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Edward James Olmos

Edward James Olmos

Highest Rated: 100% The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez (1983)

Lowest Rated: 0% Imprisoned (2018)

Birthday: Feb 24, 1947

Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, USA

Though widely recognized for his film and television career, actor Edward James Olmos also spent a great deal of time working for social and political causes, with a particular focus on Latino concerns. Though he struggled early on in his acting career, taking bit parts in various guest spots on popular television shows in the 1970s, Olmos made the most of his success once he found it. Starting with his Tony-nominated performance in "Zoot Suit" (1978), Olmos developed into a highly-acclaimed and sought-after performer whose ability to convey both ambiguity and gravitas was widely recognized. He became a household name with his first regular series role, playing Lieutenant Martin Castillo on the cultural phenomenon "Miami Vice" (NBC, 1984-89), but then languished for a large chunk of his career taking roles in largely unseen or under-appreciated feature and television projects. He delivered lauded performances in "Stand and Deliver" (1988) or "Selena" (1997). Another significant role arrived in the unlikely form of Admiral William Adama on "Battlestar Galactica" (Sci Fi Channel, 2004-09), a show that Olmos felt was one of the best projects he had ever been involved with. His resurgence on television led to big screen roles in "Splinter" (2007), "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" (2008) and "The Green Hornet" (2011), proving that Olmos had staying power in both mediums.

Highest rated movies

100% 72% The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez
100% 78% Alambrista
94% 90% Blade Runner: The Final Cut
93% 87% 12 Angry Men
90% 79% Stand and Deliver
89% 91% Blade Runner 88% 89% Blade Runner 2049
83% 95% Battlestar Galactica: The Plan

Filmography

Movies

Credit
59% 68% One Fast Move Abel (Character) - 2024
44% 77% Outlaw Posse Ossie (Character) - 2024
No Score Yet 100% Walking with Herb Joe Amable-Amo (Character) - 2021
69% 90% Chasing Wonders Unknown (Character) - 2020
35% 38% The Devil Has a Name Santiago (Character),
Director,
Producer
- 2020
No Score Yet No Score Yet Carlos Almaraz: Playing With Fire Unknown (Character) - 2020
No Score Yet 83% Windows on the World Balthazar (Character) - 2019
59% 71% A Dog's Way Home Axel (Character) $42.0M 2019
0% 33% Imprisoned Hospicio (Character) $12.1K 2018
No Score Yet No Score Yet Elena of Avalor: Song of the Sirenas Unknown (Character) - 2018
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Women in the Sand Narrator - 2017
97% 94% Coco Chicharrón (Voice) $210.5M 2017
88% 89% Blade Runner 2049 Gaff (Character) $91.5M 2017
40% 55% El Americano: The Movie Gayo (Voice),
Executive Producer
- 2016
No Score Yet No Score Yet Monday Nights At Seven Charlie (Character),
Producer
- 2016
No Score Yet No Score Yet El Americano: The Movie Executive Producer - 2016
No Score Yet 62% Unity Narrator - 2015
No Score Yet No Score Yet Exile Nation: The Plastic People Narrator - 2014
74% 54% Go for Sisters Freddy Suarez (Character),
Producer
$56.0K 2013
64% 66% 2 Guns Papi Greco (Character) $75.6M 2013
42% 72% Filly Brown Leandro (Character),
Executive Producer
$2.8M 2012
45% 43% The Green Hornet Axford (Character) $98.8M 2011
No Score Yet No Score Yet Si Se Puede,The Roseland Prep Story Host - 2011
No Score Yet No Score Yet America Mr. Irving (Character),
Executive Producer
- 2010
83% 95% Battlestar Galactica: The Plan Cmdr. William Adama (Character),
Director
- 2009
No Score Yet No Score Yet A Class Apart Narrator - 2009
40% 52% Beverly Hills Chihuahua El Diablo (Voice) $94.5M 2008
No Score Yet 83% Battlestar Galactica: Razor Admiral William Adama (Character) - 2007
No Score Yet 81% Walkout Julian Nava (Character),
Director
- 2006
43% 28% Splinter Captain Garcia (Character) $10.5K 2006
No Score Yet 83% Recycled Life Narrator - 2006
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Fence Narrator / Old Niño (Character) - 2004
No Score Yet 76% In the Time of the Butterflies Trujillo (Character) - 2001
No Score Yet 63% The Princess and the Barrio Boy Nestor Garcia (Character) - 2000
28% 47% Gossip Detective Curtis (Character) $5.1M 2000
49% 66% The Road to El Dorado Chief Tannabok (Voice) $50.8M 2000
No Score Yet No Score Yet Americanos: Latino Life in the United States Producer - 2000
No Score Yet 92% Zapatista Narrator - 1999
No Score Yet 76% Bonanno: A Godfather's Story (The Youngest Godfather) Unknown (Character) - 1999
No Score Yet No Score Yet Crucible of Empire: The Spanish American War Unknown (Character) - 1999
No Score Yet 100% The Wall Col. Holst (Character) - 1998
No Score Yet 39% The Taking of Pelham One Two Three Det. Anthony Piscotti (Character) - 1998
93% 87% 12 Angry Men Juror 11 (Character) - 1997
83% 70% The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit Vamanos (Character) - 1997
66% 78% Selena Abraham Quintanilla (Character) $35.4M 1997
No Score Yet 60% Hollywood Confidential Stan Navarro, Sr. (Character) - 1997
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Limbic Region Jon Lucca (Character) - 1996
77% 70% Caught Joe (Character) $361.1K 1996
No Score Yet 64% Dead Man's Walk Captain Salazar (Character) - 1996
29% 57% The Disappearance of Garcia Lorca Roberto Lozano (Character) $226.4K 1996
79% 88% My Family/Mi Familia Paco (Character) $11.1M 1995
No Score Yet No Score Yet Mirage Matteo Juarez (Character) - 1995
No Score Yet No Score Yet Salvaged Lives Narrator - 1995
No Score Yet No Score Yet Slave of Dreams Potiphar (Character) - 1995
No Score Yet 59% A Million to Juan The Angel (Character) $1.2M 1994
No Score Yet 71% The Burning Season Wilson Pinheiro (Character) - 1994
No Score Yet No Score Yet Roosters Gallo Morales (Character) $2.5K 1993
73% 90% American Me Montoya Santana (Character),
Director,
Producer
$11.3M 1992
No Score Yet 35% Talent for the Game Virgil Sweet (Character) $112.5K 1991
No Score Yet No Score Yet Desperate Passage: Father/Son Unknown (Character) - 1990
63% 52% Triumph of the Spirit Gypsy (Character) $163.6K 1989
90% 79% Stand and Deliver Jaime A. Escalante (Character) $11.9M 1988
No Score Yet 76% Saving Grace Ciolino (Character) - 1986
90% 91% Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind Mito (Voice) - 1984
100% 72% The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez Gregorio Cortez (Character),
Original Music
- 1983
94% 90% Blade Runner: The Final Cut Gaff (Character) - 1982
89% 91% Blade Runner Gaff (Character) $3.9M 1982
55% 74% Zoot Suit El Pachuco (Character) - 1981
77% 48% Wolfen Whittington (Character) - 1981
No Score Yet No Score Yet Three Hundred Miles for Stephanie Art Vela (Character) - 1981
No Score Yet 55% Virus Capt. Lopez (Character) - 1980
100% 78% Alambrista Drunken Man (Character) - 1978

TV

Credit
No Score Yet 68% Mayans M.C. Felipe Reyes (Character) 2018-2019 2021-2023
No Score Yet No Score Yet Elena of Avalor King Pescoro (Guest Voice) 2018-2019
85% 76% The Simpsons Pit Master (Guest Voice) 2015
95% 91% Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Unknown (Guest Star) 2015
94% 81% Portlandia Unknown (Guest Star) 2012
71% 81% Dexter Professor James Gellar (Guest Star) 2011
No Score Yet 82% CSI: New York Luther Devarro (Guest Star) 2010
95% 94% Battlestar Galactica Cmdr. William Adama (Character),
Director
2005-2009
No Score Yet No Score Yet Discovery Atlas Narrator 2007
No Score Yet No Score Yet American Family Jess Gonzalez (Character) 2002 2004
No Score Yet 89% Battlestar Galactica Cmdr. William Adama (Character) 2003
41% No Score Yet Greetings From Tucson Unknown (Guest Star) 2003
81% 95% The West Wing Judge Roberto Mendoza (Guest Star) 1999-2000
No Score Yet No Score Yet Touched by an Angel Unknown (Guest Star) 1998
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Living Edens Narrator 1997
No Score Yet No Score Yet Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child Unknown (Voice) 1997
57% No Score Yet Gun Unknown (Character) 1997
No Score Yet No Score Yet Dead Man's Walk Unknown (Character) 1996
71% 88% Miami Vice Lt. Martin Castillo (Character),
Director
1984-1990
97% 82% Hill Street Blues Joe Bustamonte (Guest Star) 1982 1984
No Score Yet No Score Yet Starsky and Hutch Unknown (Guest Star) 1977
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Blue Knight Unknown (Guest Star) 1976