Edward James Olmos

Edward James Olmos Headshot

Actor • Director • Producer • Activist

Birth Date: February 24, 1947

Age: 76 years old

Birth Place: Los Angeles, California

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, with a particular focus on Latino concerns. 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 under-appreciated feature and television projects. He delivered lauded performances in "Stand and Deliver" (1988) or "Selena" (1997). Another significant role arrived in the unlikely form of Admiral William Adama on "Battlestar Galactica" (Sci Fi Channel, 2004-09), a show that Olmos felt was one of the best projects he had ever been involved with. His resurgence on television led to big screen roles in "Splinter" (2007), "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" (2008) and "The Green Hornet" (2011), proving that Olmos had staying power in both mediums.

Credits

Walking With Herb

Actor
Joe Amable-Amo
Movie
2021

The Devil Has a Name

Actor
Santiago
Movie
2020

The Devil Has a Name

Director
Movie
2020

The Devil Has a Name

Producer
Movie
2020

Carlos Almaraz: Playing With Fire

Actor
Movie
2020

Chasing Wonders

Actor
Movie
2020

A Dog's Way Home

Actor
Axel
Movie
2019

Windows on the World

Actor
Balthazar
Movie
2019

Mayans M.C.: Extras

Actor
Show
2018

Mayans M.C.Stream

Actor
Felipe Reyes
Series
2018

Elena of Avalor: Song of the Sirenas

Voice
King Pescoro
Movie
2018

Imprisoned

Actor
Hospicio
Movie
2018

Blade Runner: Black Out 2022

Voice
Gaff
Show
2017

Daily Blast Live

Guest
Show
2017

Wrestling: WWE SmackDown!

Actor
Lt. Martin Castillo
Show
2017

L.A. Burning: The Riots 25 Years Later

Actor
Show
2017

Blade Runner 2049Stream

Actor
Gaff
Movie
2017
88%

CocoStream

Voice
Chicharrón
Movie
2017
97%

The Women in the Sand

Narrator
Movie
2017

Elena of AvalorStream

Guest Voice
King Pescoro
Series
2016

El Americano: The Movie

Executive Producer
Movie
2016

El Americano: The Movie

Voice
Gayo
Movie
2016

Monday Nights At Seven

Actor
Charlie
Movie
2016

Monday Nights At Seven

Producer
Movie
2016

El Americano: The Movie

Executive Producer
Movie
2016

Unity

Narrator
Movie
2015

Simpsons: Extras

Actor
Show
2014

Exile Nation: The Plastic People

Narrator
Movie
2014

Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.Stream

Guest Star
Series
2013
95%

Take Part Live

Guest
Show
2013

Politicking With Larry King

Guest
Show
2013

Go for Sisters

Actor
Freddy Suarez
Movie
2013

Go for Sisters

Producer
Movie
2013

2 GunsStream

Actor
Papi Greco
Movie
2013

Filly Brown

Actor
Leandro
Movie
2012

Filly Brown

Executive Producer
Movie
2012

PortlandiaStream

Guest Star
Series
2011
94%

Si Se Puede,The Roseland Prep Story

Host
Movie
2011

The Green HornetStream

Actor
Axford
Movie
2011
44%

Access Hollywood Live

Guest
Show
2010

America

Actor
Mr. Irving
Movie
2010

America

Executive Producer
Movie
2010

A Class Apart

Narrator
Movie
2009

Battlestar Galactica: The Plan

Actor
Cmdr. William Adama
Movie
2009

Battlestar Galactica: The Plan

Director
Movie
2009

Beverly Hills Chihuahua

Voice
El Diablo
Movie
2008

Lyons & Bailes Reel Talk

Guest
Show
2007

Battlestar Galactica: Mission 8

Actor
Show
2007

Battlestar Galactica: RazorStream

Actor
Admiral William Adama
Movie
2007

DexterStream

Guest Star
Professor James Gellar
Series
2006
71%

Discovery Atlas

Narrator
Show
2006

Atlas

Narrator
Show
2006

Darkness Into Light

Narrator
Show
2006

Walkout

Actor
Julian Nava
Movie
2006

Walkout

Director
Movie
2006

Recycled Life

Narrator
Movie
2006

Splinter

Actor
Captain Garcia
Movie
2006

Battlestar GalacticaStream

Actor
Cmdr. William Adama
Series
2005
95%

Battlestar GalacticaStream

Director
Series
2005
95%

American Latino TV

Guest
Show
2004

LatiNation

Guest
Show
2004

CSI: NYStream

Guest Star
Luther Devarro
Series
2004

American Family: Journey of Dreams

Actor
Jess Gonzalez
Show
2004

Tavis Smiley

Guest
Talk
2004

La Cerca

Actor
Narrator / Old Niño
Movie
2004

Battlestar Galactica

Actor
Cmdr. William Adama
Show
2003

Greetings From Tucson

Guest Star
Show
2002

George LopezStream

Guest Star
Series
2002

American Family

Actor
Jess Gonzalez
Show
2002

The Judge

Actor
Show
2001

In the Time of the Butterflies

Actor
Trujillo
Movie
2001

The Road to El Dorado

Voice
Chief Tannabok
Movie
2000

Gossip

Actor
Detective Curtis
Movie
2000

Americanos: Latino Life in the United States

Producer
Movie
2000

The Princess and the Barrio Boy

Actor
Nestor Garcia
Movie
2000

The West WingStream

Guest Star
Judge Roberto Mendoza
Series
1999
75%

Bonanno: A Godfather's Story

Actor
Salvatore Maranzano
Show
1999

Zapatista

Narrator
Movie
1999

The Taking of Pelham One Two Three

Actor
Det. Anthony Piscotti
Movie
1998

The Wall

Actor
Col. Holst
Movie
1998

The ViewStream

Guest
Talk
1997

Gun

Actor
Show
1997

Hollywood Confidential

Actor
Stan Navarro, Sr.
Movie
1997

SelenaStream

Actor
Abraham Quintanilla
Movie
1997
67%

12 Angry Men

Actor
Juror 11
Movie
1997

The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit

Actor
Vamanos
Movie
1997

Dead Man's WalkStream

Actor
Miniseries
1996

Dead Man's Walk

Actor
Show
1996

The Living Edens

Narrator
Show
1996

Caught

Actor
Joe
Movie
1996

Dead Man's Walk

Actor
Captain Salazar
Movie
1996

The Limbic Region

Actor
Jon Lucca
Movie
1996

The Disappearance of Garcia Lorca

Actor
Roberto Lozano
Movie
1996

Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child

Voice
Show
1995

Mirage

Actor
Matteo Juarez
Movie
1995

My Family/Mi Familia

Actor
Paco
Movie
1995

Slave of Dreams

Actor
Potiphar
Movie
1995

Salvaged Lives

Narrator
Movie
1995

Touched by an AngelStream

Guest Star
Series
1994

Menendez: A Killing in Beverly Hills

Actor
Show
1994

A Million to Juan

Actor
The Angel
Movie
1994

The Burning Season

Actor
Wilson Pinheiro
Movie
1994

Roosters

Actor
Gallo Morales
Movie
1993

American Me

Actor
Montoya Santana
Movie
1992

American Me

Director
Movie
1992

American Me

Producer
Movie
1992

Talent for the Game

Actor
Virgil Sweet
Movie
1991

Maria's Story

Narrator
Show
1990

The SimpsonsStream

Guest Voice
Pit Master
Series
1989
85%

Triumph of the Spirit

Actor
Gypsy
Movie
1989

The Fortunate Pilgrim

Actor
Frank Corbo
Show
1988

Stand and DeliverStream

Actor
Jaime A. Escalante
Movie
1988
90%

Mamma Lucia

Actor
Frank Corbo
Movie
1988

Saving Grace

Actor
Ciolino
Movie
1986

Larry King Live

Guest
Talk
1985

Miami ViceStream

Actor
Lt. Martin Castillo
Series
1984
71%

Miami ViceStream

Director
Series
1984
71%

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind

Voice
Mito
Movie
1984

The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez

Actor
Gregorio Cortez
Movie
1983

Blade RunnerStream

Actor
Gaff
Movie
1982
89%

Hill Street BluesStream

Guest Star
Joe Bustamonte
Series
1981
97%

Wolfen

Actor
Whittington
Movie
1981

Zoot Suit

Actor
El Pachuco
Movie
1981

Three Hundred Miles for Stephanie

Actor
Art Vela
Movie
1981

Virus

Actor
Capt. Lopez
Movie
1980

Alambrista

Actor
Drunken Man
Movie
1978

The Blue Knight

Guest Star
Show
1975

Starsky & HutchStream

Guest Star
Series
1975

TodayStream

Actor
News
1952

TodayStream

Guest
News
1952

News about
Edward James Olmos