Lou Diamond Phillips

Birth Name:

Lou Diamond Upchurch

Birth Place:

Olongapo, Zambales, Philippines

Profession

Actor, Director, Soundtrack, Writer, Producer, Stunts

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
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
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․"
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
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"
Although he is Cherokee by blood, he adopted the Sioux name of "Star Keeper" in 1990

1989Independent Spirit Award - Best Supporting Male:Winner
1989Golden Globe - Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture:Nominated
1989Bronze Wrangler - Theatrical Motion Picture:Winner
1997Blockbuster Entertainment Award - Favorite Supporting Actor - Adventure/Drama:Winner
1997Lone Star Film & Television Award - Best Supporting Actor:Winner
1999OFTA Television Award - Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series:Nominated
2012Imagen Award - Best Actor/Feature Film:Winner
2013ALMA Award - Special Achievement in Film:Winner
2013Best Supporting ActorNominated
2016Imagen Award - Best Supporting Actor - Feature Film:Nominated
2016Golden Space Needle Award - Best Actor:Nominated
2017Imagen Award - Best Actor - Feature Film:Nominated
2017Best Supporting Actor - Feature Film:Winner
2017Jury Prize - Best Performance:Winner
2019C&I Award - Best Supporting Actor:Nominated
2019Daytime Emmy - Outstanding Guest Performer in a Digital Daytime Drama Series:Nominated
2019ISA - Best Guest Actor - Drama:Winner
2024IFS Award - Best Actor:Winner
2025C&I Movie Award - Best Supporting Actor:Nominated

Fast Facts