Edward James Olmos

American actor

Edward James Olmos is an acclaimed American actor known for his roles in iconic films and TV shows like Miami Vice, Blade Runner, and Battlestar Galactica. He has been a pioneer for more diverse and authentic Latino representation in media, earning numerous accolades including an Emmy, Golden Globe, and Academy Award nomination.

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About the Edward James Olmos

Edward James Olmosis an American actor. He is best known for his roles as Lieutenant Martin “Marty” Castillo in Miami Vice(which he also directed), William Adama in the reimagined Battlestar Galacticaand its sequel Blade Runner 2049and the voice of Mito in the 2005 English dub of Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind. For his performance as high school math teacher Jaime Escalante in Stand and Deliver (1988), he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor.

For his work in Miami Vice, Olmos won the 1985 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, as well as the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film. For his performance in Stand and Deliver, Olmos was nominated for a Golden Globe Award and the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role.

He is also known for his roles as folk hero Gregorio Cortez in The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez, patriarch Abraham Quintanilla in the film Selena, Felipe Reyes in Mayans M.C., narrator El Pachuco in both the stage and film versions of Zoot Suit, and the voice of Chicharron in Coco.

Over the course of his career, Olmos has been a pioneer for more diversified roles and images of Latinos in U.S. media. His notable direction, production, and starring roles for films, made-for-TV movies, and TV shows include Wolfen, Triumph of the Spirit, Talent for the Game, American Me, The Burning Season, My Family/Mi Familia, Caught, 12 Angry Men, The Disappearance of Garcia Lorca, Walkout, The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit, American Family, and Dexter.

Frequently Asked Questions

Edward James Olmos is best known for his roles as Lieutenant Martin Castillo in Miami Vice, William Adama in Battlestar Galactica, and Detective Gaff in the Blade Runner films.

Edward James Olmos has won a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award for his performance in Miami Vice. He was also nominated for an Academy Award and Golden Globe for his role in Stand and Deliver.

In addition to his iconic roles, Edward James Olmos has also played folk hero Gregorio Cortez, patriarch Abraham Quintanilla in the film Selena, and the voice of Chicharrón in Coco.

Over the course of his career, Edward James Olmos has been a pioneer for more diversified and authentic portrayals of Latinos in U.S. media through his acting, directing, and production work.

Edward James Olmos was born on February 24, 1947.

30 Quotes by Edward James Olmos

  1. 1.

    I believe that Gandhi was correct. Non-violent civil disobedience is the only way to bring about change that allows people to enjoy the change and not get killed in the process.

    Edward James Olmos

    American actor

  2. 2.

    Our inability to relate to one another is very, very, very important. When we don’t have it, we get situations like Bosnia.

    Edward James Olmos

    American actor

  3. 3.

    And, granted, for a long time, the European has been dominant in certain parts of this Western Hemisphere, but by the end of the 21st century, it’s over.

    Edward James Olmos

    American actor

  4. 4.

    I’m not prepared for holding office any more than I think Arnold is.

    Edward James Olmos

    American actor

  5. 5.

    There are nuclear weapons in China, Iran, Korea and Pakistan. It wouldn’t take much to send a couple of warheads off on this planet somewhere that would cause a lot of environmental damage, then if you have got someone who wants to retaliate you have real problems.

    Edward James Olmos

    American actor

  6. 6.

    I think in Vice and American Me I played very silent, rigid characters and people remember them.

    Edward James Olmos

    American actor

  7. 7.

    A saint is a person who gives of themself without asking for anything in return. That’s how simple it is to be a saint. Try it! Try being a saint.

    Edward James Olmos

    American actor

  8. 8.

    Basically, I think that there are some characters that you can just allow the truth of your character as a human being in your real life to come through.

    Edward James Olmos

    American actor

  9. 9.

    I’m here to make sense.

    Edward James Olmos

    American actor

  10. 10.

    I’m always pleased when people respond to the work.

    Edward James Olmos

    American actor

  11. 11.

    Chiapas is probably the main concern I have right now for the planet.

    Edward James Olmos

    American actor

  12. 12.

    Education is a vacine for violence.

    Edward James Olmos

    American actor

  13. 13.

    I learned to discipline myself to do things I didn’t want to do.

    Edward James Olmos

    American actor

  14. 14.

    Now I also discipline myself to do things I love to do when I don’t want to do them.

    Edward James Olmos

    American actor

  15. 15.

    And I’ve been acting for 39 years, so I define characters differently than I did in say Miami Vice.

    Edward James Olmos

    American actor

  16. 16.

    At the rate we’re going, the 21st century looks pretty clear. It’s going to be pretty violent.

    Edward James Olmos

    American actor

  17. 17.

    Education is the key. But it’s the kind of education that we teach that is the key. We don’t have it.

    Edward James Olmos

    American actor

  18. 18.

    I don’t support violence, period.

    Edward James Olmos

    American actor

  19. 19.

    You know, Hillary Clinton gives of herself. Princess Diana gave of herself. But they are not saints.

    Edward James Olmos

    American actor

  20. 20.

    When you’re asked to fly a 747 you better at least be able to fly a Piper cub.

    Edward James Olmos

    American actor

  21. 21.

    There is no way that we know what is going on between the African American and the Asian American. We don’t understand what an Indigenous American is. We don’t understand what a Latino American is.

    Edward James Olmos

    American actor

  22. 22.

    You get more churches burned down in the United States in the last two years than in the last hundred, because of the lack of understanding of culture and diversity and the beauty of it.

    Edward James Olmos

    American actor

  23. 23.

    Education is the vaccine for violence.

    Edward James Olmos

    American actor

  24. 24.

    I support the indigenous people anywhere in the planet.

    Edward James Olmos

    American actor

  25. 25.

    Because people of color will definitely, definitely become the power base in the Western Hemisphere.

    Edward James Olmos

    American actor

  26. 26.

    I want to show how strong I am from my roots.

    Edward James Olmos

    American actor

  27. 27.

    Right now, the Anglo people are desperately trying to hold on to the United States, like they tried to hold on to Africa.

    Edward James Olmos

    American actor

  28. 28.

    Yeah, the New York Times is very intellectual and very, very prestigious, but it doesn’t reach the market that People magazine does.

    Edward James Olmos

    American actor

  29. 29.

    The older you get the more you understand what you’re doing.

    Edward James Olmos

    American actor

  30. 30.

    We don’t have as much prejudice as we did 40 years ago, but today it is more educated.

    Edward James Olmos

    American actor