Lou Diamond Phillips (born Lou Diamond Upchurch; February 17, 1962) is an American film, television, and stage actor and director. His breakthrough came when he starred in the film ''La Bamba''. He earned a supporting actor Golden Globe Award nomination for his role in ''Stand and Deliver'' and a Tony Award nomination for his role in ''The King and I''. Other notable films in which Phillips has starred include ''Courage Under Fire'', ''Che'', and ''Love Takes Wing''.
Outside of acting, he has notably finished 186th in the 2009 World Series of Poker World Championships "No Limit Texas hold 'em" main event.
Early life and education
Phillips was born as Lou Diamond Upchurch at the
Subic Bay U.S. Naval Station in
Zambales,
Philippines, the son of Lucita Aranas and Gerald Upchurch, an officer in the United States Navy. His father was an American of
Scots-Irish and one-quarter
Cherokee descent, and his mother, a native of
Candelaria, is a
Filipino of
Spanish,
Chinese,
Japanese, and
Hawaiian descent.
Phillips was named after Marine legend Leland "Lou" Diamond. After his father died, he took his stepfather's surname "Phillips" as his own.
He was raised in Texas, where he attended Flour Bluff High School in Corpus Christi graduating in 1980. He graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington with a BFA in Drama.
Career
The first low-budget film in which he starred was called ''Trespasses''. Phillips' big break came with the starring role in 1987's ''
La Bamba'', in which he played early rocker
Ritchie Valens. Prior to his cinematic breakthrough, he starred in the ''
Miami Vice'' episode "Red Tape" (13 Mar 1987), portraying detective Bobby Diaz.
In 1988, Phillips co-starred with Edward James Olmos in the inner-city high school drama ''Stand and Deliver'', in a role for which he was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for "Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture". He plays Angel Guzman, a ''cholo'' gangster who is inspired by his math teacher, Jaime Escalante, to excel at calculus. Working to master the subject, he develops a friendship with his teacher. ''Stand and Deliver'' was filmed before ''La Bamba'', but it was released a year later. In 1988 and 1990, Phillips co-starred with Emilio Estevez and Kiefer Sutherland in the Western films ''Young Guns'' and ''Young Guns II'', in which he plays Jose Chavez y Chavez, a historical Old West outlaw.
In the mid-1990s, Phillips was a vocalist with the Los Angeles based rock group The Pipefitters.
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.
In 1998 he starred as Cisco, the counterpart of the main character Melvin Smiley (played by Mark Wahlberg), in the comedy-action movie ''The Big Hit''.
He later featured a minor role in the TV sitcom "George Lopez" (2002-2004) as George Lopez's half-brother.
On September 11, 2007, Phillips joined the touring troup for Lerner and Loewe's ''Camelot'' in the role of King Arthur.
He also played a role in the first season of the TV series ''24'' as secret government agent Mark DeSalvo, opposite former ''Young Guns'' star Kiefer Sutherland. Phillips played the recurring role of FBI agent Ian Edgerton in the television series ''Numb3rs''. Edgerton is an FBI tracker and sniper who works as an instructor at Quantico FBI Academy when he is not working a case in the field. Phillips won the second season of the NBC reality series, ''I'm a Celebrity…Get Me out of Here!'', over pro-wrestler Torrie Wilson. Lou currently hosts the weekly series An Officer and a Movie on The Military Channel. This series features a World War II drama such as Kelly's Heroes, with Clint Eastwood, Donald Sutherland and Telly Savalas.
Phillips had a recurring role as Colonel Telford in the ''Stargate Universe'' television series during its two-season run on the SyFy channel 2009-2011. He played the would-be commander of the ''Destiny'' expedition, who is left behind when an accident launches an unsuspecting crew into deep space. The commander works from Earth to bring the crew home, often coming into conflict with the shipborne command characters.
Phillips has been a regular poker player since college. In May 2009, Phillips placed 31st of 403 entrants in the 2009 California State Poker Championship Limit Texas hold 'em. He placed in the money at the $10,000 July 2009 World Series of Poker World Championship No Limit main event. On July 12, he was eliminated as the original field of 6,494 was trimmed from 407 to 185. He entered the day in 114th place among the 407 and was eliminated on the final hand of the day finishing in 186th place and earning $36,626.
In January 2012, he was one of eight celebrities participating in the Food Network reality series ''Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off''. On January 29th, 2012 he was announced as the winner with a score of 28 out of 30. Winning $50,000 for his charity.
Personal life
Relationships and family
During the making of ''Trespasses'', he met
Julie Cypher, an assistant director. They married on September 17, 1987. They divorced on August 5, 1990; Cypher left him to start a relationship with rock musician
Melissa Etheridge.
He met Jennifer Tilly, to whom he was briefly engaged, although the two never married. He later married ''Penthouse'' model and television extra Kelly Preston Phillips; they have three daughters: Grace Moorea and Isabella Patricia (twins born on October 5, 1997)and Lili Jordan (September 26, 1999). They reside with their mother. Phillips and Preston separated in 2004 and their lengthy divorce was finalized in July 2007.
He began dating Yvonne Marie Boismier in 2004, after his separation. They married in August 2007. Their daughter, Indigo Sanara Phillips, was born in October 2007.
Arrest
On August 11, 2006, he was arrested for
domestic violence at his
Los Angeles home following a dispute with his live-in girlfriend and future wife, makeup artist Yvonne Boismier. In December 2006, 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.
Poker
Phillips plays on the
World Poker Tour in the Hollywood Home games. Phillips took his poker game to the next level in 2009 when he entered the World Series of Poker $10,000 Main Event and was one of the survivors out of more than 6,000 players to make it to the money, finishing 186th.
Activism
Phillips has been an outspoken advocate of HR 4574, the Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 2006, legislation to provide the same benefits to Filipino World War II veterans who served with the United States as have been available to other U.S. World War II veterans.
He is also a supporter of the Thoughtful House Center for Children, founded by Doctor Andrew Wakefield. It is controversial because of Wakefield's claims about the connection between the MMR vaccine and autism.
Phillips is very close to the Native American community. In 1990, he was adopted by the Sioux tribe, although he is Cherokee by blood. "Star Keeper" is his Sioux name. That year, he also organized a concert, ''The Winds of Life'', to benefit Native American causes.
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 Theater 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
2009 I'm a Celebrity... Get Me out of Here! King of the Jungle
Filmography
''Interface'' (1984)
''Trespasses'' (1986)
''La Bamba'' (1987)
''The Three Kings'' (television) (1987)
''Miami Vice'' (Season 3: Ep.19 "Red Tape") (television) (1987)
''Dakota'' (1988)
''Stand and Deliver'' (1988)- Angel
''Young Guns'' (1988)
''Disorganized Crime'' (1989)
''Renegades'' (1989)
''Young Guns II'' (1990)
''A Show of Force'' (1990)
''The First Power'' (1990)
''Harley'' (1990)
''The Dark Wind'' (1991)
''Ambition'' (1991)
''Sesame Street'' (1991) Monster in the Mirror Celebrity version
''Avenue Z Afternoon'' (1991) Television series
''Shadow of the Wolf'' (1992)
''Extreme Justice'' (1993)
''Wind in the Wire'' (1993)
''Dangerous Touch'' (1994)
''Sioux City'' (1994)
''Boulevard'' (1994)
''Teresa's Tattoo'' (1994)
''Override'' (television) (1994)
''The Wharf Rat'' (television) (1995)
''Teresa's Tattoo'' (1995)
''Undertow'' (1996)
''Courage Under Fire'' (1996)
''The Big Hit'' (1998)
''Another Day in Paradise'' (1998)
''Spin City'' (television) (1998) (Episode: "An Officer and a Gentleman")
''Brokedown Palace'' (1999)
''Orion Scope: The Grip of Christ'' (television) (1999)
''In The class of his own'' (television) (1999)
''Bats'' (1999)
''In a Class of His Own'' (television) (1999)
''Picking Up the Pieces'' (2000)
''A Better Way to Die'' (2000)
''Supernova'' (2000)
''Route 666'' (2001)
''Knight Club'' (2001)
''Wolf Lake'' (2001) TV Series
''Night Visions'' (2001) TV Series (Episode "Dead Air")
''Absolon'' (2001)
''24'' (2002) TV series - special guest star as warden DeSalvo at a government top secret underground prison, alongside Kiefer Sutherland.
''Lone Hero'' (2002)
''Stark Raving Mad'' (2002)
''Malevolent'' (2002)
''George Lopez Show'' (2003)
''Hollywood Homicide'' (2003)
''Red Water'' (television) (2003)
''K10C: Kids' Ten Commandments'' (television) (2003) guest star as robber on third episode
''Gone But Not Forgotten'' (television) (2004)
''The Trail to Hope Rose'' (television) (2004)
''Murder at the Presidio'' (television) (2005)
''Jack & Bobby'' (television) (2005)
''Alien Express'' (television) (2005)
''The Triangle'' (television) (2005) Mini-series on Sci-fi channel, inspired by paranormal events in the Bermuda Triangle
''Striking Range'' (2006) initially titled ''Bloodlines''
''Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'' (television) (2006) as Victor Paul Gitano (Episode: "Fault")
''Numb3rs'' (television) (2005–2010) Recurring role of Agent Ian Edgerton
''AquaMan'' (2006) Un-Aired Pilot
''El Cortez'' (film) (2007)
''Fingerprints'' (2007)
''Psych'' (television) (2007)
''Termination Point'' (television) (2007)
''Camelot (2007–2008)
''The Word of Promise'' (dramatization of the New Testament) (2007) Spoken Voice Role as The Apostle Mark
''Che: Part Two'' (2008) Mario Monje
''Never Forget'' (2008)
''Death Toll'' (2008)
''Lone Rider (2008)
''Iron Chef America'' (Television) (Episode: "Thanksgiving Showdown") (2008) Himself as a celebrity judge
''The Beast'' (Television) (2009) Patrick Swayze
''Love Takes Wing'' (2009) Ray Russell
''Angel and the Badman'' (film) (2009)
''Carny (2009)
''I'm a Celebrity... Get Me out of Here!'' (television) (2009)
''Stargate Universe'' (television) (2009-2011) Colonel David Telford
''The Invited'' (film) (2010) Garrett
''Iron Chef America'' (Television) (Episode: "Garces vs. Liken") (2010) Himself as a celebrity judge
''American Dad!'' (television) (2010) Rusty (voice)
''Chuck'' (television) (2011) as Augusto Gaez
''Dead Or Alive By Tom Clancy '' (2010) Narrator of the audio book
''Cougar Town'' (television) (2011) as himself
Happily Divorced (television) (2011) David
''Locked On By Tom Clancy '' (2011) Narrator of the audio book
Southland (television) (2012) Officer Danny Ferguson
Filly Brown (2012) Jose Tonorio
"The Aquabats! Super Show!" (2012) The Spirit of the Sun
References
External links
Lou Diamond Phillips BLVD Online source since 1999 showcasing the life and career of the actor Lou Diamond Phillips
World Poker Tour Profile
Hendon Mob poker tournament results
Category:1962 births
Category:Actors from Texas
Category:American film actors
Category:American film directors
Category:American people of Cherokee descent
Category:American people of Chinese descent
Category:American people of Filipino descent
Category:American people of Japanese descent
Category:American people of Scotch-Irish descent
Category:American people of Spanish descent
Category:American screenwriters
Category:American television actors
Category:Native American actors
Category:American actors of Asian descent
Category:American television directors
Category:I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! contestants
Category:Independent Spirit Award winners
Category:Living people
Category:Military brats
Category:Native Hawaiian people
Category:People from Corpus Christi, Texas
Category:People from Zambales
Category:University of Texas at Arlington alumni
Category:American film directors of Asian descent
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