Lou Diamond Phillips Biography

Fast Facts

• Often lends his time as an advocate of the Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 2006, a bill that would allow Filipino WWII vets the same benefits as American WWII vets
• Made his Broadway debut in 1996 in The King and I, a role that would garner him a Tony, Drama Desk and Theatre World nomination
• After graduating high school in Corpus Christi, Texas, he attended the University of Texas at Arlington, receiving his bachelor's of fine arts in Drama
• The son of a U․S․ Naval officer, he was born at the Subic Bay Naval Station in the Philippines and named after Marine legend, Leland 'Lou' Diamond
• Quote: "I felt I was the luckiest guy in the world when I landed La Bamba, and I still feel the same way․ I feel fortunate to be employed in the film business, and still be standing․"
• Following his "La Bamba" success, he was given a bevy of film roles to choose from throughout the 1990s, eventually working on numerous Western titles including 1990's "Young Guns"
• After several supporting roles in low-budget films during the mid '80s, he would eventually skyrocket to Hollywood fame after landing the lead role in 1987's biographical drama "La Bamba", portraying the late Ritchie Valens
• Although he is Cherokee by blood, he adopted the Sioux name of "Star Keeper" in 1990