Lou Diamond Phillips facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lou Diamond Phillips
Phillips in 2017
Born	Louis Diamond Upchurch (1962-02-17) February 17, 1962 (age 63) U.S. Naval Base Subic Bay, Zambales, Philippines
Education	Flour Bluff High School
Alma mater	University of Texas at Arlington (BFA)
Occupation	Actor director writer
Years active	1984–present
Spouse(s)	Julie Cypher ​ ​ (m. 1987; div. 1990)​ Kelly Preston ​ ​ (m. 1994; div. 2007)​ Yvonne Boismier ​ (m. 2007)​
Children	4

Louis Diamond Phillips (né Upchurch; born February 17, 1962) is a Filipino-American actor. His breakthrough came when he starred as Ritchie Valens in the biographical drama film La Bamba (1987). For his performance as Angel David Guzman in Stand and Deliver (1988), he was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture and won an Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male.

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.

Early life

Phillips was born February 17, 1962, at the Subic Bay Naval Station in the Philippines, the son of Lucita Umayam Aranas and Gerald Amon Upchurch (1935–1963), a Marine KC-130 crew chief. His mother, a native of Candelaria, Zambales, is Filipina. His father was an American of Scots-Irish and Cherokee descent.

Phillips was named after the US Marine Leland "Lou" Diamond. After his father's death, he was adopted by his stepfather and his surname was changed to Phillips.

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.

Career

1980s

The first low-budget film in which he starred was called Trespasses. Phillips' 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 and won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male. 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.

Lou Diamond Phillips in 1987, the year that the film "La Bamba" was released

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.

1990s

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.

In 1993, Phillips was among the guests on the Randy Travis television special Wind in the Wire.

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.

2000s

He later featured 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. Phillips currently hosts the weekly series An Officer and a Movie 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 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.

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.

2010s

In January 2012, he was one of eight celebrities participating in the Food Network reality series Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off. 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 played by Robert Taylor. Phillips played Henry Standing Bear, a Native American, who is Longmire's best friend, often helping him with cases and in dealing with the reservation police who do not respect or like outsiders, especially other law enforcement.

In December 2012, he was featured in Imagine Dragons' music video for "Radioactive", which went on to eclipse 1 billion views on YouTube.

Phillips performing at an after-party for the film Filly Brown at the 2013 Miami International Film Festival

In February 2013, Phillips appeared as star of the comedy short film Lucy in the Sky with Diamond, playing a hyperbolized 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.

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.

In 2014, he also guest-starred in The Wiggles Rock and Roll PreSchool DVD and made guest appearances on their TV program on ABC.

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2020s

Phillips in 2024

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.

Radio

Phillips voiced four episodes of the radio series The Twilight Zone: Vol. 1, "A Kind of a Stopwatch"; Vol. 3, "The Parallel; Vol. 10, "Miniature"; and Vol. 12, "Long Live Walter Jameson".

Writing

Phillips co-wrote the screenplay for Trespasses and Dangerous Touch, and wrote the feature Ambition (in which he also starred on those films). 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 was illustrated by his wife, Yvonne Boismier.

Personal life

Relationships and family

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.

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. They had three daughters together but separated in 2003. Their divorce was finalized in July 2007.

Phillips began dating makeup artist Yvonne Boismier in 2004. He was charged with misdemeanor domestic battery against her in 2006. 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.

Poker

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 cashed in the $10,000 July 2009 World Series of Poker World Championship No Limit main event. 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.

Activism

Phillips speaking at the Filipino American Library Spirit Awards and Dinner Gala in Los Angeles in October 2006

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." 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. 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.

In 1991 he was adopted by an Oglala Lakota Sioux family in a traditional ceremony. His Lakota name translates to "Star Keeper".

Phillips is also a member of the Canadian charity Artists Against Racism. In 2020, he appeared in the NoH8 LGBTQ equality campaign.

Phillips endorsed Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.

Awards and achievements

• 1989 – Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male (Stand and Deliver, 1988)
• 1989 – Golden Globe Award nominee for Best Supporting Actor – 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 for 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
• 2012 – Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off: Winner
• 2024 – Los Angeles IFS Film Festival Award for Best Actor (Et Tu, 2023)

Filmography

Film

Television

Video games

See also

In Spanish: Lou Diamond Phillips para niños