Edward James Olmos

Edward James Olmos (born February 24, 1947) is an American actor, director, producer, and activist. He is best known for his roles as Lieutenant Martin "Marty" Castillo in Miami Vice (1984–1989), actor in and director of American Me (1992), William Adama in the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica (2004–2009), teacher Jaime Escalante in Stand and Deliver (1988), and Detective Gaff in Blade Runner (1982), and its sequel Blade Runner 2049 (2017). In 2018, he played the father of two members of an outlaw motorcycle club in the FX series Mayans MC. For his work in Miami Vice, Olmos won the 1985 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, as well as the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film. For his performance in Stand and Deliver, Olmos was nominated for a Golden Globe Award and the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role. He is also known for his roles as patriarch Abraham Quintanilla in the film Selena, narrator El Pachuco in both the stage and film versions of Zoot Suit, and the voice of Chicharrón in Coco. Over the course of his career, Olmos has been a pioneer for more diversified roles and images of Hispanics in the U.S. media. His notable direction, production, and starring roles for films, made-for-TV movies, and TV shows include Wolfen, Triumph of the Spirit, Talent for the Game, American Me, The Burning Season, My Family/Mi Familia, Caught, 12 Angry Men, The Disappearance of Garcia ...

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2 Guns (2013)

MindlessAction-packedViolentFun

A DEA agent and an undercover Naval Intelligence officer who have been tasked with investigating one another find they have been set up by the mob -- the very organization the two men believe they have been stealing money from.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Baltasar Kormákur
CAST:  Denzel Washington  •  Mark Wahlberg  •  Paula Patton  •  Bill Paxton

A DEA agent and an undercover Naval Intelligence officer who have been tasked with investigating one another find they have been set up by the mob -- the very organization the two men believe they have been stealing money from.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Baltasar Kormákur
CAST:  Denzel Washington  •  Mark Wahlberg  •  Paula Patton  •  Bill Paxton

The Green Hornet (2011)

MindlessAction-packedGoofySimple

Britt Reid, the heir to the largest newspaper fortune in Los Angeles, is a spoiled playboy who has been, thus far, happy to lead an aimless life. After his father dies, Britt meets Kato, a resourceful company employee. Realizing that they have the talent and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michel Gondry
CAST:  Seth Rogen  •  Jay Chou  •  Christoph Waltz  •  Cameron Diaz

Britt Reid, the heir to the largest newspaper fortune in Los Angeles, is a spoiled playboy who has been, thus far, happy to lead an aimless life. After his father dies, Britt meets Kato, a resourceful company employee. Realizing that they have the talent and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michel Gondry
CAST:  Seth Rogen  •  Jay Chou  •  Christoph Waltz  •  Cameron Diaz

Blade Runner (1982)

FuturisticDarkThought provokingClassic

In the smog-choked dystopian Los Angeles of 2019, blade runner Rick Deckard is called out of retirement to terminate a quartet of replicants who have escaped to Earth seeking their creator for a way to extend their short life spans.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ridley Scott
CAST:  Harrison Ford  •  Rutger Hauer  •  Sean Young  •  Edward James Olmos

In the smog-choked dystopian Los Angeles of 2019, blade runner Rick Deckard is called out of retirement to terminate a quartet of replicants who have escaped to Earth seeking their creator for a way to extend their short life spans.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ridley Scott
CAST:  Harrison Ford  •  Rutger Hauer  •  Sean Young  •  Edward James Olmos

A Million to Juan (1994)

Romantic comedy about an honest Mexican immigrant who struggles without a green card by selling oranges on a street corner. One day a limousine pulls up and he is handed a check for $1,000,000 with instructions that he is to give the check back in 30 days. ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Paul Rodríguez
CAST:  Paul Rodríguez  •  Gerardo Mejía  •  Jonathan Hernandez  •  Polly Draper

Romantic comedy about an honest Mexican immigrant who struggles without a green card by selling oranges on a street corner. One day a limousine pulls up and he is handed a check for $1,000,000 with instructions that he is to give the check back in 30 days. ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Paul Rodríguez
CAST:  Paul Rodríguez  •  Gerardo Mejía  •  Jonathan Hernandez  •  Polly Draper

American Me (1992)

ViolentComplexDramaticHeartbreaking

During his 18 years in Folsom Prison, street-gang leader Santana rules over all the drug-and-murder activities behind bars. Upon his release, Santana goes back to his old neighborhood, intending to lead a peaceful, crime-free life. But his old gang buddies force ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Edward James Olmos
CAST:  Edward James Olmos  •  William Forsythe  •  Sal Lopez  •  Pepe Serna

During his 18 years in Folsom Prison, street-gang leader Santana rules over all the drug-and-murder activities behind bars. Upon his release, Santana goes back to his old neighborhood, intending to lead a peaceful, crime-free life. But his old gang buddies force ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Edward James Olmos
CAST:  Edward James Olmos  •  William Forsythe  •  Sal Lopez  •  Pepe Serna

My Family (1995)

Traces over three generations an immigrant family's trials, tribulations, tragedies, and triumphs. Maria and Jose, the first generation, come to Los Angeles, meet, marry, face deportation all in the 1930s. They establish their family in East L.A., and their ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gregory Nava
CAST:  Edward James Olmos  •  Rafael Cortés  •  Esai Morales  •  Jacob Vargas

Traces over three generations an immigrant family's trials, tribulations, tragedies, and triumphs. Maria and Jose, the first generation, come to Los Angeles, meet, marry, face deportation all in the 1930s. They establish their family in East L.A., and their ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gregory Nava
CAST:  Edward James Olmos  •  Rafael Cortés  •  Esai Morales  •  Jacob Vargas

Selena (1997)

BeautifulBrilliantCharmingClassic

In this biographical drama, Selena Quintanilla is born into a musical Mexican-American family in Texas. Her father, Abraham, realizes that his young daughter is talented and begins performing with her at small venues. She finds success and falls for her guitarist, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gregory Nava
CAST:  Jennifer Lopez  •  Edward James Olmos  •  Jon Seda  •  Constance Marie

In this biographical drama, Selena Quintanilla is born into a musical Mexican-American family in Texas. Her father, Abraham, realizes that his young daughter is talented and begins performing with her at small venues. She finds success and falls for her guitarist, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gregory Nava
CAST:  Jennifer Lopez  •  Edward James Olmos  •  Jon Seda  •  Constance Marie

Stand and Deliver (1988)

Jaime Escalante is a mathematics teacher in a school in a hispanic neighbourhood. Convinced that his students have potential, he adopts unconventional teaching methods to try and turn gang members and no-hopers into some of the country's top algebra and calculus ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ramón Menéndez
CAST:  Edward James Olmos  •  Lou Diamond Phillips  •  Rosanna DeSoto  •  Andy García

Jaime Escalante is a mathematics teacher in a school in a hispanic neighbourhood. Convinced that his students have potential, he adopts unconventional teaching methods to try and turn gang members and no-hopers into some of the country's top algebra and calculus ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ramón Menéndez
CAST:  Edward James Olmos  •  Lou Diamond Phillips  •  Rosanna DeSoto  •  Andy García

The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit (1998)

Gomez is a middle-aged man who dreams of buying a gorgeous white suit in a nearby store, but doesn't have enough cash. He finds 4 more people of same size, who each give $20 and get to wear the suit for an hour each in return. But the suit is not just a suit - it ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Stuart Gordon
CAST:  Joe Mantegna  •  Esai Morales  •  Edward James Olmos  •  Clifton Collins Jr.

Gomez is a middle-aged man who dreams of buying a gorgeous white suit in a nearby store, but doesn't have enough cash. He finds 4 more people of same size, who each give $20 and get to wear the suit for an hour each in return. But the suit is not just a suit - it ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Stuart Gordon
CAST:  Joe Mantegna  •  Esai Morales  •  Edward James Olmos  •  Clifton Collins Jr.

Walkout (2006)

Walkout is the true story of a young Mexican American high school teacher, Sal Castro. He mentors a group of students in East Los Angeles, when the students decide to stage a peaceful walkout to protest the injustices of the public school system. Set against the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Edward James Olmos
CAST:  Alexa PenaVega  •  Michael Peña  •  Yancey Arias  •  Laura Harring

Walkout is the true story of a young Mexican American high school teacher, Sal Castro. He mentors a group of students in East Los Angeles, when the students decide to stage a peaceful walkout to protest the injustices of the public school system. Set against the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Edward James Olmos
CAST:  Alexa PenaVega  •  Michael Peña  •  Yancey Arias  •  Laura Harring

In the Time of the Butterflies (2001)

Based on the book by Julia Alvarez. Three sisters become activists during the Dominican Republic's Trujillo regime when members of their family are killed by the government's troops.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mariano Barroso
CAST:  Salma Hayek  •  Edward James Olmos  •  Mía Maestro  •  Demián Bichir

Based on the book by Julia Alvarez. Three sisters become activists during the Dominican Republic's Trujillo regime when members of their family are killed by the government's troops.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mariano Barroso
CAST:  Salma Hayek  •  Edward James Olmos  •  Mía Maestro  •  Demián Bichir

The Road to El Dorado (2000)

After a failed swindle, two con-men end up with a map to El Dorado, the fabled "city of gold," and an unintended trip to the New World. Much to their surprise, the map does lead the pair to the mythical city, where the startled inhabitants promptly begin to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Bibo Bergeron  •  Don Paul
CAST:  Kenneth Branagh  •  Kevin Kline  •  Rosie Perez  •  Armand Assante

After a failed swindle, two con-men end up with a map to El Dorado, the fabled "city of gold," and an unintended trip to the New World. Much to their surprise, the map does lead the pair to the mythical city, where the startled inhabitants promptly begin to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Bibo Bergeron  •  Don Paul
CAST:  Kenneth Branagh  •  Kevin Kline  •  Rosie Perez  •  Armand Assante

Wolfen (1981)

A city cop is assigned to solve a bizarre set of violent murders where it appears that the victims were killed by animals. In his pursuit he learns of an Indian legend about wolf spirits.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Wadleigh
CAST:  Albert Finney  •  Diane Venora  •  Edward James Olmos  •  Gregory Hines

A city cop is assigned to solve a bizarre set of violent murders where it appears that the victims were killed by animals. In his pursuit he learns of an Indian legend about wolf spirits.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Wadleigh
CAST:  Albert Finney  •  Diane Venora  •  Edward James Olmos  •  Gregory Hines

Zoot Suit (1981)

Part fact and part fiction, Zoot Suit is the film version of Luis Valdez's critically acclaimed play, based on the actual Sleepy Lagoon murder case and the zoot suit riots of 1940s Los Angeles. Henry Reyna is the leader of a group of Mexican-Americans being sent to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Luis Valdez
CAST:  Edward James Olmos  •  Charles Aidman  •  Tyne Daly  •  John Anderson

Part fact and part fiction, Zoot Suit is the film version of Luis Valdez's critically acclaimed play, based on the actual Sleepy Lagoon murder case and the zoot suit riots of 1940s Los Angeles. Henry Reyna is the leader of a group of Mexican-Americans being sent to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Luis Valdez
CAST:  Edward James Olmos  •  Charles Aidman  •  Tyne Daly  •  John Anderson

Lives in Hazard (1994)

Lives in Hazard is a tough, uncompromising look at kids in gangs and the men they become in prison. Filmed in the barrios of east LA and in the prisons of California, this real-life drama follows the making of the Hollywood feature film American Me, in which ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Susan Todd  •  Andrew Young
CAST:  Domingo Abriz  •  M.C. Boulevard  •  William Forsythe  •  Greg Boyle

Lives in Hazard is a tough, uncompromising look at kids in gangs and the men they become in prison. Filmed in the barrios of east LA and in the prisons of California, this real-life drama follows the making of the Hollywood feature film American Me, in which ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Susan Todd  •  Andrew Young
CAST:  Domingo Abriz  •  M.C. Boulevard  •  William Forsythe  •  Greg Boyle

Splinter (2006)

A gang member, suffering from severe memory loss, searches for his brother's murderer. He secretly enlists the aid of the investigating Detective, while other members of his gang are mysteriously and sadistically murdered.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael D. Olmos
CAST:  Tom Sizemore  •  Edward James Olmos  •  Enrique Almeida  •  Noel Gugliemi

A gang member, suffering from severe memory loss, searches for his brother's murderer. He secretly enlists the aid of the investigating Detective, while other members of his gang are mysteriously and sadistically murdered.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael D. Olmos
CAST:  Tom Sizemore  •  Edward James Olmos  •  Enrique Almeida  •  Noel Gugliemi

The Burning Season (1994)

Based on the true story of a Brazilian rubber tapper who leads his people in protest against government and developers, who want to cut down their part of the rainforest for a new road and ranch land. The rich and the powerful will stop at nothing, and frequently ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Frankenheimer
CAST:  Sônia Braga  •  Raúl Juliá  •  Carmen Argenziano  •  Luis Guzmán

Based on the true story of a Brazilian rubber tapper who leads his people in protest against government and developers, who want to cut down their part of the rainforest for a new road and ranch land. The rich and the powerful will stop at nothing, and frequently ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Frankenheimer
CAST:  Sônia Braga  •  Raúl Juliá  •  Carmen Argenziano  •  Luis Guzmán

Alambrista! (1977)

After the birth of his first child, Roberto, a young Mexican man, slips across the border into the United States. Seeking work to support his family back home, he finds that working hard is not enough.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Robert M. Young
CAST:  Domingo Ambriz  •  Trinidad Silva  •  Linda Gillen  •  Ned Beatty

After the birth of his first child, Roberto, a young Mexican man, slips across the border into the United States. Seeking work to support his family back home, he finds that working hard is not enough.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Robert M. Young
CAST:  Domingo Ambriz  •  Trinidad Silva  •  Linda Gillen  •  Ned Beatty

The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez (1983)

Forced to run from the Texas Rangers after a heated misunderstanding leads to the death of a lawman, Mexican American farmer Gregorio Cortez sets off in desperate flight, evading a massive manhunt on horseback for days.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Robert M. Young
CAST:  Edward James Olmos  •  James Gammon  •  Tom Bower  •  Bruce McGill

Forced to run from the Texas Rangers after a heated misunderstanding leads to the death of a lawman, Mexican American farmer Gregorio Cortez sets off in desperate flight, evading a massive manhunt on horseback for days.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Robert M. Young
CAST:  Edward James Olmos  •  James Gammon  •  Tom Bower  •  Bruce McGill

Americano (2016)

Cuco, a mexican parrot, goes on an adventure from Mexico to Hollywood in order to get help from El Americano, a famous superhero from TV, against an evil band of birds trying to take control of his family’s beloved circus.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ricardo Arnaiz  •  Mike Kunkel
CAST:  Rico Rodriguez  •  Cheech Marin  •  Kate del Castillo  •  Gabriel Iglesias

Cuco, a mexican parrot, goes on an adventure from Mexico to Hollywood in order to get help from El Americano, a famous superhero from TV, against an evil band of birds trying to take control of his family’s beloved circus.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ricardo Arnaiz  •  Mike Kunkel
CAST:  Rico Rodriguez  •  Cheech Marin  •  Kate del Castillo  •  Gabriel Iglesias
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