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IMDbPro

Edward James Olmos

  • Actor
  • Producer
  • Director
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5,000373
Edward James Olmos
Trailer 1
Play trailer1:44
Chasing Wonders (2020)
47 Videos
99+ Photos
Born February 24, 1947, East Los Angeles, at The First Japanese Hospital to Pedro Olmos and Eleanor Huizar. Raised on Cheesebrough's Lane, he attended Greenwood Elementary and Montebello Junior High. He then graduated from Montebello High School in 1964. After which he received an Associative Arts Degree in Sociology and Criminal Justice at East Los Angeles College in 1966. Olmos since then has gone on to receive many accolades from the City of Montebello, including the Alumni of The Year from Montebello High School in 2014, and Man of the Year Award from The Mexican American Opportunity Foundation in 2015.

He has achieved extraordinary success as an actor, producer and humanitarian. The Tony, Emmy and Academy Award® Nominated actor, is probably best known to young audiences for his work on the SYFY television series "Battlestar Galatica" as Admiral William Adama. Although the series kept the actor busy during its run from 2003 through 2009, it didn't stop him from directing the HBO movie "Walkout" in 2007, for which he earned a DGA Nomination in the Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television category.

Olmos' career in entertainment spans over 30 years. In that time he created a signature style and aesthetic that he applies to every artist endeavor, often grounding his characters in reality and gravitas. His dedication to his craft has brought him attention across the industry, and with audiences worldwide.
BornFebruary 24, 1947
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornFebruary 24, 1947
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5,000373
  • Unlock contact info on IMDbPro
  • Nominated for 1 Oscar
    • 29 wins & 29 nominations total

Photos256

Edward James Olmos, Jamie Bamber, Grace Park, and Katee Sackhoff in Battlestar Galactica (2004)
Mary McDonnell, Edward James Olmos, Jamie Bamber, James Callis, Aaron Douglas, Michael Hogan, Grace Park, Katee Sackhoff, and Tricia Helfer in Battlestar Galactica (2004)
Edward James Olmos and Sulem Calderon in Mayans M.C. (2018)
Edward James Olmos in Miami Vice (1984)
Edward James Olmos and John Diehl in Miami Vice (1984)
Jennifer Lopez and Edward James Olmos in Selena (1997)
Edward James Olmos in Miami Vice (1984)
Don Johnson, Edward James Olmos, John Diehl, and Michael Talbott in Miami Vice (1984)
Edward James Olmos in Miami Vice (1984)
Don Johnson, Edward James Olmos, and Philip Michael Thomas in Miami Vice (1984)
Don Johnson and Edward James Olmos in Miami Vice (1984)
Don Johnson and Edward James Olmos in Miami Vice (1984)

Known for

Mary McDonnell, Edward James Olmos, Jamie Bamber, James Callis, Aaron Douglas, Michael Hogan, Grace Park, Katee Sackhoff, and Tricia Helfer in Battlestar Galactica (2004)
Battlestar Galactica
8.7
TV Series
  • Admiral William Adama
  • Commander William Adama
Jennifer Lopez in Selena (1997)
Selena
6.8
  • Abraham Quintanilla
  • 1997
Edward James Olmos, Lou Diamond Phillips, Patrick Baca, Lydia Nicole, Will Gotay, Vanessa Marquez, Karla Montana, Ingrid Oliu, and Eliot in Stand and Deliver (1988)
Stand and Deliver
7.3
  • Jaime Escalante
  • 1988
Harrison Ford and Sean Young in Blade Runner (1982)
Blade Runner
8.1
  • Gaff
  • 1982

Credits

Edit
IMDbPro

Actor

  • Outlaw Posse
    • Post-production
  • One Fast Move
    • In Production
  • JD Pardo in Mayans M.C. (2018)
    Mayans M.C.
    • Felipe Reyes
    • TV Series
    • 2018–2022
  • Walking with Herb (2021)
    Walking with Herb
    • Joe Amable-Amo
    • 2021
  • Chasing Wonders (2020)
    Chasing Wonders
    • Luis
    • 2020
  • Bless This Mess (2019)
    Bless This Mess
    • Randy
    • TV Series
    • 2019
  • FX Mayans M.C. Season 2: First Look
    • Video
    • 2019
  • David Strathairn in The Devil Has a Name (2019)
    The Devil Has a Name
    • Santiago
    • 2019
  • Windows on the World (2019)
    Windows on the World
    • Balthazar
    • 2019
  • Elena of Avalor (2016)
    Elena of Avalor
    • King Pescoro (voice)
    • TV Series
    • 2018–2019
  • A Dog's Way Home (2019)
    A Dog's Way Home
    • Axel
    • 2019
  • Laurence Fishburne, Juana Acosta, and Juan Pablo Raba in Imprisoned (2018)
    Imprisoned
    • Hospicio
    • 2018
  • Mayans M.C. - Inside Season 1: The Mayans Table Read
    • Felipe Reyes
    • Video
    • 2018
  • Mayans M.C. - Inside Season 1: Meet the Brotherhood
    • Felipe Reyes
    • Video
    • 2018
  • Mayans M.C. - Inside Season 1: Latin Pride
    • Felipe Reyes
    • Video
    • 2018
  • Mayans M.C. - Inside Season 1: The Troublemaker, Elgin James
    • Felipe Reyes
    • Video
    • 2018
  • Mayans M.C. - Inside Season 1: The Creation of Mayans M.C.
    • Felipe Reyes
    • TV Movie
    • 2018

Producer

  • The Answer to My Prayer
    • executive producer
    • Pre-production
  • David Strathairn in The Devil Has a Name (2019)
    The Devil Has a Name
    • producer (produced by)
    • 2019
  • Monday Nights at Seven (2016)
    Monday Nights at Seven
    • producer
    • 2016
  • Americano (2016)
    Americano
    • executive producer
    • producer
    • 2016
  • Exile Nation: The Plastic People (2014)
    Exile Nation: The Plastic People
    • executive producer
    • 2014
  • Water & Power (2013)
    Water & Power
    • executive producer
    • 2013
  • Go for Sisters (2013)
    Go for Sisters
    • producer
    • 2013
  • Gina Rodriguez in Filly Brown (2012)
    Filly Brown
    • executive producer
    • 2012
  • America a film based on the novel of Esmeralda Santiago
    América
    • executive producer
    • 2011
  • Walkout (2006)
    Walkout
    • co-executive producer
    • TV Movie
    • 2006
  • Jack and Marilyn
    • producer
    • 2002
  • The Last Winter
    • executive producer
    • Short
    • 2002
  • Americanos: Latino Life in the United States (2000)
    Americanos: Latino Life in the United States
    • producer
    • 2000
  • Lives in Hazard (1994)
    Lives in Hazard
    • executive producer
    • TV Movie
    • 1994
  • William Forsythe, Edward James Olmos, and Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa in American Me (1992)
    American Me
    • producer
    • 1992
  • The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez (1982)
    The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez
    • associate producer
    • 1982

Director

  • David Strathairn in The Devil Has a Name (2019)
    The Devil Has a Name
    • Director
    • 2019
  • Battlestar Galactica: The Plan (2009)
    Battlestar Galactica: The Plan
    • Director
    • Video
    • 2009
  • Mary McDonnell, Edward James Olmos, Jamie Bamber, James Callis, Aaron Douglas, Michael Hogan, Grace Park, Katee Sackhoff, and Tricia Helfer in Battlestar Galactica (2004)
    Battlestar Galactica
    • Director
    • TV Series
    • 2004–2009
  • Walkout (2006)
    Walkout
    • Director
    • TV Movie
    • 2006
  • Jack and Marilyn
    • Director
    • 2002
  • William Forsythe, Edward James Olmos, and Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa in American Me (1992)
    American Me
    • Director
    • 1992
  • Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas in Miami Vice (1984)
    Miami Vice
    • Director (directed by)
    • TV Series
    • 1985
  • In-development projects at IMDbPro

Videos48

The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit
Clip 2:15
The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit
The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit
Clip 2:20
The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit
Triumph of the Spirit
Clip 1:56
Triumph of the Spirit
Trailer
Trailer 1:56
Trailer
Trailer
Trailer 1:30
Trailer
Trailer
Trailer 1:59
Trailer
Official Trailer
Trailer 2:06
Official Trailer
Trailer #1
Trailer 2:35
Trailer #1
Season 1: Official Trailer
Trailer 2:06
Season 1: Official Trailer
Theatrical Trailer
Trailer 2:11
Theatrical Trailer
"Find Your Voice"
Trailer 2:27
"Find Your Voice"
Official U.S. Trailer
Trailer 1:29
Official U.S. Trailer

Personal details

Edit
  • Official sites
    • Cameo
    • Facebook
  • Alternative names
    • Eddie Olmos
  • Height
    • 5′ 9″ (1.75 m)
  • Born
    • February 24, 1947
    • Los Angeles, California, USA
  • Spouses
      Lymari Nadal2002 - present
  • Children
      Daniela Olmos
  • Parents
      Pedro Olmos
  • Relatives
      Peter Olmos(Sibling)
  • Other works
    Music video: Appeared in the video "Vato" by Snoop Dogg featuring B-Real (aka B-Real).
  • Publicity listings
    • 6 Interviews
    • 2 Articles
    • 3 Magazine Cover Photos

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    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.
  • Quotes
    Sometimes you gotta do things that you don't really want to do. But you don't do them for money.
  • Trademarks
      Frequently plays men of authority and/or power who inspire and enlighten those beneath him
  • Nicknames
    • EJO
    • Ed
    • Eddie

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