Edward James Olmos
Acting
Edward James Olmos (born February 24, 1947) is an American actor, director, producer, and activist. He is best known for his roles as Lieutenant Martin "Marty" Castillo in Miami Vice (1984–1989), actor in and director of American Me (1992), William Adama in the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica (2004–2009), teacher Jaime Escalante in Stand and Deliver (1988), and Detective Gaff in Blade Runner (1982), and its sequel Blade Runner 2049 (2017). In 2018, he played the father of two members of an outlaw motorcycle club in the FX series Mayans MC. 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 a Golden Globe Award and the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role. He is also known for his roles as patriarch Abraham Quintanilla in the film Selena, 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 Hispanics in the U.S. media. His notable direction, production, and starring roles for films, made-for-TV movies, and TV shows include Wolfen, Triumph of the Spirit, Talent for the Game, American Me, The Burning Season, My Family/Mi Familia, Caught, 12 Angry Men, The Disappearance of Garcia Lorca, Walkout, The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit, American Family, and Dexter. Description above from the Wikipedia article Edward James Olmos, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Known for
Acting146
movieAmerican Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez
2026
Narrator – El Pachuco (voice)
movieOffice Romance
2026
Captain Jack Cruz
movieMami Está Aquí
2026
Mr. Jimenez
tvM.I.A.
2026
Isaac Rojas
tvLa Californie !
2023
Self - Actor
tvMarvel's Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur
2023
Molecule Man (voice)
movieThe Blade Runner Phenomenon
2021
Self - Actor (Gaff)
movieWalking with Herb
2021
Joe Amable-Amo
movieImprisoned
2019
Hospicio
movieThe Devil Has a Name
2019
Santiago
movieWindows on the World
2019
Balthazar
tvMayans M.C.
2018
Felipe Reyes
movieThe Eyes of Martin Castillo
2018
Martin Castillo (archive footage)
movieCoco
2017
Chicharrón (voice)
movieBlade Runner: Black Out 2022
2017
Gaff (voice)
movieLA 92
2017
Self (archive footage)
movieAmericano
2016
Gayo (voice)
movieUnity
2015
Narrator (voice)
movieExile Nation: The Plastic People
2014
Narrator (voice)
movieAgave is Life
2014
Narrator (voice)
movieGo for Sisters
2013
Freddy Suárez
tvMarvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
2013
Robert Gonzales
movie2 Guns
2013
Papi Greco
movieFilly Brown
2013
Leandro
movieA Bridge Apart
2013
(Voice)
movieAmerica
2011
Mr. Irving
tvPortlandia
2011
Edward James Olmos
movieThe Green Hornet
2011
Michael Axford
tvBlue Bloods
2010
Lorenzo Batista
movieI'm Still Here
2010
Edward James Olmos
movieBattlestar Galactica: The Plan
2009
Commander William Adama
movieBeverly Hills Chihuahua
2008
Diablo (voice)
movieBattlestar Galactica: Razor
2007
Admiral William Adama
tvDexter
2006
James Gellar / Prof. James Gellar
movieSplinter
2006
Captain garcia
tvEureka
2006
First sled dog
movieWalkout
2006
Julian Nava
Recycled Life
2006
Self - Narrator (voice)
La Cerca
2005
Narrator / Old Niño
tvBattlestar Galactica
2004
Admiral William Adama / Commander William Adama
tvThe Batman
2004
Chief Rojas (voice)
tvBattlestar Galactica
2003
Commander Adama
tvGeorge Lopez
2002
Mr. Vega
tvAmerican Family
2002
Jess Gonzalez
movieIn the Time of the Butterflies
2001
Rafael Leónidas Trujillo
movieThe Judge
2001
Judge Armando Acosta
tvThe Judge
2001
Judge Armando Acosti
movieThe Princess and the Barrio Boy
2000
Nestor Garcia
movieGossip
2000
Detective Curtis
movieThe Road to El Dorado
2000
Chief (voice)
movieThe Unfinished Journey
1999
Narrator (voice)
movieZapatista
1999
Narrator (voice)
tvThe West Wing
1999
Roberto Mendoza
movieBonanno: A Godfather's Story
1999
Salvatore Maranzano
movieThe Wall
1998
Col. Holst (segment "The Pencil Holder")
movieThe Taking of Pelham One Two Three
1998
Det. Anthony Piscotti
movie12 Angry Men
1997
Juror 11
movieHollywood Confidential
1997
Stan Navarro, Sr.
Sunset Boulevard - 27 Meilen Amerika
1997
Self - Actor, Director, Latino-Activist
tvGun
1997
Father Santos
movieSelena Remembered
1997
Narrator (voice)
movieSelena
1997
Abraham Quintanilla
movieDeath in Granada
1996
Roberto Lozano
tvDead Man's Walk
1996
Captain Salazar
movieSlave of Dreams
1995
Potiphar
movieMirage
1995
Matteo Juarez
tvHappily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
1995
Rey Emiliano (voice) / El Murcielago (voice) / Jimenez (voice)
tvTouched by an Angel
1994
Col. Victor Walls
movieThe Burning Season
1994
Wilson Pinheiro
tvThe Magic School Bus
1994
Mr. Ramon (voice)
movieMenendez: A Killing in Beverly Hills
1994
Jose Menendez
movieA Million to Juan
1994
The Angel
movieEven Cowgirls Get the Blues
1994
Musician at Barbecue (uncredited)
movieRoosters
1993
Gallo Morales
movieAmerican Me
1992
Montoya Santana
movieTalent for the Game
1991
Virgil Sweet
movieMaria's Story
1991
José Serrano (voice)
movieThe Earth Day Special
1990
Hospital Director
tvThe Simpsons
1989
Pit Master (voice)
movieMiami Vice: Freefall
1989
Lt. Martin Castillo
tvThe Fortunate Pilgrim
1988
Frank Corbo
movieStand and Deliver
1988
Jaime A. Escalante
movieSaving Grace
1986
Ciolino
tvMiami Vice
1984
Martin Castillo
movieThe Ballad of Gregorio Cortez
1983
Gregorio Cortez
movieThe Nightingale
1983
Prime Minister
tvFaerie Tale Theatre
1982
Prime Minister
movieSeguin
1982
Gen. Santa Anna
tvAmerican Playhouse
1982
General Santa Anna / Gregorio Cortez / Jaime Escalante
movieZoot Suit
1981
El Pachuco
movieWolfen
1981
Eddie Holt
movie300 Miles for Stephanie
1981
Art Vela
movieVirus
1980
Captain Lopez
movieAlambrista!
1977
1st Drunk
tvThe Fitzpatricks
1977
Don Vasquez
tvStarsky & Hutch
1975
Julio Gutierez
tvThe Blue Knight
1975
Clemente (as Ed Olmos)
movieAloha Bobby and Rose
1975
Chicano #1
tvKojak
1973
Paco
tvHawaii Five-O
1968
Dancer
Production8
movieSay a Little Prayer
2024
Executive Producer
movieThe Devil Has a Name
2019
Producer
movieGo for Sisters
2013
Producer
movieFilly Brown
2013
Executive Producer
movieSelena Remembered
1997
Producer
movieAmerican Me
1992
Producer
movieThe Ballad of Gregorio Cortez
1983
Associate Producer
tvAmerican Playhouse
1982
Associate Producer
Directing6
movieThe Devil Has a Name
2019
Director
movieWalkout
2006
Director
tvBattlestar Galactica
2004
Director
movieAmerican Me
1992
Director
tvMiami Vice
1984
Director
Sound2
movieThe Ballad of Gregorio Cortez
1983
Original Music Composer
tvAmerican Playhouse
1982
Original Music Composer
Creator1
tvChaparreando
2020
Creator