Lou Diamond Phillips

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Phillips in August 1987.
Phillips in August 1987.

Lou Diamond Phillips (born Louis Upchurch on February 17, 1962, at Subic Bay Naval Station, Philippines), named for Marine legend Lou Diamond, is an American actor. He adopted his surname Phillips from his stepfather. He is of Spanish, Scottish/Irish, Chinese, Filipino, Hawaiian, and American Indian ancestry.

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[edit] Biography

Phillips worked as an assistant director and instructor at the University of Texas at Arlington, where he studied Drama under Nita Cox, between 1983 - 1986. In 1982 he met Adam Roarke of the Film Actors Lab (Arlington, Texas), who became an important figure in his life. At the Film Actors Lab he studied Film Acting Technique and later joined the team as an instructor.

He attended Flour Bluff High School, and briefly attended Del Mar College, in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Phillips' big break came with the starring role in 1987's La Bamba as early rocker Ritchie Valens. Though the role garnered him laud from critics, he has since found it difficult to find another leading role in a big-budget Hollywood film. In 1988, he co-starred along Edward James Olmos in the inner-city high school drama, Stand and Deliver, as Angel Guzman, a wannabe cholo who is inspired by his math teacher, Jaime Escalante, to challenge himself at calculus and along the road, creates a friendship with his teacher. In 1988 and 1990, Phillips co-starred with Emilio Estevez and Kiefer Sutherland in the cowboy movies Young Guns and Young Guns II

The first low budget film in which he starred in was called Trespasses. During the making of this film, he met Julie Cypher, an assistant director who would become his wife on September 17, 1986. They later divorced on August 5, 1990. Cypher would leave him to start a relationship with rocker Melissa Etheridge.

He met Jennifer Tilly, to whom he was briefly engaged, although the two never married. He later married model Kelly Preston (not to be confused with John Travolta's actress wife of the same name). They had twin daughters. They separated in 2005 and their divorce is pending.

Phillips also plays on the World Poker Tour in the Hollywood Home games. He plays for the Sierra Canyon H.S. & Santa Suzanna Montessori charity.

[edit] 2006 Arrest for Domestic Violence

On Friday, August 11, 2006, Phillips was arrested for alleged domestic violence. Los Angeles Police confirmed that Phillips was arrested at his home in the Los Angeles suburb of Northridge following an alleged dispute with his girlfriend, makeup artist Yvonne Boismier. Police state that he was held "on suspicion of 'Sodomy'". His bail was set at $50,000, although his publicist said he was released on his own recognizance. A source at the Los Angeles prosecutor's office said the incident will likely be handled through mediation, not prosecution. [1]

On September 21, 2006, prosecutors in Los Angeles decided against using arbitration and instead filed a charge of battery against Phillips. Phillips's arraignment was scheduled for October 18, 2006. [2]

On December 7, 2006, Phillips pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor count of domestic battery and was sentenced to three years probation. He also was ordered to undergo one year of domestic violence counseling and to serve 200 hours of community service. [3]

[edit] Trivia

  • In an interview entitled "Shine on Lou Crazy Diamond" in Smash Hits magazine, Lou revealed that his favourite band is Pink Floyd, and that his favorite song is titled "Shine On You Crazy Diamond".

[edit] Awards and Achievements

  • 1989 Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male (Stand and Deliver, 1988)
  • 1989 Golden Globe award nominee for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a 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 Theatre 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 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

[edit] Selected filmography

[edit] External links

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