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Mini Bio
Edward James Olmos (born February 24, 1947) is an American actor and director. He is best known for his roles as Detective Gaff in Blade Runner (1982) and its sequel Blade Runner 2049 (2017), Lieutenant Martin "Marty" Castillo in Miami Vice (1984–1989), high school math teacher Jaime Escalante in Stand and Deliver (1988), Montoya Santana in American Me (1992) (which he also directed), and William Adama in the reimagined Battlestar Galactica (2004–2009).
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 an Academy Award for Best Actor and a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama.
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., the voice of Chief Tannabok in The Road to El Dorado, narrator El Pachuco in both the stage and film versions of Zoot Suit, and the voice of Chicharrón in Coco.
Over the course of his career, Olmos has been a pioneer for more diversified roles and images of Latinos in American media. His other notable direction, production, and starring roles for films, made-for-TV movies, and TV shows include
Battlestar Galactica,
Wolfen, Triumph of the Spirit, Talent for the Game, American Me, The Burning Season, My Family, Caught, 12 Angry Men, The Disappearance of Garcia Lorca, Walkout, The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit, American Family, and Dexter.
Backstage
- Was offered the role of Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987). He would have been contractually obligated to work exclusively on the series, and not do any other projects while under contract. He wanted the flexibility to be able to work on multiple projects, and declined the role on that basis. Sir Patrick Stewart was eventually cast.
- Has stated that Blade Runner (1982) and Battlestar Galactica (2004) are the two projects he's most proud to be a part of.
- On 8/10/01, he was sentenced to 20 days in jail for trespassing in April 2000 on US Navy land on the Puerto Rican island of Vieques. He and others were protesting the use of the island as a bombing test ground. President George W. Bush promised to end the testing in 2003.
- Says that he is of Aztec and Spanish ancestry. His father was a Mexican immigrant and his mother was American-born of Mexican descent.
- Gained 20 pounds and thinned his hair to prepare for the role of Jaime Escalante in Stand and Deliver (1988).
- Agreed to the role of William Adama on the Battlestar Galactica (2004) remake only on the condition that the stories reflect as much realism and credibility as possible.
- Drove a red Porsche Turbo, which he bought in Miami at a sale of articles confiscated in drug busts. He remarked, "He \[the car's owner\] got 30 years. I got the car!". Soon afterwards, the Porsche Turbo was stolen.
- Declined an offer from director Michael Mann to reprise the role of Lt. Martin Castillo in the movie version of Miami Vice (2006). He was the only cast member from the original series Miami Vice (1984) who was approached to appear in the rebooted movie version of the series.
- He was considered for the role of Klingon Commander Kruge in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984), but lost the role to Christopher Lloyd because Lloyd was taller.
- He has appeared in eight films that have been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant": Alambrista! (1977), Zoot Suit (1981), Blade Runner (1982), The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez (1982), Stand and Deliver (1988), American Me (1992), My Family (1995) and Selena (1997). He has also directed one film that is in the registry: American Me. As of 2025, this is a record.
