Edward James Olmos Biography (1947-)

Born February 27 (some sources cite February 24), 1947, in East Los Angeles,CA; son of Pedro (a welder) and Eleanor (maiden name, Huizar or Romo) Olmos;married Kaija Keel, 1971 (divorced 1992); married Lorraine Bracco (an actress), January 28, 1994 (separated, 1997); children: (first marriage) Mico, Bodie. Addresses: Office: Olmos Productions, Old Animation Building, 1G2, Code 1675, 500 South Buena Vista St., Burbank, CA 91521.; Agent: Steve Tellez,Creative Artists Agency, 9830 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90212.

Nationality: American
Gender: Male
Occupation: Actor, producer, director, writer, composer
Birth Details: February 27, 1947; East Los Angeles, California, United States

Famous Works

CREDITS
Television Appearances
Series
Lieutenant Martin Castillo, Miami Vice, NBC, 1984-1988
Host, New to America, syndicated, 1994
Jess Gonzalez, American Family, PBS, 2002
Miniseries
Frank Corbo, The Fortunate Pilgrim (also known as Mamma Lucia and Mario Puzo's "The Fortunate Pilgrim"), NBC, 1988
Voice of Miguel Otero, The Wild West, syndicated, 1993
Voice, 500 Nations, CBS, 1995
Captain Salazar, Dead Man's Walk (also known as Larry McMurty'sDead Man's Walk), ABC, 1996
Salvatore Maranzano, Bonanno: A Godfather's Story, Showtime, 1999
Commander Adama, Battlestar Galactica, Sci-Fi Channel, 2003
Movies
Angelo, Evening in Byzantium, syndicated, 1978
Art Vela, Three Hundred Miles for Stephanie, NBC, 1981
General Santa Anna, Seguin, 1982
Wilson Pinheiro, The Burning Season, HBO, 1994
Jose Menendez, Menendez: A Killing in Beverly Hills, 1994
Potiphar, Slave of Dreams, 1995
Jon Lucca, The Limbic Region, Showtime, 1996
Stan Navarro, Sr., Hollywood Confidential, UPN, 1997
Juror number 11, 12 Angry Men, Showtime, 1997
Detective Anthony Piscotti, The Taking of Pelham One Two Three, ABC, 1998
Colonel Holst, "The Pencil Holder," The Wall, Showtime, 1998
Nestor Garcia, The Princess and the Barrio Boy (also known as She's in Love), Showtime, 2000
Judge Armando Acosta, The Judge (also known as Steve Martini'sThe Judge), NBC, 2001
Rafael Leonid Trujillo, In the Time of the Butterflies (also knownas En el tiempo de las mariposas), Showtime, 2001
Also appeared in Walking on Water.
Episodic
"The Exchange," Cannon, CBS, 1974
Paco, "How Cruel the Frost, How Bright the Stars," Kojak, 1975
Dancer, "Ready ... Aim...," Hawaii Five-0, CBS, 1977
Julio Gutierez, "The Psychic," Starsky and Hutch, 1977
First drunk, "Alambrista!" (also known as "The Illegal"), Visions,1977
"A Living Wage," The Fitzpatricks, CBS, 1978
Henry, "Flashback!," CHiPs, NBC, 1978
Joe Gustimonte, "Zen and the Art of Law Enforcement," Hill Street Blues, NBC, 1982
Joe Gustimonte, "Of Mouse and Man," Hill Street Blues, NBC, 1982
Judge Cruz, "Parting Is Such Sweep Sorrow," Hill Street Blues, NBC, 1984
General Santa Anna, "Seguin," American Playhouse, PBS, 1989
Jaime Escalante, "Stand and Deliver," American Playhouse, PBS, 1989
Voice of Mr. Ramon/Carlos's dad, "Going Batty," The Magic School Bus (animated), PBS, 1994
Voice of fisherman, "The Fisherman and His Wife," Happily Ever After:Fairy Tales for Every Child (animated), 1995
Voice of El Murcielago, "Thumbelina," Happily Ever After: Fairy Talesfor Every Child (animated), 1995
Voice, "Cinderella," Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child (animated), 1995
Narrator, Mystic Lands, The Learning Channel, 1996
Captain Victor Walls, "Missing in Action," Touched by an Angel, CBS, 1997
Father Santos, "Father John," Gun, ABC, 1997
Victor, "God and Country," Touched by an Angel, CBS, 1998
Judge Roberto Mendoza, "The Short List," The West Wing, NBC, 1999
Judge Roberto Mendoza, "Celestial Navigation," The West Wing, NBC,2000
Pioneer Living, 2001
Narrator and voice of Hector Belascoaran Shayne, "Mexico City," an episode of Great Writers, Great Cities; also appeared in episodes of Delvecchio, The Dennis Miller Show, Medical Center, Police Woman, Rafferty, and Storytime.
Specials
Narrator, Frida Kahlo: Portrait of an Artist, PBS, 1989
Spanish-language host, A Day to Care for the Children, syndicated,1989
Time Warner Presents the Earth Day Special, ABC, 1990
Starathon '90, syndicated, 1990
The Music Center 25th Anniversary, PBS, 1990
Narrator, A Quest for Education, PBS, 1991
Host, Voices of the Electorate: The Hispanic American Voter, PBS,1992
Presenter, To Be Free: The National Literacy Honors, ABC, 1992
Narrator, The Mexicans: Through Their Eyes, PBS, 1992
Host, Father/Son (also known as Desperate Passage: Father/Son and Father, Son: America's Desperate Passage), syndicated, 1992
Back to School '92, CBS, 1992
Learning Not to Hurt, ABC, 1993
Host, Good Cop ... Bad Kid?, NBC, 1993
GED--Get It!, PBS, 1993
An American Reunion: The 52nd Presidential Inaugural Gala, CBS, 1993
An American Reunion: New Beginnings, Renewed Hope, HBO, 1993
Narrator, Lives in Hazard, NBC, 1994

People Yearbook '95, CBS, 1995
Host, Songs of the Homeland, 1995
Latino Laugh Festival, Showtime, 1996
Narrator, Manu, Peru's Hidden Rain Forest, PBS, 1997
Host, Prophecies of the Millennium, Fox, 1997
It Just Takes One, USA Network, 1997
Narrator, California and the Dream Seekers, Arts and Entertainment, 1998
Narrator, Lost Warriors of the Clouds, The Discovery Channel, 1998
Second Annual Latino Laugh Festival, Showtime, 1998
Sun, Salsa & Stars, E! Entertainment Television, 1998
The Warner Bros. Story: No Guts, No Glory--75 Years of Blockbusters, TNT, 1998
The Warner Bros. Story: No Guts, No Glory--75 Years of Stars, TNT,1998
True Stories from Touched by an Angel, CBS, 1998
Narrator, The Americanos Concert (also known as Kennedy CenterPresents: The Americanos Concert), PBS, 1999
AFI's 100 Years ... 100 Stars, CBS, 1999
The Story of Fathers & Sons, ABC, 1999
Narrator, Crucible of Empire: The Spanish-American War, PBS, 1999
The 68th Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade, UPN and syndicated, 1999
Narrator for half-time show, Super Bowl XXXIV, ABC, 2000
The 70s: The Decade That Changed Television, ABC, 2000
Miami Vice: The E! True Hollywood Story, E! Entertainment Television, 2001
Jack Palance: From Grit to Grace, Arts and Entertainment, 2001
Hollywood Unites: An E! News Special, E! Entertainment Television,2001
Heroes for the Planet--A Tribute to National Geographic, syndicated, 2001
Intimate Portrait: Jennifer Lopez, Lifetime, 2002
Host of No Greater Calling, PBS; also appeared in The Bronze Screen: 100 Years of the Latino Image in American Cinema, Cinemax, and Y.E.S., Inc.
Awards Presentations
The 61st Annual Academy Awards Presentation, ABC, 1989
The Walt Disney Company Presents the American Teacher Awards, TheDisney Channel, 1990
The 47th Annual Golden Globe Awards, TBS, 1990
The 22nd Annual NAACP Image Awards, NBC, 1990
The 16th Annual People's Choice Awards, CBS, 1990
The 33rd Annual Grammy Awards, CBS, 1991
Presenter, The 64th Annual Academy Awards Presentation, ABC, 1992
The 4th Annual Desi Awards, syndicated, 1992
Presenter, The Essence Awards, CBS, 1993
Presenter, Screen Actors Guild Awards, NBC, 1995
Presenter, The VIDA Awards, NBC, 1995
The 1996 Billboard Music Awards, Fox, 1996
The 1996 NCLR Bravo Awards, Fox, 1996
Cohost, 24th International Emmy Awards, 1996
Presenter, The 53rd Annual Golden Globe Awards, NBC, 1996
ALMA Awards, ABC, 1998
Presenter, The 12th Annual Hispanic Heritage Awards, NBC, 1998
The 1999 ALMA Awards, ABC, 1999
Presenter, The 13th Annual Hispanic Heritage Awards, NBC, 1999
Presenter, The 5th Annual ALMA Awards, ABC, 2000
Television Director
Episodic
"Bushido," Miami Vice, NBC, 1985
Television Work
Specials
Executive producer, Lives in Hazard, NBC, 1994
Producer, The Americanos Concert (also known as Kennedy CenterPresents: The Americanos Concert), PBS, 1999
Producer, Americanos: Latino Life in the U.S., HBO, 2000
Other
Director of Walking on Water (movie).
Film Appearances
First Chicano, Aloha, Bobby and Rose, Columbia, 1975
Captain Lopez, Virus (also known as Day of Resurrection, The End, and Fukkatsu no hi), Media, 1980
Eddie Holt, Wolfen, Warner Bros., 1981
El Pachuco, Zoot Suit, Universal, 1981
Gaff, Blade Runner, Warner Bros., 1982
Title role, The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez, Embassy, 1983
Ciolino, Saving Grace, Columbia, 1986
Jaime A. Escalante, Stand and Deliver, Warner Bros., 1988
Gypsy, Triumph of the Spirit, Triumph, 1989
Virgil Sweet, Talent for the Game, Paramount Home Video, 1991
Narrator, Maria's Story (documentary), Channel 4, 1991
Montoya Santana, American Me, Universal, 1992
Gallo Morales, Roosters, 1993
Musician at barbecue, Even Cowgirls Get the Blues, 1993
Narrator, Latin Legends, 1993
World Beat, 1993
The angel, A Million to Juan (also known as A Million to One), 1994
Matteo Juarez, Mirage, 1995
Paco and narrator, My Family (also known as East L.A., My Family, Mi Familia, and Café con leche,), New Line Cinema, 1995
Narrator, Salvaged Lives, 1995
Joe, Caught (also known as Atrapados), Sony Pictures Classics, 1996
Abraham Quintanilla, Selena, Warner Bros., 1997
Roberto Lozano, Death in Granada (also known as The Disappearance of Garcia Lorca, Lorca, and Muerte en Granada), Sony Pictures Releasing, 1997
Vamanos, The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit, Buena Vista/Walt Disney, 1998
Detective Curtis, Gossip, Warner Bros., 1999
Narrator, Zapatista, Big Noise Films, 1999
Narrator, The Unfinished Journey, 1999
Host, Dream Center: Hope for the Inner City (documentary), Hon Foundation/Pray for Rain Pictures, 1999
Pasquel, Jack and Marilyn, FOCUS Institute of Film/Florida Studios, 2002
Voice of chief, The Road to El Dorado (also known as The Gold of El Dorado), DreamWorks, 2000
Film Work
Associate producer, music director, and music adaptor, The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez, Embassy, 1983
Coproducer, Stand and Deliver, Warner Bros., 1988
Producer (with Sean Daniel and Robert M. Young) and director, AmericanMe, Universal, 1992
Producer and director, Jack and Marilyn, FOCUS Institute of Film/Florida Studios, 2002
Stage Appearances
El Pachuco, Zoot Suit (musical), Center Theatre Group, Mark TaperForum, Los Angeles, 1978, then Winter Garden Theatre, New York City, 1979
RECORDINGS
Videos
Checking It Out, Great Plains National Instructional Television Laboratory, 1983
Remember My Name, 1990
D.A.R.E. to Care: A Program for Parents, 1992
Selena Remembered, 1997
WRITINGS
Screenplays
Triumph of the Spirit, Nova International Films, 1989
Film Music
Composer, The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez, Embassy, 1983

Further Reference

OTHER SOURCES

Books

Contemporary Hispanic Biography, Volume 1, Gale, 2002
Dictionary of Hispanic Biography, Gale, 1996
Martinez, Elizabeth Coonrod, Edward James Olmos: Committed Actor,Millbrook Press, 1994
St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture, St. James Press, 2000

Periodicals

Interview, April, 1991, p. 42
Los Angeles, July, 1995, p. 106
National Catholic Reporter, June 2, 1995, p. 17
People Weekly, July 1, 1996, p. 14; September 9, 1996, p. 48
Variety, March 24, 1997, pp. 33-35

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