor” (Sci-Fi Channel, 2007), a two-hour made-for-cable movie that told the story of the Battlestar Pegasus in the months prior to finding the Galactica. Olmos remained more of a supporting character, however, as the movie focused on fictional son Lee Adama’s (Jamie Bamber) command of the Pegasus after the original commander, Admiral Cain (Michelle Forbes), is killed by a Cylon she tortured in captivity. The cable movie served more as way to maintain interest for season four of “Battlestar Galactica,” which was set to air in early April 2008, though the second half was tentatively slated to air sometime in 2009 due to the Writers Guild of America strike in 2007-08. Olmos was born and raised in East Los Angeles, California to a Southern Baptist Mexican father (the family name was originally the Hungarian Ólmos (pronounced: awlmosh); the family is also of Hungarian-Jewish descent) and a Mexican American Catholic mother. He grew up wanting to be a professional baseball player and became the Golden State batting champion. In his teen years, he turned to rock and roll, and became the lead singer for a band he named Pacific Ocean, so-called because it was "the biggest thing on the West Coast". 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. He graduated from Montebello High School in 1964. While at Montebello High School, he lost a race for Student Body President to future California Democratic Party Chair Art Torres. For several years Pacific Ocean played various clubs in and around Los Angeles and released a record in 1968. At the same time, he attended classes at East Los Angeles College and California State University, Los Angeles, including courses in acting. In the late 1960s and the early 1970s, Olmos branched out from music into acting, appearing in many small productions, until his big break portraying the narrator, called "El Pachuco", in the play Zoot Suit, which dramatized the World War II-era rioting in California brought about by the tensions between Mexican-Americans and local police. (See Zoot Suit Riots.) The play moved to Broadway, and Olmos received a Tony award nomination for his portrayal as El Pachuco. He took the role to the filmed version in 1981. Other films that featured Olmos followed, including Wolfen, Blade Runner and The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez. From 1984 to 1989, Olmos starred in his biggest role up to that date as the authoritative police Lieutenant Martin Castillo in the television series Miami Vice opposite Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas, for which he was awarded a Golden Globe and an Emmy in 1985. He was contacted about playing the captain of the U.S.S. Enterprise on Star Trek: The Next Generation when it was in pre-production in 1986, but he declined. Returning to film, he received an Oscar nomination for Best Actor for the 1988 movie Stand and Deliver, portraying a real-life math teacher, Jaime Escalante, who turned his students into math whizzes, despite their disadvantaged backgrounds. He directed American Me in 1992, and starred in the multigenerational story of a Chicano family in My Family/Mi Familia. In 1997 he played alongside Jennifer Lopez in the film Selena. He has often become involved in social issues, especially those affecting the Hispanic-American community in the United States. In 1998, he founded Latino Public Broadcasting and currently serves as its Chairman. The Latino Public Broadcasting funds programming for public television which focuses on issues affecting Hispanic-Americans and advocates for diverse perspectives in public television. That same year, he starred in The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit, a comedy that sought to break Latino stereotypes and transcend the normal stigmas of most Latino oriented movies.He also makes frequent appearances at juvenile halls and detention centers to speak to teenagers at risk. He has also been an international ambassador for UNICEF. In 2001, he was arrested and spent 20 days in prison for taking part in the Navy-Vieques protests against United States Navy target practice bombings of the island of Vieques, Puerto Rico. He played Dominican Republic dictator Rafael Leónidas Trujillo in the 2001 movie In the Time of the Butterflies. He also appeared as a recurring character, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Robert Mendoza, in the NBC drama The West Wing. He later starred as the recently widowed father in a Latin L.A.-family, in the PBS drama American Family: Journey of Dreams. Since 2003, he starred as Admiral William Adama in the Sci Fi Channel's reimagined Battlestar Galactica miniseries and in the TV series that followed. He has also directed three episodes of the show, Season 1, Episode 9 Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down, Season 3, Episode 13 Taking a Break from All Your Worries and Season 4, Episode 4, Escape Velocity. In regards to his work on the show, he told CraveOnline, "I'm very grateful for the work that I've been able to do in my life but I can honestly tell you, this is the best usage of television I've ever been a part of to date." In 2006, he co-produced, directed, and played the bit part of Julian Nava in the HBO movie Walkout about the 1968 Chicano Blowouts. He also appeared in Snoop Dogg's music video "Vato", featuring B-Real from Cypress Hill. On January 5, 2007, he appeared on Puerto Rican Television to blame the Puerto Rican and United States Governments for not cleaning the Island of Vieques after the United States Navy stopped using the island for bombing practice. He has also given $2300 to New Mexico governor Bill Richardson for his Presidential campaign (the maximum amount for the primaries). He guest-starred in the series finale of the ABC sitcom George Lopez, titled George Decides to Sta-Local Where It's Familia as the new multi-millionare owner. Drove a red Porsche Turbo, which he bought in Miami at a sale of articles confiscated in drug-busts. "He got 30 years. I got the car!". But soon afterwards the Porsche was stolen. 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. Was considered for the part of Klingon Commander Kruge in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984), but lost the role to Christopher Lloyd because Lloyd was taller. Father of Mico Olmos and Bodie Olmos. Gained twenty pounds and thinned his hair to prepare for the role of Jaime Escalante in Stand and Deliver (1988). Former son-in-law of the late actor Howard Keel. 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). Says that he is Aztec and Spanish ancestry. Turned down a regular role on "Hill Street Blues" (1981) (after several guest appearances) as well as major roles in Scarface (1983) and Firestarter (1984). Declined an offer from director Michael Mann to reprise the role of "Lt. Martin Castillo" in the movie version of Miami Vice (2006). He was the only cast member from the original "Miami Vice" (1984) series who was approached to appear in the rebooted movie version of the series. Ex-stepfather of Margaux Guerard. He graduated from Montebello High School in Montebello, CA. Was auctioned off for charity (lunch at the famed Polo Lounge in Beverly Hills) and "purchased" by Vicki Roberts. 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. 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. In 1971, Olmos married Kaija Keel, the daughter of actor Howard Keel. They had two children, Bodie and Mico, before divorcing in 1992. He married actress Lorraine Bracco in 1994, but she filed for divorce in January 2002 after five years of separation. He is currently married to Puerto Rican actress Lymari Nadal, 31 years his junior, and has three adopted children: Michael D., Brandon, and Tamiko. In 2007, after a seven-year process, he obtained Mexican citizenship. Asteroid 5608 Olmos is named in his honor. |
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