Lou Diamond Phillips

Infobox actor


caption = Lou Diamond Phillips, August 2007
birthdate = birth date and age|1962|2|17
birthplace = Subic Bay Naval Station, Philippines
occupation = Actor, film director, television director
yearsactive = 1984–present
spouse = Julie Cypher (1987–1990) Kelly Preston (1994–2006) Yvonne Marie Boismier (2006–present)

Lou Diamond Phillips (born February 17, 1962) is an American film, television, and stage actor. He is perhaps best known for his portrayal of "Ritchie Valens" in the 1987 Biopic "La Bamba".

Biography

Beginnings

Phillips began as Lou Diamond Upchurch at the Subic Bay Naval Station in the Philippines, the son of Lucita and Gerald Upchurch, a naval officer. [ [http://www.filmreference.com/film/38/Lou-Diamond-Phillips.html Lou Diamond Phillips Biography (1962-) ] ] His father was an American of Scottish-Irish, Hawaiian and Cherokee descent and his mother was a Filipina of Spanish, Chinese and Japanese descent. [ [http://www.2g.org/home/news/meettheartist/currentnews-loudiamondphilips.shtml Second Generation ] ] Phillips was named after Marine legend Lou Diamond [ [http://veterans.house.gov/hearings/schedule107/jun02/6-13-02/lphillips.pdf My name is Lou Diamond Phillips, an American citizen of Filipino descent ] ] and adopted his surname, "Phillips", from his stepfather.

Career

The first low-budget films in which he starred in were called "Trespasses". Phillips' big break came with the starring role in 1987's "La Bamba" as early rocker Ritchie Valens. Though the role garnered him praise from critics, he has since found it difficult to find another leading role in a big-budget Hollywood film. In 1988, he co-starred along Edward James Olmos in the inner-city high school drama, "Stand and Deliver". He plays Angel Guzman, a wannabe cholo gangster who is inspired by his math teacher, Jaime Escalante, to challenge himself at calculus; and along the road, creates a friendship with his teacher. "Stand and Deliver" was actually filmed before "La Bamba", but was released the year after. In 1988 and 1990, Phillips co-starred with Emilio Estevez and Kiefer Sutherland in the cowboy movies "Young Guns" and "Young Guns II".

In 1996, Phillips made his Broadway debut as the King in Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II's "The King and I". Phillips won a Theatre World Award and was nominated for both a Tony Award and a Drama Desk Award for his performance. [ [http://www.ibdb.com/person.asp?ID=56121 IBDB: The official source for Broadway Information ] ]

In 1998 he starred as Cisco, the counterpart of the main character Melvin Smiley (played by Mark Wahlberg, launching his career) in the comedy-action movie The Big Hit.

On September 11, 2007, Phillips joined the touring troup for Lehrner and Lowe's Camelot in the role of King Arthur. [http://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=18361 accessed 2008 February 24] He also played a role in the first season of the TV series "24" as secret government agent Mark DeSalvo.

Phillips plays the recurring role of FBI agent Ian Edgerton in the television series "Numb3rs." Edgerton is the FBI's best tracker and sniper, working as a sniper instructor at Quantico FBI Academy when he is not working a case in the field.

Personal life

During the making of "Trespasses", he met Julie Cypher, an assistant director who would become his wife on September 17, 1987. They later divorced on August 5, 1990. Cypher would leave him to start a relationship with rocker Melissa Etheridge. He met Jennifer Tilly, to whom he was briefly engaged, although the two never married. He later married model Kelly Preston (not to be confused with John Travolta's actress wife of the same name). They have three daughters: twins Grace Moorea and Isabella Patricia (born 1998); and Lili Jordan (born 2000). They separated in 2005 and their divorce was finalized in August 2006. He married Yvonne Marie Boismier that same month, and their first child, daughter Indigo Sanara, was born in October 2007.

Phillips plays on the World Poker Tour in the Hollywood Home games. He plays for the Sierra Canyon H.S. & Santa Suzanna Montessori charity.

On Friday, August 11, 2006, Phillips was arrested for alleged domestic violence at his Los Angeles home following a dispute with his girlfriend, makeup artist Yvonne Boismier. [ [http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-phillips12aug12,1,247569.story?coll=la-headlines-pe-california] Dead link|date=March 2008] In December, he pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor count of domestic battery, and was sentenced to three years probation. He also was ordered to undergo one year of domestic violence counseling and to serve 200 hours of community service. [ [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16101572/ Lou Diamond Phillips sentenced to probation - Celebrities - MSNBC.com ] ]

In an interview titled "Shine on Lou Crazy Diamond" in Smash Hits magazine, Phillips revealed that his favorite band is Pink Floyd, and that his favorite song is "Shine On You Crazy Diamond".

Activism

Phillips is an outspoken, long-time advocate [ [http://www.house.gov/va/hearings/schedule107/jun02/6-13-02/lphillips.html Phillips' congressional testimony] ] of HR 4574, [ [http://www.filamvets.com/?p=109 Fil Am Vets .com » Blog Archive » Legislation Clears One Hurdle ] ] the Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 2006, legislation which would honor the service of Filipino World War II veterans by granting them the same benefits made available to other U.S. World War II veterans.

Awards and achievements

* 1989 Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male (Stand and Deliver, 1988)
* 1989 Golden Globe award nominee for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture (Stand and Deliver, 1988)
* 1989 Western Heritage Award Bronze Wrangler Theatrical Motion Picture (Young Guns, 1988).Shared with: John Fusco (producer), Christopher Cain (producer), Charlie Sheen (actor), Emilio Estevez (actor), Kiefer Sutherland (actor)
* 1993 Oxfam America award for his dedication toward ending world hunger
* 1994 Houston International Film Festival Gold award for Best Theatrical Feature Film for "Ultimate Revenge"
* 1996 Tony Award nominee for Best Actor on Broadway ("The King And I")
* 1996 Theatre World Award: "The King and I"
* 1996 New York Outer Critics Circle: Outstanding Broadway Debut Award of an Actor, "The King & I"
* 1997 Blockbuster Entertainment Award Favorite Supporting Actor - Adventure/Drama (Courage Under Fire, 1996)
* 1997 Lone Star Film & Television Award for Best Supporting Actor (Courage Under Fire, 1996)
* 2001 Filipinas magazine Achievement award for Entertainment
* 2003 Cinemanila Film Festival Lifetime Achievement Award (Philippines)
* 2005 Asia Pacific Islander Heritage Award for Excellence in Entertainment and Arts
* 2008 Screen Actors Guild Lifetime Achievement Award

Filmography

* "Love Takes Wing (2009) Ray Russell
* "Lone Rider (2008)
* "Death Toll" (2008)
* " [http://www.thewordofpromise.com|The Word of Promise] " (dramatization of the New Testament) (2007) Spoken Voice Role as The Apostle Mark
* "Camelot (2007 - 2008)
* "Termination Point" (television) (2007)
* "Psych" (television) (2007)
* "Supernatural" role of Bichon Frise (2007)
* "Fingerprints" (2007)
* "El Cortez" (film) (2007)
* "AquaMan" (2006) Un-Aired Pilot
* "NUMB3RS" (television) (2005-Present) Recurring role of Agent Ian Edgerton
* "" (television) (2006) as Victor Paul Gitano (Episode: "Fault")
* "Striking Range" (2006) initially titled "Bloodlines"
* "The Triangle" (television) (2005) Mini-series on Sci-fi channel, inspired by paranormal events in the Bermuda Triangle
* "Alien Express" (television) (2005)
* "Murder at the Presidio" (television) (2005)
* "The Trail to Hope Rose" (television) (2004)
* "Gone But Not Forgotten" (television) (2004)
* "" (television) (2003) guest star as robber on third episode
* "Red Water" (television) (2003)
* "Hollywood Homicide" (2003)
* "Absolon" (2003)
* "George Lopez Show" (2002)
* "Malevolent" (2002)
* "Stark Raving Mad" (2002)
* "Lone Hero" (2002)
* "24" (2002) TV series - cameo as a warden at a government top secret underground prison, alongside Kiefer Sutherland.
* "Wolf Lake" (2001) TV Series
* "Knight Club" (2001)
* "Route 666" (2001)
* "Supernova" (2000)
* "A Better Way to Die" (2000)
* "Picking Up the Pieces" (2000)
* "In a Class of His Own" (television) (1999)
* "Bats" (1999)
* "" (television) (1999)
* "Brokedown Palace" (1999)
*"Spin City" (television) (1998) (Episode: "An Officer and a Gentleman")
* "The Big Hit" (1998)
* "Courage Under Fire" (1996)
* "Undertow" (1996)
* "The Wharf Rat" (television) (1995)
* "Override" (television) (1994)
* "Teresa's Tattoo" (1994)
* "Boulevard" (1994)
* "Sioux City" (1994)
* "Dangerous Touch" (1994)
* "Wind in the Wire" (1993)
* "Extreme Justice" (1993)
* "Shadow of the Wolf" (1992)
* "Avenue Z Afternoon" (1991) Television series
* "Sesame Street" (1991) Monster in the Mirror Celebrity version
* "Ambition" (1991)
* "The Dark Wind" (1991)
* "Harley" (1990)
* "The First Power" (1990)
* "A Show of Force" (1990)
* "Young Guns II" (1990)
* "Renegades" (1989)
* "Disorganized Crime" (1989)
* "Young Guns" (1988)
* "Stand and Deliver" (1988)
* "Dakota" (1988)
* "The Three Kings" (television) (1987)
* "La Bamba" (1987)
* "Trespasses" (1986)
* "Interface" (1984)

References

External links

* [http://www.loudiamondphillips.co.uk/ Fansite]
*imdb name|0001617|Lou Diamond Phillips
* [http://www.worldpokertour.com/players/?x=profile&id=4407 World Poker Tour Profile]
* [http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=34178 Hendon Mob poker tournament results]

Persondata
NAME= Phillips, Lou Diamond
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= American film, television, and stage actor
DATE OF BIRTH= February 17, 1962
PLACE OF BIRTH= Subic Bay Naval Station, Philippines
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=