Who would have taught gambling through things would eventually lead to finding your passion? We all thought all you need to do is find what you love and head out with a mission to make it no matter what. As true as that may sound, it was not so for Edward James Olmos who began with baseball then switched to music, then to acting, and even sold furniture at some point. Do you know he even turned down several roles in movies because he felt he had to? Born in squalor and poverty and raised in a poor neighborhood in Los Angeles with diverse cultures and ethnicities, Edward rose to fame anyway.
Bio: Age, Ethnicity
Edward James Olmos was born February 24, 1947, in Los Angeles, California to his parents – Pedro Olmos and Eleanor Huizar. His father, Pedro, was a Mexican immigrant while his mother was a Mexican-American. His parents separated when he was 7 years old, leaving him with his great-grandparents who took responsibility for him because his parents were trying to ends meet. In 1964, he graduated from Montello High School. As a child, Edward wanted to become a professional baseball player, so when he turned 13, he joined the Los Angeles Dodger’s farm system playing as a catcher. He engaged in the sports to avoid becoming a part of the street gangs in his neighborhood and he was exceptional in the game which made him the Golden State Batting Champion. His love for baseball faded at 15 and he left to join a rock and roll band much to the disdain of his father.
Career – How Edward James Olmos Began
Edward James Olmos became an actor almost accidentally. He began his career as a singer after he formed his own band called the Pacific Ocean and became the group’s lead singer. He loved every moment with the band because rock and roll provided him with enough money to take care of his family. In 1968, the band released a record, Purgatory. He performed at night in clubs within Los Angeles and attended the East Los Angeles College where he took classes in acting during the day. The acting classes were meant to improve his performance as a singer but he found out that he preferred acting to singing and that was the birth of his acting career.
His first TV appearance was in the movie Black Fist (1974) where he starred briefly as a junkie in the bathroom. He took small roles in the late 1960’s and then in 1978, he got the lead role for Zoot Suit (1981), a film that centers around a group of young Hispanic men falsely accused and convicted of a murder which led to tensions between the police and the Hispanic community. His performance in the film was incredible; he was nominated for a Tony Award. For his superb performance in the 1988 film, Stand and Deliver, Edward set a record as he became the first American-born Hispanic to be nominated for an Academy Award (Oscars) for Best Actor. In 1998, Edward founded Latino Public Broadcasting, which focuses mainly on getting Hispanics the recognition they deserve. He still serves as its chairman.
About His Family – Wife and Children
Edward James Olmos has been married thrice. He met his first wife, Katija Keel while performing at a nightclub. Katija is the daughter of actor, Howard Keel. They fell in love and tied the knot in 1971. The couple had two children, Bodie Olmos and Mico Olmos. Edward and Katija were divorced in 1992 and by 1994, he went into his second marriage, this time to actress Lorraine Bracco. The union was bedevilled again and Lorraine filed for divorce. They were finally divorced by 2002 after living apart for five years and the same year, he got married again for the third time to another actress, Lymari Nadal. They are still together presently. The actor cum activist adopted four other children – Michael, Daniela, Tamiko and Brandon – in addition to the two from his first marriage, making him a father of six children.
Height
The Battlestar Galactica star is one actor that can take your breath away on screen with his action. And although he is in the latter stages of his life, Edward James Olmos has maintained a healthy lifestyle and looks pretty stronger than most people his age. Okay, you might ask, How tall is he? He is 5ft 10in tall.
What is Edward James Olmos Net Worth?
Edward James Olmos is indeed a formidable personality. He is one of the most popular Mexican-Americans in the United States. He has a net worth of $14 million. His earnings are mainly from roles he has portrayed in films and movies he has directed and produced. Some of his films and TV shows include Zoot Suit (1981), Blade Runner (1982), Saving Grace (1985), Stand and Deliver (1988), Triumph of the Spirit (1989), Talent for the Game (1991), American Me (1992), The Burning Season (1994), My Family/Mi Familia (1995), The Lumbic Region (1996), Caught (1996), Selena (1997), 12 Angry Men (1997), Hollywood Confidential (1997), The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit (1998), The Road to El- Dorado (2000), 2 Guns (2013) Monday Night at Seven (2016), Blade Runner 2049 (2017) and Predator (2018).
