| Lou Diamond Phillips | |
| Birth Name: | Louis Diamond Upchurch |
| Birth Date: | 17 February 1962 |
| Birth Place: | U.S. Naval Base Subic Bay, Zambales, Philippines |
| Education: | Flour Bluff High School |
| Alma Mater: | University of Texas at Arlington (BFA) |
| Years Active: | 1984–present |
| Spouse: | |
| Children: | 4 |
Louis Diamond Phillips (né Upchurch; February 17, 1962) is an American actor. His breakthrough came when he starred as Ritchie Valens in the biographical drama film La Bamba (1987). For Stand and Deliver (1988), Phillips was nominated for a Golden Globe Award and won an Independent Spirit Award.
Phillips made his Broadway debut with the 1996 revival of The King and I, earning a Tony Award nomination for his portrayal of King Mongkut of Siam. Phillips' other notable films include Young Guns (1988), Young Guns II (1990), Courage Under Fire (1996), The Big Hit (1998), Brokedown Palace (1999), Che (2008), and The 33 (2015).
In the television series Longmire, he played a main character named Henry Standing Bear. He played New York City Police Lieutenant Gil Arroyo on Prodigal Son on FOX from 2019 to 2021.[1]
Born Lou Diamond Upchurch on February 17, 1962, at the Subic Bay Naval Station in the Philippines, he is the son of Lucita Umayam Aranas and Gerald Amon Upchurch (1935–1963),[2] a Marine KC-130 crew chief.[3] His mother was Filipino. His father was an American of Scots-Irish and Cherokee descent. Phillips has said "I never claimed to be a Native actor, but I do have Native blood."[4] [5]
The boy's first and middle name were in honor of US Marine Leland "Lou" Diamond.[6] [7]
After his father's death when Louis was very young, his mother remarried. The boy was adopted by his stepfather ("the only dad" he really had) and his surname was changed to Phillips.[8] [9] [10]
Phillips was raised in Texas. He graduated from Flour Bluff High School in Corpus Christi in 1980 and from the University of Texas at Arlington with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Drama.[11]
The first low-budget film in which he starred was called Trespasses. Phillips's big break came with the starring role in La Bamba (1987) in which he played early rocker Ritchie Valens. Prior to his cinematic breakthrough, he starred in the Miami Vice episode "Red Tape" (March 13, 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 the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture.[12] He won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male.[13] He plays Angel David 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 Phillips co-starred with Emilio Estevez and Kiefer Sutherland in the Western film Young Guns, in which he plays Jose Chavez y Chavez, a historical Old West outlaw.
In 1990, he revisited the role of Jose Chavez y Chavez in Young Guns II.
In the mid-1990s, Phillips was a vocalist with the Los Angeles-based rock group The Pipefitters.[14]
In 1993, Phillips was among the guests on the Randy Travis television special Wind in the Wire.[15]
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.[16]
In 1998, he starred as Cisco, the counterpart of the main character Melvin Smiley (played by Mark Wahlberg) in the comedy-action film The Big Hit.
Phillips later had a minor role in the TV sitcom George Lopez (2002–2004) as George Lopez's half-brother. 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.
In 2003, he starred in a cameo role with Harrison Ford in an action-comedy film Hollywood Homicide.
On September 11, 2007, Phillips joined the touring troupe for Lerner and Loewe's Camelot in the role of King Arthur.[17]
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 hosted the weekly series An Officer and a Movie (2011-2013)on The Military Channel. This series features various theatrical World War II dramas, with discussion breaks during the film in which Phillips interviews members of the US military and intelligence communities about details of the events that inspired each film.
In January 2012, he was one of eight celebrities participating in the Food Network reality series .[18] On January 29, 2012, he was announced as the winner with a Zagat score of 28 out of 30, thereby winning $50,000 for his charity.
In June 2012, Phillips began co-starring in the television series Longmire, about a modern-day sheriff in Wyoming, played by Robert Taylor. Phillips played Henry Standing Bear, a Native American, who is a longtime friend of Longmire and has a saloon/restaurant. He often helps the sheriff with cases and in dealing with the Cheyenne reservation police. They do not respect or like non-natives, especially local, state or federal law enforcement with competing authority. (The series ran for six seasons, to 2017, and in 2024 there have been repeated calls to revive it.)
In December 2012, Phillips was featured in Imagine Dragons' music video for "Radioactive",[19] which eclipsed 1 billion views on YouTube.[20]
In February 2013, Phillips appeared as star of the comedy short film Lucy in the Sky with Diamond, playing a version of himself known as the elusive and mysterious LDP—a renegade, spirit guide, and life coach who attempts to help John (John Patrick Jordan) get over a particularly disconcerting ex-girlfriend. The award-winning short was written and directed by Joey Boukadakis.[21]
In July 2014, he replaced the injured Jason Scott Lee in Opera Australia's Melbourne production of The King and I, reprising his role as the King of Siam, playing opposite Lisa McCune as Anna Leonowens.[22]
In 2015, he guest-starred in The Wiggles Rock and Roll PreSchool DVD and made guest appearances on their TV program on ABC.
In 2016, Phillips portrayed serial killer Richard Ramirez in The Night Stalker.[23]
In 2023, Phillips competed in season nine of The Masked Singer as "Mantis". After being spared by Robin Thicke ringing the Ding Dong Keep It On Bell on "WB Movie Night", he was eliminated during the "Battle of the Saved" alongside Keenan Allen as "Gargoyle". Phillips also mentioned that he did the competition for his daughter Indigo and her friend Fluffy.
That same year, he starred opposite Malcolm McDowell in the independently-produced comedy thriller film Et Tu.[24]
Phillips starred in four episodes of the radio series The Twilight Zone: Vol. 1, "A Kind of a Stopwatch"; Vol. 3, "The Parallel;[25] Vol. 10, "Miniature"; and Vol. 12, "Long Live Walter Jameson".
Phillips co-wrote the screenplay for Trespasses and HBO's Dangerous Touch, and wrote the Miramax feature Ambition. In 2019 Aethon Books announced that it would be publishing Phillips' debut novel, Tinderbox: Soldier of Indira, a science fiction retelling of the Hans Christian Andersen story of the same name. It is illustrated by his wife, Yvonne.[26]
Phillips has been a regular poker player since college.[27] In May 2009, Phillips placed 31st of 403 entrants in the 2009 California State Poker Championship Limit Texas hold 'em.[28] He cashed in the $10,000 July 2009 World Series of Poker World Championship No Limit main event.[29] In a field of 6,494, he was eliminated in the phase from 407 to 185. He started the day in 114th place among the 407 and was busted on the final hand of the day, finishing in 186th place and earning $36,626.[30] [31]
During the making of Trespasses, he met Julie Cypher, an assistant director. They married on September 17, 1987, and divorced on August 5, 1990.
After their divorce, Cypher came out as lesbian. She began a long-term relationship with Melissa Etheridge.[32]
On the set of the film Shadow of the Wolf (1992), he met Jennifer Tilly. They were briefly engaged.
In 1994, he married makeup artist Kelly Preston.[33] They had three daughters together but separated in 2003. Their divorce was finalized in July 2007.[34] [35]
Phillips began dating makeup artist Yvonne Boismier in 2004. He was charged with misdemeanor domestic battery against her in 2006.[36] They married in August 2007 and their daughter was born in October 2007. They are partners in writing and illustrating Phillips's first published novel.
On August 11, 2006, Phillips was arrested for disturbing the peace at his Los Angeles home. The charges followed loud noises coming from the house he shared with his live-in girlfriend and future wife, Yvonne Boismier.[37] In December 2006, he pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor count of disturbing the peace and was sentenced to three years of probation.[38]
On November 3, 2017, Phillips was arrested in Portland, Texas, for DWI after stopping his vehicle to ask a police officer for directions.[39] He was charged with reckless driving. Phillips was released after posting bail.[40] In April 2018, following a plea deal, Phillips was sentenced to two years of probation.[41]
Phillips serves on the advisory council of The Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment, an organization that "champions diversity by educating, connecting, and empowering Asian American and Pacific Islander artists and leaders in entertainment and media."[42] As noted above, he was born in the Philippines and he is half Filipino through his mother.
Indian Country Today has reported that Phillips is part Cherokee on his father's side.[43] He has remained close to the Native American community. In 1990, Phillips organized a concert called "The Winds of Life" to benefit Native American causes.[44]
In 1991 he was adopted by an Oglala Lakota Sioux family in a traditional ceremony.[45] His Lakota name translates to "Star Keeper".[46]
Phillips is also a member of the Canadian charity Artists Against Racism.[47] In 2020, he appeared in the NoH8 LGBTQ equality campaign.[48]
Phillips endorsed Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Interface | Punk #1 | |
| 1986 | Trespasses | Drifter | Also writer |
| 1987 | La Bamba | Ritchie Valens | |
| 1988 | Dakota | John Dakota | |
| Stand and Deliver | Angel David Guzman | Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture | |
| Young Guns | José Chavez y Chavez | ||
| 1989 | Disorganized Crime | Ray Forgy | |
| Renegades | Hank Storm | ||
| 1990 | Arduous Moon | Bob | Short film |
| Young Guns II | José Chavez y Chavez | ||
| A Show of Force | Jesus Fuentes | ||
| The First Power | Detective Russell Logan | ||
| Demon Wind | Demon | Uncredited cameo | |
| 1991 | The Dark Wind | Officer Jim Chee | |
| Ambition | Mitchell Osgood | Also writer | |
| 1992 | Shadow of the Wolf | Agaguk | |
| 1993 | Extreme Justice | Detective Jeff Powers | |
| 1994 | Dangerous Touch | Mick Burroughs | Also director and writer |
| Sioux City | Jesse Rainfeather Goldman | Also director | |
| Teresa's Tattoo | Wheeler | ||
| Boulevard | Hassan | ||
| 1996 | Courage Under Fire | Staff Sergeant John Monfriez | Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Supporting Actor – Adventure/Drama |
| 1998 | The Big Hit | Cisco | |
| Another Day in Paradise | "Jewels" | Uncredited | |
| 1999 | Brokedown Palace | Roy Knox | |
| Bats | Sheriff Emmett Kimsey | ||
| 2000 | Picking Up the Pieces | Officer Alfonso | |
| Supernova | Yerzy Penalosa | ||
| A Better Way to Die | William Dexter | ||
| 2001 | Knight Club | Dirk Gueron | |
| Route 666 | Deputy U.S. Marshal Jack La Roca | ||
| 2002 | Lone Hero | Bart | |
| Stark Raving Mad | Gregory | ||
| Malevolent | Jack Lucas | ||
| 2003 | Hollywood Homicide | Wanda | |
| Absolon | Agent Walters | ||
| 2006 | Striking Range | Eugene "Vash" Vasher[50] | |
| El Cortez | Manny DeSilva | ||
| Fingerprints | Doug | ||
| 2008 | Che: Part Two | Mario Monje | |
| Death Toll | Mayor Padial | ||
| Never Forget | Frank Hill | ||
| 2010 | The Invited | Garrett | |
| Transparency | David | ||
| 2012 | Filly Brown | Jose Tonorio | |
| 2013 | Sanitarium | James Silo | |
| 2014 | Sequoia | Colin | |
| The Wisdom to Know the Difference | Carlos | ||
| 2015 | The 33 | Luis "Don Lucho" Urzúa | |
| Sky | Duane | ||
| 2016 | Tao of Surfing | Mick | Also director |
| 2017 | Cop and a Half: New Recruit | Detective Simmons | |
| Created Equal | Monsignor Renzulli | ||
| Avenge the Crows | Casper | ||
| 2018 | Urban Country | Warden Tono | |
| 2019 | Big Kill | Johnny Kane | |
| 2022 | Easter Sunday | Himself | |
| 2023 | Et Tu | Brent | |
| 2024 | Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths | Owlman, Spectre (voice) | Direct-to-video[51] |
| Keep Quiet | Teddy Sharpe | ||
| Werewolves | Dr. Aranda | Post-production |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Time Bomb | Terrorist | TV film, uncredited | |
| 1985 | Dallas | Sidewalk Thug | Episode: "Rock Bottom" | |
| 1987 | The Three Kings | "Tag" | TV film | |
| Miami Vice | Detective Bobby Diaz | Episode: "Red Tape" | ||
| 1990 | Sesame Street | Himself | 2 episodes | |
| 1991 | General Motors Playwrights Theater | "Clash" | Episode: "Avenue Z Afternoon" | |
| 1993 | Himself | TV film; segment "Monster in the Mirror" | ||
| Tales from The Crypt | Jerry | Episode: "Oil's Well That Ends Well" | ||
| The Untold West | The Narrator | Episode: "Outlaws, Rebels and Rogues" | ||
| 1994 | Override | Cal | TV short | |
| 1995 | The Wharf Rat | Petey Martin | TV film | |
| 1996 | Undertow | Jack Ketchum | ||
| 1997 | Coatl | Voice, episode: "The Shoemaker and the Elves" | ||
| 1998 | Spin City | Nate | Episode: "An Officer and a Gentleman" | |
| The Outer Limits | Captain Cotter McCoy | Episode: "Identity Crisis"; also directed episode: "Blank Slate" | ||
| Adventures from the Book of Virtues | Martín | Voice, episode: "Charity" | ||
| 1999 | Crucible of Empire: The Spanish-American War | Emilio Aguinaldo | Voice, documentary | |
| In a Class of His Own | Ricardo "Rich" Donato | TV film | ||
| 2001 | Hangman | Detective Nick Roos | ||
| 2001–2002 | Wolf Lake | John Kanin / Noah Cassidy | 10 episodes | |
| 2001 | Night Visions | Tom Fallor | Episode: "Dead Air/Renovation" | |
| 2002 | 24 | Mark DeSalvo | 2 episodes | |
| The Twilight Zone | Ritchie Almares | Episode: "The Pool Guy"; also directed episode: "Into the Light" | ||
| Resurrection Blvd. | Harry Tran | 2 episodes; also directed episode: "Verguenza" | ||
| 2003 | George Lopez | George Lopez | 2 episodes | |
| Red Water | John Sanders | TV film | ||
| K10C: Kids' Ten Commandments | Natha | Voice, TV short | ||
| The Handler | Andy Torres | Episode: "Jar of Spiders" | ||
| 2004 | The Trail to Hope Rose | Keenan Deerfield | TV film | |
| 2005 | Gone, But Not Forgotten | Alan Page | ||
| Murder at the Presidio | Chief Warrant Officer James Chandler | |||
| Jack & Bobby | Juan Roberto Alba | Episode: "Legacy" | ||
| Alien Express | Vic Holden | TV film | ||
| The Triangle | Meeno Paloma | TV mini-series (3 episodes) | ||
| 2005–2010 | Numbers | Ian Edgerton | Recurring character | |
| 2006 | Aquaman | Tom Curry | TV short | |
| Victor Paul Gitano | Episode: "Fault" | |||
| 2007 | Psych | FBI Special Agent Lars Ewing | Episode: "Psy vs. Psy" | |
| Termination Point | Dr. Daniel Winter | TV film | ||
| 2008 | Lone Rider | Bobby Hattaway | ||
| 2009 | The Beast | Capone | Episode: "Capone" | |
| Love Takes Wing | Ray Russell | TV film; also director | ||
| Angel and the Badman | "Quirt" Evans | TV film | ||
| Carny | Atlas | |||
| 2009–2011 | Stargate Universe | Colonel David Telford | Recurring (20 episodes) | |
| 2010 | American Dad! | Rusty | Voice, episode: "There Will Be Bad Blood" | |
| 2011 | Chuck | Augusto Gaez | Episode: "Chuck Versus the Cat Squad" | |
| Cougar Town | Himself | Episode: "Free Fallin'" | ||
| Happily Divorced | David | Episode: "A Kiss Is Just a Kiss" | ||
| Metal Tornado | Michael Edwards | TV film | ||
| Criminal Behaviour | Lieutenant Henry Enriquez | |||
| 2012–2017 | Longmire | Henry Standing Bear | Main role (63 episodes); also directed episode: "Fever" | |
| 2012 | Southland | Officer Danny Ferguson | 2 episodes | |
| The Aquabats! Super Show! | The Spirit of The Sun | Episode: "Eagle Claw!" | ||
| 2013 | Ironside | Stuart White | Episode: "Hidden Agenda" | |
| 2014 | Hell's Kitchen | Himself | Episode: "7 Chefs Compete" | |
| 2015 | Another Period | Yengundo | Episode: "Funeral" | |
| 2015, 2020 | Blindspot | Saúl Guerrero | 3 episodes | |
| 2016 | The Night Stalker | Richard Ramirez | TV film | |
| 2016–2020 | Elena of Avalor | Victor Delgado | Voice, 15 episodes | |
| 2017 | Training Day | Thurman Ballesteros | Episode: "Sunset" | |
| The Ranch | Clint | 3 episodes | ||
| You're the Worst | Himself | Episode: "Dad-Not-Dad" | ||
| Brooklyn Nine-Nine | Jeff Romero | Episode: "The Big House" | ||
| Graves | Episode: "They Die Happier" | |||
| Hawaii Five-O | Wes Lincoln | Episode: "Ka Laina Ma Ke One" | ||
| 2018 | Criminal Minds | Sheriff Clifford Mason | Episode: "Submerged" | |
| Deputy Chief Gossett | 2 episodes | |||
| Goliath | Oscar Suarez | |||
| 2018–2020 | Blue Bloods | Luis Delgado | 4 episodes | |
| 2018 | Fear the Walking Dead | Director only; episode: "MM 54" | ||
| 2019 | Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. | Director only; episode: "The Other Thing" | ||
| The Lion Guard | Surak | Voice, 6 episodes | ||
| 2019–2021 | Prodigal Son | Gil Arroyo | Main role (33 episodes); also directed episode: "Face Value" | |
| 2020 | Family Guy | Narragansett Tribe Leader | Voice, episode: "Pawtucket Pat" | |
| The George Lucas Talk Show | Himself | Episode: "THX-2021" | ||
| 2021 | Trese | Mayor Sancho Santamaria | Voice, 2 episodes; English version[52] | |
| 2022 | The Cleaning Lady | Joe Fabroa | Episode: "Kabayan" | |
| Bull | Colonel Victor Taggart | Episode: "The Hard Right" | ||
| Firebuds | Chief Bill Bayani | Voice, 3 episodes | ||
| 2023 | The Masked Singer | Himself/Mantis | Season 9 contestant | |
| 2024 | The Legend of Vox Machina | Anna Ripley's father | Voice, episode: "Cloak and Dagger" |